Wantagh Boys Lacrosse Shuts Out Mepham

The Wantagh Warriors started the scoring surge early against the Mepham Pirates boys lacrosse team in their Conference II league opener on Friday afternoon.

The Warriors (4-2) put up nine goals in the first quarter to shut out the Pirates (3-3) in a 16-0 rout.

Mepham has had a strong start to the season with wins over Calhoun, Lawrence and Locust Valley in their first five games, all non-league match ups. However, with a top-heavy Conference II with the likes of South Side, Great Neck South, Garden City, Elmont, Division and the Wantagh team they played Friday, the next few weeks figure to be a challenge.

Wantagh's Ryan Walsh had a game-high four goals, all in the first quarter. Grady Weber picked up four points in the first frame as well with a goal of his own and three assists.

A number of other Warriors picked up multiple points against the Pirates, including John Ingrilli and Steven Beckwith, who each had a goal and two assists. Matt Balzano and Cory Stavis each put in two goals.

Wantagh has matched up against, and beaten, a pair of non-Long Island teams early on in the season to further test themselves. The Warriors defeated Hendrick Hudson (NY), 15-3, and Cherry Creek, the defending Colorado state champions, 9-7.

Mepham got just two shots on goal in four quarters as Wantagh ran away with the win early.

Heroes: Ryan Walsh followed up a four goal, three assists performance against Hendrick Hudson last Saturday with four early goals against Mepham. Walsh now has 17 goals and four assists on the season.

Turning Point: The league opener started in one direction and kept going the same way for the extent of the game. Wantagh put up nine goals in the first 12 minutes.

Quotable: "We only had three possessions in the first quarter, all of which we made turnovers," Mepham head coach James Koster said. "We had a step up in class against Wantagh, so it was tough all the way through."

"Our athleticism overtook them, but they played hard throughout the whole game and I commended them for not giving up," Wantagh head coach Gary Rae said. "Our goal every year is to win the county championship. Last year we came close, losing in the finals, but it is our goal each time."

Bottom Line: Mepham has shown some promise in the early stages of the season, but it figures to be an uphill climb the rest of the way against perennial contenders in conference.

Wantagh dropped early games to Sayville and Massapequa, but it has not deterred them to go for the county title in the long run.

Key Stat: The 16 goals by Wantagh was a new season high for the team; it gives them 31 goals in just their last two games.

Who’s Next: Mepham vs. Great Neck South, April 13, 4:15 p.m.; Wantagh @ Seaford, April 11, 4:15 p.m.

Box Score:

Goals-Assists: M- None. Totals- 0-0. W: Walsh 4-0, Balzano 2-0, Stavis 2-0, Weber 1-3, Ingrilli 1-2, Beckwith 1-2, Bonanno 1-0, Von Bargen 1-0, Reicherter 1-0, Watson 1-0, Fulmefreddo 1-0, Giardina 0-1.  Totals- 16-8.