Improbable rally lifts lacrosse team

by Eric Keppeler
Grand Island Dispatch, April 27, 2007

Collin Gallagher’s fifth goal of the game lifted Grand Island to an unlikely 11-10 win over Williamsville East on Wednesday in Western New York Class B boys lacrosse.

The Vikings trailed 10-6 with five minutes left in the game but mounted a comeback – including three goals in the final minute – as Grand Island evened its record to 2-2 overall and improved to 2-1 in the division.

“This was a huge win for us,” said Grand Island coach Steve Steck. “It really puts us back into the mix.”

Senior Phil Wendt added two goals and three assists to boost his team-leading point total to 15 points. Wendt also registered three huge faceoff wins in the final minute to help decide the game.

Nick Shemik scored with a minute left to pull the Vikings to within 10-9. After Wendt won the faceoff, junior Mike Magaris scooped up the loose ball, took it behind the East net and then scored on a wrap-around play with 45 seconds remaining to knot the score at 10. Wendt then controlled the ensuing faceoff and pushed it ahead to Gallagher, who completed the comeback 15 seconds later.

The win was the second straight for the Vikings after Grand Island opened the season with losses to Amherst and Canisius. The Vikes rebounded with an 11-0 win over Williamsville South on Monday as senior James Rayhill registered the shutout in goal.

The Vikings have seen their lineup riddled by injury and circumstance. Midfielder Jordan Stickl had his season ended by a torn ACL, and attackman Alex Hultgren has been sidelined by illness.

Grand Island also has been without attackman Ryan Samland and his brother, midfielder Justin, for the past two games after their mother passed away Monday. It is not certain when they will return. Gallagher, a cousin of the Samlands, also missed Monday’s game, although he was back for the win against East.

Steck has been forced to raid coach Sean Reddien’s junior varsity roster, and the youngsters came up large against Williamsville South. Freshman midfielder Andrew LaLonde scored a goal in that victory, while sophomores Matt Ludwig and Kyle Spratford added two goals apiece.

“Those kids really stepped up,” Steck said. “Now with Stickl hurt, we’re probably going to have to keep some of them – probably LaLonde and Spratford because we really need some depth at midfield. Ludwig will probably go back because he’s an attackman and he’s really the heart and soul of the JV team, but it’s nice to know he’s there when I need him.”

So despite considerable turmoil and misfortune, the Vikings find themselves very much in the thick of the division race.

“I’m so proud of the way the guys have played,” Steck said. “After all we’ve gone through, I’m very happy with where we are. We started out a little slow, but now we’re starting to get our legs under us.”

Grand Island plays at 7 p.m. tonight at West Seneca East and then at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Lake Shore before returning home to play Sweet Home at 5 p.m. Thursday.