BY JOSEPH STASZEWSKI
SUFFOLK A QUARTERFINALS
No. 3 Half Hollow Hills West (14-3) vs. No. 6 Lindenhurst (13-5)
Half Hollow Hills West is playing as well as any team of late and would love to get a little pay back for a tough loss earlier this season. The Colts 16-14 defeat at the hands of Lindenhurst opened their eyes to the what it takes to beat a top team in Division I. Hills West trailed 5-0 to start the game and mounted a furious comeback that fell shot. Lindenhurst has lost three of its last five games, with losses to both Smithtown teams and West Islip. This contest is one of contrasting styles. Hills West wants to get out in transition as much as possible and Lindenhurst is better passing and cutting in a controlled offense. John Conneelly and David DiMaria give Hills West a one-two punch that will be tough to contend with. Dan DiMaria should be able to control Lindenhurst's Nick Tandoi. The team that controls the pace will win this one. I am picking Half Hollow Hills West because I think they are peaking right now, have a tough offense to contain and have learned from the losses early in the season.
Winner: Half Hollow Hills West
No. 4 Smithtown West (12-6) vs. No. 5 Smithtown East (12-6)
The battle of the Smithtown's interests me the most out of the four games. It think the game is toss up as evident by Smithtown East's 7-6 win on May 19. Nick Travers scored the winner 13 seconds into overtime. Each team has a talented go-to-guy on offense with multiple solid weapons around them. For Smithtown East it's Sean Hickey and Brian Smalley for Smithtown West. Brennan Bailey is a shut down defender for Smithtown West and John Carroll gives Smithtown East the advantage in goal. I think Carroll in goal will be the big help for Smithtown East, which has come on of late. They will pull out another close and maybe overtime win.
Winner Smithtown East
No. 1 Ward Melville (17-0) and No. 2 West Islip (16-1) should win easily in their quarterfinal games. No. 8 Middle Country (13-5) and No. 7 Bay Shore (13-5) have both had excellent seasons, but are not on the level as two of the nations' best teams.