Hackley Boys Varsity Lacrosse 2019
Hackley Boys Varsity Lacrosse concluded an amazing season with the most exciting lacrosse game in recent memory, overcoming Rye Country Day’s 8-2 halftime lead in the NYSAIS championship game by roaring back in the third quarter with a 10-0 run to claim a second consecutive independent school state title.
Led by 10 seniors, the 19 boys of this squad began preparing very early in the year. Some players were already thinking about this year as they were leaving the team dinner celebrating the 2018 championships, and others were in the weight room and on the fields all last summer, showing up to 7:30 am “Monday Madness” open gyms this fall, participating in winter league, and showing up for Thursday night wall ball and pickup games. The excitement bubbled in the halls even before the season began -- the team could not wait for the start of March and the opportunity to begin competing.
This intensity was on display in Florida during our annual trip to St. Pete’s Beach (or “Paradise” as the seniors took to calling it this year despite the grueling schedule). But a new theme emerged as well -- a toughness, resilience, humility, and togetherness that would be the defining characteristics of this squad. The team took their lumps in Florida, playing nationally-ranked Brunswick and a tough, PG-laced Brewster Academy, among other teams. Though the team lost these two scrimmages, they competed ferociously and walked off the field with their head held high. The toughness they developed as a squad contributed to what they were able to accomplish when faced with adversity later on in the season.
When the Ivy schedule began, the team had Riverdale circled as the team they knew would be aiming to dethrone them. The fact that they not only beat Riverdale twice -- once in a come-from-behind (7-6), scrappy game at Riverdale and another in what was the best game the team had played to that point in the season at home (11-5) provided exclamation points on Hackley’s first undefeated Ivy regular season since 2013. The team accomplished its regular season goal with aplomb, winning their fourth consecutive Ivy League title and a first seed in the NYSAIS Tournament.
The team played beautifully in the tournament, easily dispatching Portledge in the opener in a way that allowed many younger players to get a taste of what tournament play could be like. They then beat an excellent Long Island Lutheran squad in the semifinals with outstanding team defense and textbook zone offense.
And the championship win over Rye Country Day capped of this exceptional season. We expected this to be one of the toughest year’s for Hackley in recent memory, having graduated eight starters, replacing them with freshmen and sophomores. They would be facing a Riverdale team that returned almost their entire squad from the 2018 campaign where they took Hackley to double overtime in the finals. The team’s challenging schedule included five consecutive away games including against Westchester powers Iona Prep and Stepinac. What unfolded given those odds was amazing.
Back
This group was all in from the outset, working hard in the cold, enduring Coach Patierno’s body weight workouts at the end of practices, giving up Saturday mornings, and staying relentlessly positive. These guys looked forward to the opportunity to work hard. They brought energy and intensity to every practice.
This intensity was on display in Florida during our annual trip to St. Pete’s Beach (or “Paradise” as the seniors took to calling it this year despite the grueling schedule). But a new theme emerged as well -- a toughness, resilience, humility, and togetherness that would be the defining characteristics of this squad. The team took their lumps in Florida, playing nationally-ranked Brunswick and a tough, PG-laced Brewster Academy, among other teams. Though the team lost these two scrimmages, they competed ferociously and walked off the field with their head held high. The toughness they developed as a squad contributed to what they were able to accomplish when faced with adversity later on in the season.
When the Ivy schedule began, the team had Riverdale circled as the team they knew would be aiming to dethrone them. The fact that they not only beat Riverdale twice -- once in a come-from-behind (7-6), scrappy game at Riverdale and another in what was the best game the team had played to that point in the season at home (11-5) provided exclamation points on Hackley’s first undefeated Ivy regular season since 2013. The team accomplished its regular season goal with aplomb, winning their fourth consecutive Ivy League title and a first seed in the NYSAIS Tournament.
The team played beautifully in the tournament, easily dispatching Portledge in the opener in a way that allowed many younger players to get a taste of what tournament play could be like. They then beat an excellent Long Island Lutheran squad in the semifinals with outstanding team defense and textbook zone offense.
And the championship win over Rye Country Day capped of this exceptional season. We expected this to be one of the toughest year’s for Hackley in recent memory, having graduated eight starters, replacing them with freshmen and sophomores. They would be facing a Riverdale team that returned almost their entire squad from the 2018 campaign where they took Hackley to double overtime in the finals. The team’s challenging schedule included five consecutive away games including against Westchester powers Iona Prep and Stepinac. What unfolded given those odds was amazing.
Overall Record: 16-2
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