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Cold Spring Harbor 's Jacob Ghitelman checks Huntington's Patrick Einhorn during a fundraiser boys lacrosse game for juvenile diabetes. (Newsday/Bob Mitchell / March 30, 2008)
BY JOSEPH STASZEWSKI
Greg Hanley made just one save for Cold Spring Harbor, but it was the most important one. Hanley was seeing his first game action this season after missing every scrimmage because of thigh contusions entering Cold Spring Harbor's 9-5 victory over host Huntington yesterday.
"He's only been cleared about a week," Seahawk coach Dennis Bonn said.
The junior replaced starting goalie Christian Dzwilewski after Dzwilewski's unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty put Huntington up a man, trailing 6-5. Hanley made a stick save and helped outlet the ball to end the penalty.
"That was a big confidence booster," Cold Spring Harbor's Jacob Ghitelman said. "That lifted us."
Huntington is going to have to find other sources of offense outside Steve Mock. The senior is certainly skilled, but Cold Spring Harbor took him away and that really disrupted the Blue Devil's attack and limited its ability to get to the net.
"Anyone can tell you that Mock is our best player," Huntington coach Paul McDermott said. "That's what you have to try to do to him."
Huntington's defense and goalie Mark Salerno played well, but the Blue Devil's were unable to scoop up key ground balls, allowing Cold Spring Harbor to control the game’s tempo.
"We are not coming up with ground ball's right on our own crease and that's what’s killing me," McDermott said.
Lions Roar in Second Half
West Islip got a bit of a scare trailing by a goal at half time in an eventual 15-10 win over Massapequa in its season opener on Friday. Michael Vigilante and the Massapequa attack weren't having much trouble getting to the cage early. You could tell it was the Lions' first game and the Chiefs third. But leave it to Nicky Galasso to turn the game’s momentum in flash. Galasso looked on pace for about an eight goals after scoring three in the first quarter. His goal and assist to end the third totally shifted any energy to West Islip, which outscored Massapequa 9-3 after half time.
"Galasso is just a hell of a lacrosse player," Massapequa coach Steve Mollot said. "He is just tough to stop."
If you want to read more about Galasso and his relationship with fellow attack Ed Plompen check out Newsday's Spring Sports Preview Section in today's paper or the story online.