Hey everybody, Syracuse here.

So much love is thrown Joe Marasco’s way — and rightfully so — but if you think this Somers team is a one-man show, think again.

Greg Petre is the real deal — and the Tuskers have several others that will make them a very serious threat in the fight for this season’s Section 1 Class B crown.

Petre matched Marasco with five goals in Somers’ 16-5 victory over visiting Hen Hud on Saturday.

• Check back for Joe’s analysis of today’s St. Anthony’s-Yorktown and Manhasset-John Jay games. For updates on those games click here. •

• For a gallery of photos from the March 29  Somers youth clinic, click here. •

“Greg is an intense player who really plays hard,” Somers coach Lew Janavey said of the junior attackman. “We made him a captain because he leads by example on and off the field and is very vocal.”

Initially, there was a feeling in Somers circles that the transition to Janavey, a longtime assistant at Lakeland/Panas, as head coach was going to take some time and that the results wouldn’t come quickly, but with two solid wins under his belt, it appears Janavey is fitting into the Somers program just fine.

“We preach a blue collar approach, and try to play with a lot of heart,” Janavey said. “We preach six guys playing together on offense and six guys playing together on defense. We also stress riding, applying pressure and being smart with man/ball.”

Marasco and Petre alternated goals early Saturday as Somers (2-0) raced to a 6-0 lead and was never challenged.

“Joe draws so much attention, it’s easy for me to get open,” said Petre, the owner of a laser-accurate shot and a great field presence. “I definitely think we can win the section, compete with John Jay and Horace Greeley.”

For his part, Marasco showed once again why he’s arguably the best player in the section and, perhaps, the state. The senior attackman toyed with Hen Hud’s defense all afternoon, consistently driving from X from both sides of the cage and leaving no doubt when finishing on the break.

Marasco, who will attend Syracuse next year, tried to deflect some of the praise, saying instead that Somers’ depth at all positions will ultimately be the reason why the Tuskers will potentially play into June.

“We have a lot of two- and three-sport athletes on this team,” Marasco said. “We have three full midfield lines this year. Last year we had just one and a half.”

The Somers defense, featuring senior Erik Zmuidins, sophomore Eddie Schurr and junior John Bello, held Hen Hud’s top offensive players, attackman Cole D’Addario and middie Collin Parkhurst, to no goals.

Erik Pfiffner also scored twice for Somers, which will next face Yorktown, a 14-10 winner Saturday over St. Anthony’s, the No. 2 team in this week’s LaxLessons Top 25 poll, on Tuesday at Charlie Murphy Field.  The Tuskers will then host Long Island power Cold Spring Harbor on Saturday.

Janavey, Petre and Marasco know what they’ll be facing when they take on Yorktown (3-0).

“There’s no secret Yorktown is the best team in the section at least,” Janavey said. “We have to play minute by minute and bring our ‘A’ game.”

Added Marasco: “We are mentally and physically prepared for Yorktown. We certainly did not look past Hen Hud. We’re going to have a big practice Monday to prepare for Yorktown.”

Sophomore attackman Kyle Fanning and senior attackman Jake Green scored twice for Hen Hud (1-2).

Lakeland/Panas Puts Away Mercer Island, Wash. In Second Half

The Rebels (2-0) are quietly off to a very good start.

Following its 13-6 victory over Hen Hud on Thursday, Lakeland/Panas used a six-goal second half to finish off Mercer Island, the four-time defending Washington Division 1 state champions, 10-3, on Saturday.

Junior Will Fallo scored three goals, sophomore Conor Prunty had a pair of goals and an assist and All-American Jack Doherty added three assists as Lakeland/Panas shook off a slow first half in which it carried just a 4-3 lead into the break.

“We’ve been a little inconsistent,” Lakeland/Panas coach Jim Lindsay said. “In time we’ll do well, but right now we’re having some lapses. But that’s expected when you are young and not too deep defensively.”

Lindsay said fans and opponents should not be alarmed if they don’t see Doherty, who will play collegiately at Binghamton next season, scoring a ton of goals, at least initially.

“Jack will feel his way out,” Lindsay said. “Last year he was not a known quantity, but this year he will be a marked man. Jack’s learning he doesn’t always have to be a scorer.”

Mercer Island (6-4) finished its demanding New York trip 0-4, also losing to Corning East, 16-5, West Genesee, 13-3, and Guilderland, 12-7.

Lindsay applauded the team from just outside Seattle, saying it came prepared and left a good impression.

“It’s tough to travel 3,000 miles and then play four games in five days all over New York,” Lindsay said. “They have players. They wanted to prove they can play and they did.”

Lakeland/Panas plays visiting Montgomery, N.J., on Monday and then has a week off before facing Mahopac on April 14.

Posted In: General

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5 Responses to “Somers handles Hud, braces for Yorktown; Lakeland/Panas rolls”

  1. daslax says:

    somers definately has one tough upcoming schedule. Going to Y’town, then play Cold Spring Harbor, then playing John Jay, all in a row. You got to give Janavey and Somers some credit for putting the schedule they have together.

  2. syracuse says:

    daslax,

    Truer words were never spoken my friend. I think Janavey is the perfect guy to coach this team and lead the program forward.

  3. OGo17 says:

    Cuse-
    Got anything on the Putnam Valley Suffern Game.
    Or Greely Scarsdale

  4. syracuse says:

    Put Valley 12, Suffern 10. No details.

    Nothing yet on Greeley-Scarsdale

  5. daslax says:

    any video on hen hud somers game. like they did with somers and mahopac?

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