No.1 Panthers Fall to No. 5 Bobcats in Boys Lacrosse Sectional Semi-Final

Pleasantville Panthers boys lacrosse 2011 run came to an end 7-3 Tuesday against the (14-4) Byram Hills Bobcats in a section one Class C sectional semi-final matchup at Pleasantville finishing the season a stellar 17-2.

2010 produced the same result but the Panthers, especially this year’s seniors have come a long way in bringing the Pleasantville boys lacrosse program to recognition.

“I just feel bad for the kids,” Pleasantville Head Coach Bruce Reitenbach said.

The Bobcats move on to play Bronxville in the sectional final at 8 p.m. Thursday at Suffern Middle School.

“We wanted to play Bronxville [in the sectional final],” Reitenbach said. 

Regardless, the third-year head coach said he is honored to have been able to coach the same group of Panthers since his hiring three years ago.

“I’m most proud to be associated with this team," he said.

After Sunday's 13-3 quarterfinal victory over Croton-Harmon, Pleasantville felt they had a handle on the Bobcats from their 11-5 Class C section one quarter-final victory over Sleepy Hollow but struggled to make good passes and execute on groundballs. Exhaustion and summer-like weather was also a factor.

“Our offense was not clicking today,” added Reitenbach.

Kyle O’Laughlin erased a 2-0 deficit unassisted from the left side of the cage in the first quarter before fellow teammate Sklyer Leen came through the Panthers second goal to tie the score at 2-2.

Leen's score was also the 100th  goal of his career with seven minutes left before the break.

Five goals from the Bobcats led the way after that en route to the 7-3 playoff advancing victory despite Owen Reda's lone goal to slim the deficit four.

The Panthers started the season 12-0 before suffering two defeats in their final five games.

While a sectional semi-final would make any squad nervous, the Bobcats composure spelled the way to success.

“Our players were very relaxed,” third year Byram Hills Coach James Baranishyn said. “They were very comfortable in this game,” he said of his players, which are comprised mostly of (13).

Joe Petti had four goals for the Bobcats while Jordan Pollack added support with five assists. Andrew Larrabee finished with five saves.

had 14 for the Panthers to conclude his high school lacrosse career at Pleasantville.

Byram Hills had an easy time with North Salem 20-2 Thursday while the Panthers routed Edgemont 14-2 in first round action.