The Red Hook boys varsity lacrosse program has only been playing at the varsity level for four years but in that very short span of time, the Raiders have established themselves as one of the best teams in Section 9 year after year.Wednesday night the Raiders added another trophy to their collection by besting top-seeded James O'Neill in convincing fashion by a score of 14-4. The Section 9, Class C title was the third in a row for Red Hook.
" Honestly, no, but once we got started it was amazing to see the type of kids we have in the community and then watch them buying in to what it takes to get better," said Raiders coach Rich Saulino who started the Red Hook program only five years ago as a club team when asked if he could have ever imagined Red Hook's dominance in sectional play. " Even though its only our fourth season, Coach Sutton and I expected to be in the position that we found ourselves in tonight. We put it forth as a goal of ours at the beginning of the season and that's what we worked for."
Red Hook was rolling along at the end of the season, mowing down opponent after opponent and seemingly peaking just in time for the sectional playoffs. Things were looking very good for a repeat until Red Hook's starting goalie, Kyle Wright, broke his collarbone. Suddenly, freshman Austin Loeffel, was thrust in to the net during the postseason.
" I told him on Saturday after when he went in to the game following Kyle's injury that this was his team now and he needed to take charge and he very quietly went about his business," Saulino said of Loeffel.
" I had mentioned to Coach Sutton recently how I would have no hesitation or trepidation if Austin had to step in and play," continued Saulino. " The kid played a full year of varsity as an eighth-grader last year, he got some valuable minutes this year and he's really been working hard to improve his game."
Loeffel was so good on this night at Faller Field in Middletown that Raiders fans began chanting his name at different times during the contest.
" He really stepped it up today," said Saulino about Loeffel. " His warm-up was just phenomenal. He wasn't nervous. He wasn't hesitant. None of that stuff. The defense played well in front of him, limiting the chances that O'Neill had. He did his job and he did it very well tonight."
The coach also had extended praise for a defensive unit that has stonewalled the opposition all season long.
" Our defense has played very well this entire season," the coach said. " They are always limiting the opportunities our opposition is getting. The three starters, Max Ross, Matt DeSimone and Marcus Hill, have been great. I told them on the first day of practice that defense wins championships and the entire defense bought in to that idea."
Offensively, Mike Ross was a key force, winning numerous face-offs and tallying five goals to trigger the offense.
" The key to the game offensively was Mike Ross winning face-offs," said Saulino. " All season he has been unbelievable winning face-offs. Just the mere fact of being able to control the ball right from the start was big. He'd keep winning face-offs and we'd be right back on offense again. He was phenomenal tonight."
With a narrow 4-3 lead in the second period, the offense just began to click. Tong Guerra, Pate Meyer and Ross all notched goals to give the Raiders a 7-3 haltime edge. Andrew Richmond, Meyer and Ross added scores in the third period to help Red Hook pull away.
In addition to Ross and his heroics, Pat Meyer riddled the back of the net with three shots for the Raiders. Onam and Tong Guerra each scored a pair of goals for the winners with teammate Zach Gilman adding the other score.
Red Hook will now play the winner of a game between Section 1 and Section 2 next Tuesday afternoon at Faller Field in MIddletown. Red Hook received a bye to the regional final so a victory in that game would send the Raiders to states.
