Boys lacrosse powerhouses putting lessons learned at state final four into play

The conversation was less than amicable last week when Pleasantville came off the field at halftime.

And the Panthers had a comfortable lead at Bronxville.

Knowing all too well the importance of eliminating issues that might derail a memorable season is elevating the level of accountability.

“With the chemistry we have, we’re not doing any damage,” Pleasantville captain Daniel Picart said. “It can be a little much sometimes, but we expect so much and we get on each other about the little things. We can be the best team in Section 1, but there are some little things holding us back, so we’re trying to tune it up to be ready.”

That's the goal at Rye, as well.

Both programs rank among the best in Section 1. Both teams advanced to the NYSPHSAA semifinals in Albany last spring and experienced the magnitude of the moment.

It was a bit overwhelming.

“That is a huge game,” Garnets defenseman Chris Iuliano said. “We’ve really got to learn how to win that one and move on.”

Neither team started particularly well. Neither team looked comfortable.

“It was a big moment,” Panthers coach Chris Kear said. “It may have been too big of a moment and then you add in the fact that we had a three-hour weather delay. We’re on the field. We’re off the field. The team we were playing, they had been there before. Some of those guys had been there multiple times.”

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There was no overcoming the bumpy starts. Cold Spring Harbor hung a 7-3 loss on Pleasantville, and Manhasset posted a 13-6 win over Rye.

“Our staff got together and brainstormed after that loss,” Garnets coach Steve Lennon said. “We’ve been there a few times and it hasn’t gone our way. We had a three-goal deficit against Garden City two years ago and a five-goal deficit against Manhasset, so we’re doing something poorly at the jump.”

Both programs increased the level of planning.

Neither side lost a lot to graduation, so the schedules were dialed up to include more traditional Section 1 and state powers than in past seasons. Playing talented opponents that turn miscues into goals is a proven way to level up ahead of the playoffs.

“We decided to start heavy and every six games or so, make sure we’re playing nationally ranked opponents,” Lennon said. “Ending the season against a team the caliber of Ridgefield was calculated. We’re just really trying to prepare ourselves, so if we can get out of sectionals, which is a difficult task in its own right, we’ve already seen high-level competition.”

Of course, there are going to be a few blowout wins, which is why both squads are big on accountability.

“They’re all in right now,” Kear said. “They’ve been all in since December, so the motivation is there. I think the hard part for us is the regular season because they’re already kind of thinking about the playoffs and we have to remind them to get through these games first.”

Repeating at sectionals is not a given. A win this season against Rye or Pleasantville is a big deal and the Garnets and Panthers know they will not be handed any hardware just for showing up.

“We have a lot of pressure on us now,” Rye attackman Tyler McDermott said. “People have a lot of expectations and we’re a relatively young team, so I think we have to rely on our culture. We’re here to win and these big games take us to the next level.”

Coincidentally, these schools have also enjoyed a lot of gridiron success. Pleasantville got to a state championship game years ago and Rye won a state title last fall. Both rosters are heavy with football players and that experience helps, too.

“Some of what they need is intrinsic,” Kear said. “A lot of these guys have had success with everything they’ve ever done.”

Even so, there have been plenty of lessons in leadership this spring.

“You need to have high standards,” Lennon added. “Everyone is motivated differently so we do a lot of work on teambuilding with our captains and older guys and help them find ways to motivate each other. Our focus is mainly on the effort plays. We are ruthless to each other if you miss a backup on a shot or you don’t get above the ball on a ride or you fail to go all in on a ground ball.”

The gameday logistics will be reviewed, too, if these teams advance.

Long Island teams usually go up the night before the game. Rye and Pleasantville arrived within two hours of the scheduled faceoff. The section doesn’t cover the cost of an overnight because the schools are within a reasonable distance of the site.

And when thunderstorms moved in last May, the Long Island teams already had a plan in place to feed the athletes during the delay.

“We need to develop Plan A, Plan B and Plan C so we don’t get caught short,” Lennon said.

Dealing with a high-quality opponent is the final hurdle.

The state is divided East and West for the NYSPHSAA semifinals. This year, Section 1 has a bye in the first round of regionals, so the four champions will head for Wilbur H. Lynch Literacy Academy in Amsterdam to face Section 2 opponents.

A win earns a state final four appearance.

There is usually a Long Island heavyweight to deal with in that game and there is usually no way to scheme around that kind of depth and talent.

“Any team that is getting out of Long Island is probably in the top 25 nationally,” Lennon said. “You’re going to have to beat a team that can beat some of the best in the country. You’re never just going to get lucky. You have to be ready for it. You have to play them straight up, so right now, we’re trying to play as many teams as we can that are on that level.”

That’s a lot to deal with on the physical side, enough to unleash some aggressive pregame butterflies. Add in the finality that hangs over each playoff game, and they become downright unruly.

It’s not just another game.

“There is always going to be hype around that game so you have to try to focus up and treat it like it really is just another game,” Picart said. “But there is more pressure because you spent the whole season getting ready for that game.”

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Rye, Pleasantville lacrosse motivated to return to state semifinals