Lynbrook storms into playoffs

In search of its first Nassau County championship since finishing atop Class C in 2003, Lynbrook’s boys’ lacrosse team enters the playoff tournament fresh off a perfect regular-season mark against Conference B-2 foes, including a thrilling come-from-behind 8-7 overtime victory over preseason No. 1 Manhasset.

“We’ve been on a roll,” coach Bill Leighley said after the Owls knocked off Hewlett, 10-2, last Saturday on the turf at Marion Street Elementary School behind junior Gordon Purdie’s hat trick. “We’ve got a selfless group with a tremendous work ethic,” Leighley added. “They’re all on the same page and enjoy each other’s company, and that stuff goes a long way on the field.”

Eight-time defending Class B champion Garden City remains the team to beat, Leighley said, but the gap between the top-ranked Trojans and the rest of the contenders is as small as it has been in a long time. Lynbrook, which lost to Long Beach in the quarterfinals a year ago, enters the playoffs with wins in 23 of its last 25 games dating back to 2013. Manhasset, South Side, Carey, Wantagh, and Long Beach are also very much in the hunt.

“Coming into the season, we felt we had more experience in key spots on offense and the chemistry fell into place pretty quickly,” Leighley explained. “Nobody cares who gets the glory. They just have a good time with each other on and off the field.”

Seniors Joe Grossi and Austin Fabel added two goals and an assist apiece as the Owls improved to 13-1 overall. “It’s been a great season so far,” said Grossi, who scored 1:05 into overtime off a feed from Michael McVeigh to beat Manhasset April 26 after Fabel found the net with 11 seconds remaining in regulation to tie a game the Owls trailed by three at halftime and got 14 saves from junior goalie Brendan McDougal.