The LoHud Boys Lacrosse Blog

Yorktown scored twice in the final 1:16 to pull of a memorable 10-9 Murphy Cup win. (Photo by Dave Kennedy/The Journal News).

For photos from the Murphy Cup game, “click here.”:http://jukebox.lohud.com/photos/index.php?sport=blax&section=sports&display=16

For a video, “click here.”:http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=VIDEO

You know it’s a big regular-season game if the equipment goes flying. That’s usually reserved for overtime playoff wins or championships.

But that’s how both games involving Yorktown and John Jay ended today. Yorktown was throwing its equipment in jubilation after an exhilarating 10-9 win over Lakeland/Panas in the Murphy Cup; John Jay was watching Niskayuna celebrate after losing 9-5 to the Silver Warriors at Union College in Schenectady.

“They acted like they had won the national championship,” John Jay assistant coach Vin Savastano said.

Savastano wasn’t begrudging Niskayuna, noting that John Jay had done the same in last year’s win over Manhasset.

The point is that both of these regular-season games were huge, and the celebrations indicated as much.

Yorktown continued its inconsistent play. The team that defeated Long Island powers Chaminade and St. Anthony’s has needed last-second wins to beat Brewster and now, L/P.

Yorktown was decent in the first half, terrific in the third quarter, lackluster in the fourth, and then clutch in the final moments.

“I’m relieved and happy to win, but really bothered by all the breakdowns we had in the fourth,” Yorktown coach Dave Marr said.

But Yorktown avoided what would have been a disastrous loss with two goals in the final 1:16, the winner coming from John Ranagan’s bounce shot with 16.6 seconds left. After Ranagan scored, goalie Michael Bonitatibus sprinted the length of the field to mob Ranagan.

“Probably the fastest I’ve ever run,” Bonitatibus said.

A few seconds later, when the win was secured, Yorktown threw its gear and equipment up in the air to rejoice in the win.

As for John Jay, the Indians scored two early goals before giving up seven straight and going down 7-2 in the third.

Savastano said Niskayuna packed its zone defense well and made it very difficult. John Jay closed to 7-5 by the end of the third quarter and Savastano said it had six chances, including a one-on-one shot from Tyler Granelli, who had a goal and three assists, from 4 yards out to make it 7-6, but couldn’t convert. Niskayuna scored twice in the fourth quarter to extend it to 9-5.

Yorktown would likely face Niskayuna if it wins the section, and then gets by the Section 9 winner. (Thanks Syracuse…btw, your namesake lost to my alma mater today.)