Mike Fargione's goals give Garden City boys lacrosse insurance on way to Nassau Class B title
Mike Fargione #1 of Garden City moves the ball during the second quarter the Nassau County boys lacrosse Class B championship against Calhoun at Shuart Stadium on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. He scored four goals, including two 21 seconds apart in the third quarter that extended the Trojans' lead to 8-4, to lead Garden City to a 12-5 win. Credit: James Escher
Brendan Staub knows how devastating that feeling can be. The feeling of playing so well on the defensive end for an extended period of time just for an opposing team to strike in the closing seconds of a quarter to change the course of a game. And that’s exactly what his teammate did in the final.
Mike Fargione scored two goals over a span of 21 seconds late in the third quarter to give Garden City a four-goal lead entering the fourth quarter. The top-seeded Trojans pulled away to defeat No. 3 Calhoun, 12-5, in the boys lacrosse Nassau Class B final at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium Wednesday.
“It was definitely huge to get us some breathing room, that was a dagger,” said Staub, an All-American defender. “It was huge for us giving us that breathing room going into the fourth quarter and those quick ones kind of put it away there.”
Fargione finished with four goals, including three goals during a 6-0 scoring run in the second half for Garden City. But Fargione was quick to pass the credit to his teammates.
“They were important goals,” Fargione said. “But shout out to the defense for getting the ball down the field quick. That was a great job by the defense and if we didn’t have that, who knows. The game could have been different.”
Garden City (16-2) advances to play Comsewogue (13-5) in the Long Island Class B championship/Southeast Regional Final at Hofstra Saturday at 3 p.m.
Jack Archer added two goals and two assists, Henry Gibbons had two goals, Jay Ottomanelli had a goal and an assist and Staub had two assists.
Calhoun (12-6) didn’t back down from Garden City. Calhoun played the Trojans tough the majority of the contest, trailing 4-2 after the first quarter and 6-4 entering the final minute of the third quarter.
Mark Restivo had 15 saves and Jake Lewis had three goals for Calhoun.
“It’s a Nassau County championship, you can’t take it for granted,” Garden City coach Steve Finnell said. “Both teams played hard, it’s not always easy and I knew they would give us everything they had.”
Garden City defeated Comsewogue, 5-1, in the Long Island Class B championship last season. This year, however, the winner advances to the Southeast Regional Final. The Trojans last won a state title in 2018.
“It’s going to be a crazy atmosphere,” Fargione said. “Back in the LIC playing the same team as last year. They were a great team last year, great team this year and we just have to prepare these next two days.”
