Joey Spallina propels Mt. Sinai boys lacrosse to victory over Shoreham-Wading River
Mt. Sinai attack Joey Spallina looks to get around Shoreham-Wading River defense Jake Whitney in a Suffolk Division II lacrosse game, Thursday, May 12, 2022 at Mt. Sinai. Credit: George A Faella
Joey Spallina is used to defenses keying in on him for most of his varsity career at Mount Sinai. And even when they add an extra defender into the mix he’s still nearly impossible to contain.
Spallina had three goals and six assists, his final helper coming with the defense offside and with seven defenders on the field, as host Mt. Sinai defeated Shoreham-Wading River, 12-7, in a battle of undefeated teams in Suffolk II.
“I look to pass first, I'm not a score first guy,” Spallina said. “I just try to create space for my teammates and finding guys wide open is what I do best.”
Neither team found much space early on as the only goal of the first quarter was scored by Mt. Sinai’s James Carretta off a great feed inside the teeth of the defense by Spallina.
Spallina found his brother Jake early in the second before Shoreham-Wading River brothers connected on a goal when Alec Gregorek scored on a pass from Liam Gregorek.
But that was the last time Shoreham-Wading River (15-1, 13-1) was within a single goal, as Mt. Sinai scored four more times in the second quarter to take a 6-2 lead into the half.
“Everybody is so worried about Joey and he gets so many assists because all we have to do is just cut and get open and we get some easy goals,” Cole Marsala, who scored four goals, said. “It’s been like that the whole season.”
Shoreham-Wading River got back into it midway through the third quarter after Alec Gregorek scored to get the Wildcats to within 7-5. Alec had two goals and an assist, Liam Gregorek had a goal and an assist and Liam Kershis had two goals and two assists for Shoreham-Wading River.
But Mt. Sinai had a quick answer as Joey Spallina scored on a blast from up top and Carretta added his second goal to restore the lead to 4.
“We’ve lost the past three years to them so this was one that we really wanted,” Marsala said. “We gave it all we had.”
Joey Spallina added a goal in the fourth and Marsala scored twice before Kershis added a late goal to provide the final margin.
“I know we won by five goals which is great but they’re a great team,” Mt. Sinai coach Harold Drumm said. “I think if you play this game 10 times there would be different outcomes each time.”
The win secured the top seed in the Suffolk Class C playoffs for the Mustangs (16-0, 14-0), who will host a semifinal game on May 24.
“Just to be out here today in this great environment was amazing,” Spallina said. “I think this is the best place to play on Long Island and to get the win today in front of this crowd was awesome.”
Gene Morris joined Newsday's sports department in September 2012 and covers high school sports. He earned a journalism degree from Stony Brook University in 2010.
