Lynbrook ousted in quarterfinals

Lynbrook’s four-year run of reaching at least the semifinal stage of the boys’ lacrosse playoffs was halted last week when a fourth quarter rally fell short against Bethpage in the Class C quarterfinals.

The Owls fought hard until the final whistle before ultimately falling to at third-seeded Bethpage, 9-7, on May 22 after trailing by three goals entering the final period. Bethpage advanced to face Wantagh in the semis at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium while Lynbrook’s season full of ups and downs finished at 9-8.

“It’s been a long time since we haven’t made it to at least the semis,” said Lynbrook head coach Bill Leighley, who led the Owls to a Long Island championship in 2014 and county runner up finishes in 2015 and 2017. “The kids performed much better than they were expected.”

Lynbrook, which also fell to Bethpage by a 9-7 score in an April 17 regular-season meeting, hung tough once again in the rematch thanks to two goals apiece from Sean Barrett and Mike Bouhall. The Owls also received goals from Mason Pontrelli, Matt Renz and Jesse Candel while goalie Kevin Loonie kept the score tight with eight saves.

“The kids played tough all the way through,” Leighley said. “We just dug ourselves too much of a hole.”

Lynbrook was in position to make another Hofstra appearance at Hofstra after a 9-4 first-round win against 11th-seeded Plainedge on May 18. Renz shined with four goals while Bouhall registered six assists.

The Owls rebounded from a slow start in Conference C-1 to reach the playoffs. A heartbreaking 10-9 overtime loss to North Shore on April 28 left Lynbrook at 1-3 in league play before the Owls turned the season around. A 9-6 triumph at Oyster Bay on May 1 began a stretch of winning four of five games to close the reason season.

 The season-ending loss to Bethpage capped the Lynbrook lacrosse careers of senior captains Tom O’Brien, Tom Urena, Renz and Bouhall. Senior midfielder Garrett Handel also had a strong final year of high school lacrosse and along with the captains provided leadership for the underclassmen on and off the field.

“We asked them to be players that everyone in the community can root for,” said Leighley of his seniors. “They knocked that one of out of the park.”

Attackmen Bouhall and Renz along with Urena (defense) were recognized with All-County accolades. Junior defenseman John Dibenedetto earned honorable mention All-County honors with Handel and juniors Jesse Candel (attack) and Joe DeMonte (defense) getting named to the All-Conference team.

Leighley is looking for Dibenedetto, Candel, DeMonte, Barrett and Loonie to lead the team as seniors next spring in a deep playoff push. He said the juniors will provide a firm foundation for next year’s team after fostering a close relationship during the 2018 campaign.

“They really bonded as a group,” he said. “It’s a special brotherhood to be a Lynbrook lacrosse player.”