Carter Loughman's two goals and three assists are not enough as Wantagh falls in "C" quarterfinals

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS — The “one at a time” attitude that defined one of the best seasons in Wantagh boys lacrosse history, filled with grit and memorable comebacks, came to an end Saturday morning.

Wantagh lost, 21-14, to Section I champion Somers at Yorktown High School’s Charlie Murphy Field in the Class C Southeast Regional Championship and state quarterfinal.

Somers’ FOGO Matt Mayfield gave the Tuskers too much of an advantage at the faceoff X for Wantagh to overcome, winning 30 of 36 faceoffs.

“We were trying different guys, giving different looks to try and wear [Mayfield] out a little bit,” Wantagh coach James Polo said. “They stuck some good shots on us.”

Wantagh’s Dylan Martini had managed to tie the game at two with 1:39 left in the first quarter, wrapping around the cage before slipping a low shot with a flick of his wrist. However, Somers responded with eight consecutive goals in quick succession as the Tuskers led 10-2 with 6:55 left in the second quarter.

Somers (17-3) will face Section IV's Maine Endwell at Middletown High School on Wednesday for the state semifinal.

“I love these guys, I’m with them every day, they’re like brothers to me,” Joe Nicholson, who had five goals and an assist, said. “But we didn’t do the little things right, and that’s what lost us the game. Catching, throwing, clearing, we had our chances and didn’t capitalize.”

Wantagh also lost Martini to a serious right leg injury late in the second quarter. Polo held the senior in a long embrace on the sideline seconds later, a glimpse into the close relationship that began in elementary school as Martini’s physical education teacher and again in middle school as the senior’s health teacher.

“I’ve spent a lot of time with Dylan Martini,” Polo said. “He is like a son to me, and his love and passion for his teammates and the game of lacrosse is the reason why we are where we are right now.”

“Dylan’s practically family, I’m with him 24/7,” Nicholson said. “Other people had to step up and other people did, but it wasn’t enough.”

Carter Loughman added five points with two goals and three assists. The scrappy nature of Wantagh lacrosse showed in both the county championship win over South Side and later against Kings Park for the program’s first Long Island championship win since 2001.

Nicholson attributed it to the team’s “heart,” which showed again in the middle of the third quarter by scoring three consecutive goals courtesy of Nicholson, Sean Stachlick and John Gendels, to cut the lead to 13-9.

Somers responded with two goals of its own as Wantagh (15-5) trailed 16-10 entering the fourth quarter before the Tuskers outscored Wantagh, 5-4, over the final 12 minutes for the result.

As Dylan Martini used his lacrosse stick as a cane walking to midfield, Nicholson placed his hand on his back for support. Along with Gendels and Devin Paccione, the senior captains who laid the foundation for Wantagh’s most successful season in decades, Dylan Martini received the runner-up plaque before immediately handing it to Polo for a final embrace.

“I’m very lucky,” Polo said. “These kids battle daily and love each other. They’re a family, and that’s all I ever wanted from them.”

Add in the Wantagh faithful that travelled to Yorktown and packed the bleachers with relentless support, and you get a whole picture of what this program has become under Polo and this senior class.

“They just lay it on the line every single day, whether it’s in practice, in film or in a game,” Polo said. “I know I have my dogs ready to go, and those seniors are dogs… they left a mark on the program, and when you leave a mark on a program, you’ve done your job as a player. All my seniors left their mark on this program.”