Tuckers boys’ difficult season reaches an end with 15-2 losses

It was a learning experience for all of them.

The Mattituck/Greenport/Southold high school boys lacrosse team’s season came to a bumpy end this week with a pair of lopsided 15-2 home losses to Bellport and Huntington at Strawberry Fields in Mattituck.

In both games, the Tuckers (1-13, 1-13 in Suffolk County Division II) trailed by large deficits at the half, then rallied to play a little better in the second half.

“We’ve been trying to stay motivated, but the season has taken its toll,” Mattituck/Greenport/Southold Coach Tim Corcoran said. “But I give our kids credit, they kept playing.”

Huntington (6-10, 6-8) jumped out to an 11-1 halftime lead on Tuesday in a game played in a steady rain. Jack Dever sparked Huntington with six goals while Dan Plant had two goals and an assist.

Matt Miller scored the Tuckers’ first-half goal, while Zach Nicholson netted a goal in the second half. John McGrath (seven) and Andrew Sheerin (six) combined for 13 saves in goal for Huntington.

The Tuckers’ loss to Bellport on Friday was almost an identical blueprint of the Huntington match. Bellport (3-12, 3-10) jumped out to an 8-0 halftime lead. Will Rose paced Bellport in scoring with three goals while Connor Fedge, Kyle Billings, Dylan Pace and Jack Kochesberger each tallied a pair of goals. Anthony Cimino made nine saves in goal for Bellport.

Nicholson and Miller netted third-period goals for the Tuckers. Eric Izzo, the Mattituck/Greenport/Southold goalkeeper, had 14 stops.

While he cited the play of defensemen Joe Constantin-Guild and Chris Baglivi, along with middies Ryan Malone and Tom Filipkowski and attackman Chaz Schneider as bright spots this season, Corcoran called it “a tough year” for his team.

“We need to keep the sticks in our hands all summer to get ready for next season,” he said. “We need better stick work and we have to be mentally ready to play.”

Corcoran said that playing lacrosse on Long Island can bring big rewards, such as getting a player into college. “It can help you further your education and make you a better person,” he said.

Of the season, Corcoran said: “This was a learning experience, even for me. We learned how we can get better and keep progressing.”