Port Washington finally back on top in Nassau A boys lacrosse
Port Washington celebrates their win in the Nassau Class A boys lacrosse final against Syosset on Monday, May 31, 2022 at Hofstra. Credit: Bob Sorensen
It took one final save for Bradley Hamroff before the large contingent of Port Washington faithful packing the stands at Hofstra’s Shuart Stadium could let out a sigh of relief.
It had been 27 years since the program's last Nassau boys lacrosse championship and it took nearly every second Tuesday night to secure this one.
Henry Haberman’s goal with 5:45 remaining opened up a two-goal lead and No. 2 Port Washington hung on to defeat No. 4 Syosset, 9-8, in front of a crowd of 2,500 to win the Nassau Class A title.
“I’m just so happy for the kids,” Port Washington coach Isaac Neal said. “At the end of the day it’s the body of work that the kids put together. They’re the ones that have to make the plays. Some of them are stupid and some of them are good and we made some good ones to seal it.”
Port Washington will play the winner of Northport and Smithtown East in the Long Island championship at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at Hofstra.
Syosset (9-8) jumped out to a 2-0 lead with goals by Spencer Newman and Brody Waxer three minutes in. Luke Meyer answered with a goal for Port Washington (14-3) midway through the quarter but Syosset fired back with two more by William Crawley and Evan Ostranger to take a 4-1 lead.
Both goalies made key saves down the stretch of the game, recovering from a shaky start.
“To give up four in the first quarter was tough,” Neal said. “But he didn’t put his head down and was resilient so I’m happy for him and proud of him.”
Hamroff finished the game with 13 saves and Zach Finkelstein made 11 stops for Syosset.
“With the defense I have in front of me it’s really easy,” Hamroff said “They make the shots so easy to see and I just stand tall and do what I’m supposed to do.”
Meyer had two goals and two assists and Haberman and Andy Feinstein each had two goals for Port Washington.
‘This is a phenomenal night for all these kids standing here in the blue and white jerseys,” Neal said. “All these young kids who get to see this and hopefully now we can make this a regular thing that our program does.”
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.
