By JOSEPH KELLARD
Just a minute earlier, the Sailors faithful had watched midfielder Brian Kirschner score what would be the last goal of Oceanside's season. From the left side of Syosset's net, Kirschner darted across the field before cutting straight in and lobbing the ball over the shoulder of Syosset's charging goalie, Rob Camposa, whom Sailors coach Bob Moltisanti called the difference-maker in the May 16 game.
Kirschner and attackman Pete Boucher shined throughout the game, relentlessly battling a stout Syosset defense to put shots on goal, and the pair racked up five of Oceanside's six goals. But Camposa proved more relentless, making some outstanding saves that included one between his legs and another with his foot.
"It wasn't like we weren't getting the ball or not shooting well," Moltisanti said, "but you can't take away all the positives that they had. That we had 38 shots and only scored six goals had a lot to do with Camposa's great play, which was the difference."
Oceanside controlled the ball for the first five minutes before Kirschner scored while jumping up above defenders. But it was the Sailors' lone goal of the first half and gave them their only lead. Following an exceptional stick save by Oceanside's starting goalie, Ed Tyler, Syosset midfielder Eric Abramowitz scored an unassisted tying goal, and the Braves never looked back. They ultimately proved more physical than the Sailors, at times knocking them or their sticks down and jostling balls loose, only occasionally penalized in the process.
Down 4-1 at halftime, Oceanside replaced Tyler, a senior, with sophomore John Bella in the net to start the third period. While Syosset opened with two more goals, the period saw Oceanside chip away at the Braves' five-goal lead. But Syosset answered just enough to keep a Sailors comeback at bay.
"Throughout the year we basically said we were going to play both goalies," Moltisanti said when asked about the decision to switch Tyler for Bella. "We gave the senior the start, and we said that if he had a shutout going or if he only gave up a couple of goals, we would stay with him. If there was a situation that was more than that, we were going to share the game between the two of them."
Kirschner's second goal, coming with 2:21 left in the third, sparked a flurry of scoring. Just over a minute later, attackman Sean Lucas landed a goal after Boucher fed him the ball from behind Syosset's net. A mere 12 seconds ticked away before Braves midfielder Eric Abramowitz twisted and twirled toward the Sailors' net and scored an unassisted goal. A half-minute later, with 33 seconds to go in the period, Boucher whizzed a ball past Camposa's head to cut Syosset's lead to 7-4.
Oceanside opened the fourth period with an aggressiveness that showed up too sporadically throughout the game. Boucher scored a goal running from behind Syosset's net with 7:23 to go. But within a minute, Syosset attackman Jeff Cohen shot an extra-man goal, sneaking the ball past Bella at the right extended goal line.
"I think we played very well," Moltisanti said about Oceanside's first quarterfinal playoff game since 2001. "... There were a couple of goals that maybe we shouldn't have given up. We made a couple of mistakes. But that happens. That's going to happen in a game."
Oceanside ended its regular season with a record of 8-7, but with only a few starting seniors departing, Moltisanti indicated that he was optimistic about next year's team. "The seniors gave us some pretty good leadership this year, especially the co-captains, Ricky Tripodo and Van Helmsley," he said. "But all the kids on this team enjoy playing, and the ones coming back are already excited about playing next season."
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