MIDDLETOWN – Maybe next year.
Or the year after that.
Section 9’s winless streak in the state tournament is bound to end some day.
It just didn’t happen on Tuesday.
Section 1 champion Lakeland Panas defeated Section 9 champion Warwick 18-6 in the state Class A quarterfinals at Middletown High School.
Warwick was the third Section 9 team of the day to fall in the state quarterfinals.
As the horn sounded, the scene was more subdued than last Wednesday’s raucous celebration after Warwick captured its second Section 9 Class A championship.
“There were no tears,” said Warwick senior attackman Byron Quinn, who will play at Division III Gordon College next year. “I’m so proud of this group of guys. This group of seniors has been playing together for a long time, some since fifth grade. I’m going to miss playing with them.”
But it’s hard to feel bad for Warwick’s run the past couple of years. Warwick, which started its program in 2004, has done more in a short time than several other Section 9 teams. In addition to the back-to-back titles, the Wildcats went undefeated in the section this season and produced two U.S. Lacrosse all-Americans in Quinn and senior goalie Mike Grace.
“It’s such a great honor,” said Grace, who will play at Division II Assumption College next year. “It shows what a great defense I had in front of me. And I have this cool plaque on my wall.”
Warwick, which lost to Guilderland 10-6 in the opening round of the state tournament last year, wasn’t as competitive against Lakeland Panas. The Wildcats lost control early in the game as Lakeland Panas reeled off eight unanswered goals before James Kolesar put Warwick on the board. Warwick senior midfielder Collin Baldwin scored just before halftime, but Lakeland Panas took an 11-2 lead at the break and never looked back.
“I don’t think I’ve given up eight goals in two games,” said Grace, who finished with nine saves. “I knew at that point which way the game was going. But we tried to stay positive. The better team won today. We go out as the two-time defending champs.”
Quinn, who leads the section in scoring with 62 goals and 46 assists, had three goals and senior midfielder Collin Baldwin, James Kolesar and Sam Brown each had a goal for Warwick (17-2).
“Nobody expects anything from a Section 9 team,” Quinn said. “They’re an amazing team. It’s a level of play we’re not used to seeing. But it’s impressive what we’ve done the past couple years here.”
Robert Caffrey had eight goals and three assists and William Fallo had two goals and four assists for Lakeland Panas (19-3). Lakeland Panas will play the Long Island champion in the state semifinals 8 p.m. Thursday at Hofstra University.
mwassef@th-record.com
Here are the updates from the game:
Lakeland wins 18-6.
L leads 17-5, 7:37 to go.
Warwick’s Byron Quinn scored his 2nd goal. But L leads 16-5, 10:17 to play.
L leads 16-4 11:23 to go.
L leads 15-4 end of 3rd qtr.
L leads 14-4, 5:14 in 3rd.
L leads 14-3, 5:50 in 3rd.
Lakeland leads 13-3, 1:12 in 3rd.
Warwick’s Sam Brown scores. Lakeland leads 12-3, 7:12.
L leads 12-2, 9:11 in 3rd.
Warwick’s Collin Baldwin scored just before halftime. But Lakeland leads 11-2 at halftime. So much for hoping for a close game.
Shawn Honovich scores his 3rd goal to give L a 9-1 lead, 2:37 left in 2nd.
James Kolesar scores Warwick’s first goal. Lakeland still leads 8-1, 4:16 in 2nd.
Lakeland leads 8-0, 9:44 in 2nd.
Lakeland leads 7-0 end of 1st qtr.
Rob Caffrey gives Lakeland a 6-0 lead, 3:16 in 1st.
Lakeland is rolling and is off to a 5-0 lead in 1st qtr. timeout Warwick.
Lakeland leads 4-0, 7:33 in 1st.
Shawn Honovich gives Lakeland a 3-0 lead, 8:26 in 1st.
L leads 2-0.
Lakeland leads 1-0 at 9:44 in 1st.
We’re about 30 minutes from faceoff. Let’s hope Warwick makes this a game!!
Holbrook quits tennis
The Section 9 girls’ tennis scene has completely changed for the upcoming season.
Defending Section 9 singles champion Morgan Holbrook said Tuesday she will not play tennis this season.
“I lost the love for the sport,” said Holbrook, who was undefeated in the section last year. “I didn’t enjoy it. It wasn’t fun anymore. I love the competition, but I can do other things.”
The Valley Central junior said she made the decision to walk away after states last year and even contemplated not playing last season as well.
Holbrook, who has been playing tennis since she was 8, said she will try out for soccer this fall and concentrate on lacrosse in the spring.
Holbrook said she has not spoken to Valley Central girls’ tennis coach Jeanmarie Flanagan and Valley Central has already began practicing for the season.
Holbrook, who also won the OCIAA singles title last season, defeated Wallkill’s Ariel Haber 6-2, 6-3 in the section championship last year. But now with Holbrook out of the mix, Haber, the MHAL champion, Wallkill freshman Olga Ostrovetsky and Minisink Valley’s Taylor Gurda are some of the contenders for the section championship this season.