Huntington boys lacrosse tops Smithtown East on Luca Cuozzo's goal 47 seconds into overtime
Luca Cuozzo is mobbed by Huntington teammates after his overtime goal won it against Smithtown East on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Julian Watts thinks this Huntington boys lacrosse team has a chance to do something special this season. The coach’s Blue Devils did something Thursday that should make them believers, too.
After Smithtown East delivered a jolt, forcing OT as time ran out in regulation, Huntington didn’t get deflated.
Luca Cuozzo won at the faceoff X, then scored his third goal 47 seconds into the extra session to give the Blue Devils an exhilarating 8-7 home win.
“That game kind of assured us that we’re good enough and we’ve got the right guys to make it far,” the UMass-bound senior faceoff/attackman said.
It sure helps that Huntington (3-1, 2-1 in Suffolk I) has 19 seniors. Watts likes their leadership. And he liked the commitment from his guys to put in the offseason work.
“I could just tell right away that this group was special, just all the expectations (from) the coaches, they did rise to them,” Watts said.
The Bulls (2-2, 2-1) also got edged by the Blue Devils in their previous meeting. Huntington won 7-6 in double OT in the 2024 Suffolk Class A quarterfinals before exiting in the semis.
“The kids are all upset right now,” Smithtown East coach Kevin Huff said, “but we’re hoping we’ll be able to see them again at the end.”
The Blue Devils were the ones who had scored late to force OT against Northport in the previous game before falling.
This time, Cuozzo ended the game by scoring from in close against standout senior goalie Brendan Carroll, who had made 15 saves. Tommy Kline set it up.
“He had a good dodge,” Cuozzo said. “I broke free on the crease. Great goalie, but we made a great play.”
After the Bulls called for time with 9.2 seconds left in the fourth, Cameron James made a long run from the left side to behind the cage, and the senior attackman fed Teddy Baratta for his second goal.
“We gave our best player the ball and told him to make a play,” Huff said of James, “and he did.”
Huntington, which got two goals and two assists from Timmy McDonald, scored five straight to go from down 5-2 at halftime to up 7-5 with 4:47 left in the fourth. But it would need one more.
So what’s Watts’ definition of something special?
“Making it to the Suffolk County championship,” he said, “(and) being a Suffolk County champion.”