Syosset Boys Lacrosse Wins Non-Conference Finale

The theme for Syosset boys lacrosse's final non-conference tuneup: No room for error.

"We're a team where if we're not playing at 100 percent all the time, bad things can happen in a hurry," coach John Calabria said after the Braves' 11-8 home win over South Side Thursday.

Moments earlier Syosset had let what looked to be a comfortable fourth quarter turn into a nail-biter. South Side closed within 9-8 with 3:34 left on Gavin Ahern's game-high fifth goal, after Syosset led 9-5 after three quarters. But Syosset's Ryan Hunter responded by scoring with 2:49 left and added another goal just six seconds later to give the Braves some cushion. Hunter finished with a team-high four goals.

While Syosset (2-2) had a lapse, the team also showed what it can do when it's focused. The Braves maintained control of the game by scoring late in quarters, as Hunter fed Jared Godsell for a goal with five seconds left in the first quarter for a 3-2 lead. John Sullivan's goal with four seconds left in the third provided Syosset its 9-5 edge.

The Braves now go into its conference opener at Hicksville Saturday at 7 p.m. The game, which initially was to be played Saturday morning, was moved under the lights at John Walker Memorial Park in Hicksville due to ACT testing members of both teams are taking Saturday mornin