Pelella, Comsewogue lacrosse beat SWR

Nick Pelella lives a methodical life on the lacrosse field.

Dig in your toes, win a faceoff, sprint off the field, walk to the end of the bench, and wait until the next draw. Occasionally, one of his benchmates will turn around and offer a low-five.

He's the classic FOGO -- faceoff, get off (the field).

Though Pelella sees only sporadic game action and plays one of the sport's most thankless positions, he is one of Comsewogue's senior captains and one of the most respected members of the team.

In the Warriors' biggest game of the season to date, Pelella was the difference, as he won 19 of 23 faceoffs and host Comsewogue beat Shoreham-Wading River, 12-9, Saturday in a battle of undefeated Division II boys lacrosse teams.

Comsewogue (10-0, 9-0) and West Islip are the lone remaining unbeatens in Suffolk.

"As a goalie or faceoff man, it's a all mental," Comsewogue coach Pete Mitchell said. "For Nicky, that's his profession. It's what he does."

SEE PHOTOSComsewogue 12, Shoreham-Wading River 9

So how does he do it with such proficiency?

"Basically, it's just a straight-up clamp," the senior, who will serve the same role at Stony Brook next season, said. "When I start looking up, I've got it clamped. I'm just checking to see where my teammates are."

Pelella swept the ball to Comsewogue's dynamic scorers -- Ryan Brunet and Pat Menezes (a Shoreham-Wading River transfer), who each scored three goals, and Connor Duddy, who added two goals and three assists.

"Nicky's probably the best faceoff guy I've ever played with," Duddy said. "He affects the whole momentum."

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Shoreham-Wading River (9-1, 8-1) led 2-0 when its faceoff man and standout attack, Trevor Brosco, aggravated a hamstring injury. He hobbled off just six minutes in and didn't return. Said Mitchell: "Brosco's a tremendous player, but Shoreham's not just one or two guys."

Mike Malave, who led SWR with three goals and three assists, replaced Brosco in the circle and won three faceoffs, but couldn't outduel Pelella.

Peter Gersbeck scored his first of three goals on an extra-man opportunity to give SWR a 3-0 lead. SWR led 4-1 after Tim Rotanz' goal, but Comsewogue went on a 9-3 run, capped by Menezes' third goal, that made it 10-7 with 1:46 left in the third.

After last season's four-overtime thriller, Pelella squashed any comeback attempt by winning the ensuing faceoff after SWR closed to within 11-9. Said Pelella: "I do my part for the team, and they do their part, too."

Pelella's part is a bit more systematic. Such is the life of a FOGO.