Despite Zanone's Defense, Long Island Boys' Lax Falls Short

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Zach Zanone's face was a mix of sweat and eye black and a study in frustration as he walked off the turf field at Canisius College. The Ward Melville rising senior defenseman had every right to be exhausted and upset after losing a heartbreaking game Friday night in sudden death overtime.

That showdown of 3-0 lacrosse teams is at the very heart of the Empire State Games, a five-day Olympic-style festival which brings together athletes from across the state. And it was a buzz worthy moment equal to the setting – under the Friday night lights and with a boisterous crowd on hand. The Long Island scholastic boys lacrosse team, the four-time defending champs, rallied from a 5-0 deficit when Smithtown West's James Pannell scored with 3:10 left to forge a tie at 7.

But the Central region, on its collective heels for much of the second half, took the game, 8-7, on a goal with 2:06 left in OT.

"Some things just don't go your way every game," Zanone said. "We were on defense the whole first quarter and that was tough. It didn't work out tonight. It was a one-goal game. Just one goal in the first or second quarter and we would have taken that game."

Not to worry. Long Island faces woeful New York City (0-4) on Saturday at 5 p.m. The City has never beaten the Island. A win assures Zanone and Co. a spot in the gold medal game on Sunday and a rematch with the Syracuse-laden team from Central. 

"We know we can beat these guys," Zanone said.

Bring it on.

Zanone knows rivalries. Is there a bigger one in lacrosse than Ward Melville-West Islip? The two teams have met in the last six Suffolk title games. West Islip has won each and gone on to capture state championships in four of the last five seasons.

It's no surprise that Zanone, a varsity player for three seasons and relentless on defense, emerged from a tryout process of 712 players to make the 20-man Empire team.

"He's intelligent, a very good stick and he's good between the lines," Empire coach Jay Mauro said. "I think he's gotten better as the summer has gone on."

What is head-scratching is why he's not drawing more attention from colleges. Siena and Cortland are two schools pursuing Zanone. Yes, he is undersized at 5-9, 155 pounds. But on a team stocked with Duke, UMass and Johns Hopkins recruits, Zanone is more than holding his own.

Defense is all chemistry, Zanone said. Not about freelancing. After more than a month of practices and playing tournaments down the East Coast, this Long Island Empire team is no longer a collection of rivals. And Zanone has fit in well, even with West Islip's Michael Sagl. 

"I think we've all learned something from each other," Zanone said. "It's been great playing with these guys."

This was hardly the night to ask for introspection. Long Island had gone 12-0 in exhibition play and then handily beaten Western, Hudson Valley and Adirondack before stumbling to Central. The players were stunned and angry.

The defense played as well as could be expected. Long Island held Central to just two goals over the final 18:20 of regulation. As the crowd cleared out, Zanone managed to find the memory in the moment.

"This game was a lot of fun," Zanone said. "Despite the loss, this is what you play lacrosse for."

Then he slung a duffel bag of equipment over his shoulder and walked off into the night. There will be another day and another game.