Andrew Danowski, Nicholas Alicanti help Bay Shore boys lacrosse earn key win over Longwood
Bay Shore's Nicholas Alicante (10) shoots and scores while being covered by Longwood's Collin Kelly (44) in the second quarter during the Suffolk High School boys Lacrosse game between Bay Shore and Longwood on Saturday April 27, 2024 at Northport High School Credit: Bob Sorensen
It’s been 346 days since Longwood's boys lacrosse team eliminated Bay Shore from the 2023 Suffolk I semifinals in double overtime. Bay Shore seniors Andrew Danowski, Nicholas Alicanti and Dennis Hodge-Boccanfuso, however, remember the loss like it was yesterday.
The trio seized a chance to get some long-awaited revenge, leading Bay Shore to a 15-6 Suffolk I win over Longwood Saturday at Northport High School.
“It’s definitely a game we had circled all season,” Danowski said. “Getting knocked out last year left a sour taste in our mouth, so we wanted to come back, show who we are and get a win.”
Bay Shore led by just one after the first quarter, but the Marauders took an 11-3 lead after scoring eight unanswered goals. Longwood had no answers for the dynamic duo of Danowski and Alicanti They combined for 17 points.
“I’ve been playing with him since third grade, we know each other really well,” Alicanti said. “We knew we had to make a statement.”
Danowski, who had five goals and five assists, took advantage of mismatches at the X behind the net with short-stick opponents, using his big frame (6-7, 220) to make a perfect pass in front of the cage for an easy finish. Alicanti, who had five goals, was usually the recipient.
Hodge-Boccanfuso won 21 of 25 faceoffs, losing just one after the first quarter. The senior said he was benched after struggling in the first quarter of the 2023 semifinal loss to Longwood, giving him more than enough incentive to be a difference-maker on Saturday.
“If I win faceoffs, it gives my team and attackers like (Alicanti) the opportunity to score the ball,” Hodge-Boccanfuso said. “... I had to make the statement that I wasn’t the same player I was last year.”
Winning 84% of faceoffs kept Longwood from finding a rhythm while Bay Shore consistently held possession and never trailed. The Marauders scored 15 goals across the last three games combined, a rare slump for a team that leaves Saturday averaging just over 10 goals a game.
“We knew we had to make it up to our defense today and get some goals,” Danowski said.
Bay Shore is 8-5 in Suffolk League I. Longwood fell to 7-5.
“Seeing them win in double overtime and realizing the season was over, we knew if we had the chance to play them again it would be personal,” Alicanti said. “We definitely took care of it today.”
