West Islip became the latest Long Island boys lacrosse team to suffer that fate when it lost the Class A state final, 12-6, to Section II champion West Genesee before 1,500 at Hofstra's Shuart Stadium yesterday.

It was the third straight year West Genesee beat a previously undefeated team in the championship game. Northport and Farmingdale preceded West Islip (22-1). It also was the 13th state title for the Wildcats, the most successful program in the state, as West Genesee (23-1) won three consecutive titles for the second time. The Wildcats first did it from 1981-83.

"We were looking to come in and play well, and if we were the best team and we won, that would have been outrageous," West Islip coach Scott Craig said. "In this game, West Genesee was clearly the better team."

That's a role West Islip had been playing all season. Ranked as the top team in the nation by Inside Lacrosse, the Lions won their first Suffolk championship after several near-misses and their first Long Island title. The state championship will have to wait at least another year.

"With all that we accomplished this year, all the things we never did before, I'd rather have all of that than not make it this far," senior midfielder Troy Turri said. "At least we lost to a team like them."

West Islip hung close in the first half and trailed 6-4. The Lions had a chance to close to 6-5 when Frank Bacchi had a shot on the crease, but he was denied by West Genesee goalie Dan McKeon. Moments later, Brian Cost scored one of his five goals for West Genesee, which ran off four straight for a 10-4 lead. West Islip did not score in the third quarter.

"We put a decent number of shots on the goal," Craig said. "But they were a little more disciplined, able to control the ball better in situations. When they needed a goal, they got a goal."

Sal Barcia made seven saves for West Islip, including two fine stops on a sequence in the third quarter that resulted in several scrambles in front of the cage and an eventual West Genesee goal that made the score 9-4. After Barcia lost his cool and was penalized for a slash early in the fourth quarter, Mike Murtha finished the game in goal for the Lions and made three saves.

Cost, who was named the game's most valuable player, said West Genesee's knack of knocking off top-ranked teams comes from its confidence.

"Records don't mean anything," he said. "If you go out there scared, then you are not going to do anything."

W. GENESEE 12

WEST ISLIP 6
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