This past Friday, the William Floyd boys’ varsity lacrosse team gave its seniors a night to remember, earning a hard-fought 12-8 victory over South Fork on Senior Night.
Led by head coach Desmond Megna, the Colonials battled through a competitive contest to improve their overall record to 6-4 and move to 4-4 in Division I play as they continue their push for a second consecutive playoff berth.
The game began at a fast pace, with William Floyd scoring the first two goals of the night. South Fork answered quickly, however, and the Colonials held only a slim 4-3 advantage after an entertaining opening quarter.
William Floyd then took control in the second quarter. The Colonials played strong defense, limiting South Fork to just one goal while adding three of their own offensively. That impressive stretch sent William Floyd into halftime with a 7-4 lead and momentum firmly on its side.
South Fork refused to go away and trimmed the deficit to two goals during the third quarter, but the Colonials responded once again when it mattered most. William Floyd scored four times in the fourth quarter to pull away and secure the 12-8 win.
Marc Pluchino continued his outstanding season with a dominant all-around performance, finishing with game-high totals of four goals and three assists. Matt Taiani also made a major impact, recording two goals and two assists.
Three other Colonials posted multiple-point efforts, including PJ Gilhauley with two goals and one assist, Ryan Murtha with one goal and two assists, and Matt Filosa with one goal and one assist. Jack Meyer and Brett Pitkanen each added a goal as well.
In net, goaltender Matt Shaw turned in a tremendous effort, making 20 saves to help preserve the victory. His strong play between the pipes was a major factor throughout the night.
Prior to the game, William Floyd honored its 11 senior players in a ceremony with family members, friends, coaches, and teammates. Recognized were Avery Bent, Jake Bongiovi, Matt Filosa, JP Galasso, PJ Gilhauley, Marquis Johnson, Jameek Lee-Rudd, Josiah Lors, Jack Meyer, Brett Pitkanen, and Marc Pluchino.
The Colonials now turn their attention to another important Division I matchup when they travel to face Huntington on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. With momentum building, William Floyd will look to continue its strong play in the final stretch of the season.