Winning a state championship has been the dream of many of the South Side boys lacrosse players since they began playing together in elementary school. Through youth leagues, JV teams and summer camps, they yearned for the day they would raise the circular plaque presented to the champion each spring.

Chris Gammello, however, never thought about lacrosse until three years ago, when Steve DiPietro, an assistant on the football and boys lacrosse teams, nudged him in that direction.

Gammello may have been a latecomer to the quest, but he played like a lifer yesterday as the Cyclones capped their season with a 12-9 win over previously unbeaten Corning East (Section IV) in the Class B state championship game before 800 at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium.

Gammello, instrumental in containing a Corning East attack that featured Syracuse- bound All-American Mike Hatton, was named the game's Outstanding Defensive Player. Not bad for a kid who had not picked up a defenseman's stick until this spring.

He played midfield sparingly last year as he tried to learn the sport and its requisite skills. South Side graduated two starters on last season's defense and coach Joe Baccarella needed to plug the hole. "We asked him to take a pole," Baccarella said. "He's just a phenomenal athlete."

DiPietro said he was impressed by the way Gammello played football as a sophomore on a senior-laden team and thought his skills would translate well on a lacrosse field. "He was just someone you could see picking up the game quickly," DiPietro said.

Gammello is going to Johns Hopkins next year - to play football as a wide receiver. Hopkins lacrosse coach Dave Pietramala has expressed interest and Gammello said he will try to play both sports.

But that's not for a few months. Now Gammello and the rest of the Cyclones will enjoy the glow of the program's first championship. "It's amazing to go out on top and finish your high school career like this," Gammello said. "It's indescribable."

South Side (20-1) finished the season with 17 consecutive wins, with its only loss to MacArthur. Corning East also finished 20-1.

After Kevin Hill scored twice in the first 2:05, the Cyclones allowed four straight goals and trailed 4-2 after one quarter. Five South Side goals in a row rectified that, and the Cyclones took the lead for good when Ed Ege scored with 9:04 left in the third. Game MVP Kent Lucas had three goals and an assist.

Sophomore Danny Orlando made his second start of the season in goal for South Side. Baccarella said it was a tough decision to replace senior starter John Kennedy, but Orlando had been playing well, including 13 saves in a 13-7 semifinal win over defending champ Yorktown on Thursday. Yesterday, Orlando made 17 stops, several on otherwise clear shots by Hatton, who had one goal.

Orlando and Gammello combined to make the final defensive play of the game. With two minutes left, Gammello forced Hatton to pass to Andy Ruocco, whose shot was saved by Orlando. Corning East never had another opportunity to score.

Against Gammello, Orlando and the rest of the South Side defense, there weren't many to begin with.
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