Petracca had five goals and three assists as Manhasset advanced to the Class C state boys lacrosse final with a 16-4 win over Section I champ Putnam Valley yesterday at Michie Stadium.

Manhasset (19-0) will go for its first state title since 1995 when it meets Penn Yan (17-5) of Section V at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at Hofstra. Penn Yan defeated Manhasset, 9-8, on a late man-up goal in the 2001 final.

Petracca was in middle school then. But he remembers Manhasset's overtime loss to Somers (I) in the 2003 semifinals.

"All this season, we wanted to get to this point," he said. "We don't want to let up. That was the worst I've ever felt. We all sank after that game last year."

Petracca gave Manhasset a 4-2 lead yesterday when he fed Matt Bitter from behind the cage 1:11 into a 7-0 second quarter, which produced a 10-2 lead. He closed that run when he finished into the top-right corner on a breakaway with 32 seconds left. Manhasset won seven of the eight faceoffs and had a 20-6 ground-ball edge in the quarter.

"That usually leads to good things," said 30-year Manhasset coach Alan Lowe, who is looking for his first undefeated season. "We knew we had to pressure them."

Petracca's feed to Bryan Zaremba from behind the cage for his third goal with 8:20 left in the third induced running time at 12-2. The second of three goals by Mike Ammann came 3:26 into the fourth quarter, made it 13-3 and broke a 28:37 scoreless streak for Putnam Valley (17-4).

Manhasset's Pat Judge made 13 saves before exiting after the third quarter. Chris Finn had a goal and two assists.

Manhasset, Nassau's only unbeaten team and the all-time leader with 12 county titles, is one win from its second state title. "Every year, we want to go one step further than we did the year before," senior midfielder Brian Connors said. "We are one step closer to our goal."

MANHASSET 16

PUTNAM V. 4