Bayport-Blue Point Upsets Panthers Boys Lacrosse, 12-9

The number-three Bayport-Blue Point Phantoms upset the number-two Babylon Panthers, 12-9, in the opening round of the Suffolk County Class C boys lacrosse playoffs on Thursday afternoon.

The Phantoms were led by junior attack Kevin Ward, who put the ball in the net three times during the game, and a quick offensive attack kept the Panthers' defense off-balance.

"He's been a rock for us, and a starter since eighth-grade," said Bayport-Blue Point coach Mike Luce. "Whenever he's on the field, we feel pretty safe."

Babylon made a late rally during the fourth quarter. Entering the final eight minutes of the game down 11-6, the Panthers rallied back with quick goals by junior Nick Santorelli and one by senior Sam Ross to close within 11-9, but a late goal by the Phantoms sealed the deal.

"We fought back against a very good team," said Babylon coach John Greaney. "We just made too many forced turnovers... hats off to Bayport, though. They did what they were supposed to."

He added: "[Santorelli and Ray Wardell] are our two go-to guys; where they go, we go. I think the effort and the year we had speaks for itself, but we're not satisfied with the way we played."

"Those guys have a couple of players that can really play," noted Luce. "We had to double them right away. They're a great team and we knew what we were up against; our experience in the playoffs helped us right there. It was really two evenly matched teams."

The Phantoms will play number-one Shoreham-Wading River in the Class C championship game. Luce said his team was definitely confident.

"We have a tough, tough team to face and it's our fourth year back there [in the championship game] and we've only won once. I want to even the record out to 2-2," Luce said.