Continued progress for Lawrence

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Though it may take Lawrence boys’ lacrosse coach Joe Martillotti a little while to put last Saturday’s 15-14 non-conference loss at Mepham in the rearview mirror, he’s optimistic the Golden Tornadoes won’t dwell on it too long.

The Pirates completed a big second-half comeback on Yianni Hilas’ game-winning goal with 40 seconds remaining. Hilas and Jon Olson both scored shorthanded goals off passes from Mike Gilroy (three goals, seven assists) earlier in the fourth quarter to tie it.

“We played really well in the first half, but we were flat after halftime,” Martillotti said. “They beat us on fast breaks in the third quarter. We came right back in the fourth and went ahead by two, but we couldn’t hold them off.

“A lot of the kids were upset,” he added. “They can’t be upset for long because we’ve got an important conference game against Division next.”

Lawrence (4-3 overall, 0-1 in Conference B-II) scored five times in the first quarter and added six more tallies in the second to build an 11-5 halftime cushion. Mepham, which got four goals from Olson and Scott Mateyaschuk, exploded for seven goals in the third to make it 12-12 heading into the fourth.

“We had trouble controlling the ball after face-offs,” Martillotti said.

Seniors Sam LoCascio (four goals, four assists) and Sean Moran (five goals, two assists) combined for 15 points for the Golden Tornadoes, who scored at least 14 goals for the fifth time already this spring after missing the playoffs by the slimmest of margins in 2014.

“We’re better, there’s no question about it,” Martillotti said. “This senior class deserves a lot of credit for bringing the program to another level. It would be huge if we could get into the playoffs this year. Everyone would be disappointed if we didn’t.”

Moran, who quarterbacked Lawrence’s football team to its third consecutive Long Island championship last fall, ranks among the Long Island leaders in scoring with 33 goals and 11 assists. He enjoyed seven-goal games against Malverne/East Rockaway and Elmont, and scored at least twice in each of the team’s first seven contests.

LoCascio hasn’t dressed for every game, missing two, but isn’t far behind Moran on the stat sheet with 21 goals and 13 assists. Nine of those points came against Elmont.

When opponents focus on the Moran-LoCascio tandem, senior Tom Terino has what it takes to make them pay. Terino also has 21 goals and 13 helpers, and had a nine-point game against Elmont. He netted five goals to lead a victory over Clarke. “Tom didn’t pick up a lacrosse stick since his freshman year, and I don’t think he’s put it down since,” Martillotti said.

Senior Jordan Fredericks, football’s Thorp Award winner as the top player in the county, played sparingly last Saturday due to an ankle injury. He’s contributed eight goals and four assists, and brings speed and athleticism. “We’re a different team when Jordan’s on the field,” Martillotti said. “He does so much.”

Other key contributors are seniors Simon Jones and Alex Nolasco, who take draws, juniors Brandon Patterson and Frank Tortarici, and senior goaltender Melik Mavruk.