Columbus Discovers Championship Feeling

By: Adam Martini, PSAL.com
May 24, 2010

It took four years to build and one night to finish.

The Columbus Sharks defeated the Midwood Hornets, 7-5, at Aviator Field in Brooklyn on Saturday night to complete a championship journey that started with the program's inception in 2007. Senior Billy Nguyen scored three goals, including the game-winner with 5:55 left in the third period, as top-seed Columbus won its first boys lacrosse title. It was the second championship loss in a row for the Hornets, who are considered lacrosse royalty with eight city titles to their credit.

"This means everything to us," said Nguyen. "Ride and die as a team, do whatever it takes to win. That was our mindset coming into the game."

Columbus, which split a pair of regular season games with the Hornets, played a disciplined game on both ends of the field. The Sharks (12-2) efficiently moved the ball around on offense and switched between zone and man-to-man defense to frustrate the third-seeded Hornets. Never was that more on display than in the first half, which the Sharks dominated to the score of 4-0.

Senior Ronald Barrera opened the scoring on the man advantage at 6:42 and junior Prince Jackson added another goal with 1:14 left in the first. Sophomore Emin Sabovic netted the Sharks' third goal from in front of the cage at 7:17 of the second and less than two minutes later Nguyen made it 4-0 seconds after a man advantage expired. The lead seemed even larger with the Sharks shutting down junior Arthur Zych, who led the Hornets with 26 goals in the regular season, and the rest of the Midwood's offense. Senior goalkeeper Ardijan Novaj (10 saves) smothered the few scoring chances the Hornets had in the first half and made at least three big saves later in the game.

"We have the best defense in the city," said the first-year net-minder, "hands down."

Midwood (10-5) finally solved Novaj and the Columbus defense in the second half. Junior Blake Koch scored at 9:16 of the third. Junior Joseph Chazen riffled home another shot 1:07 later to get the Hornets back in the game at 4-2. But Nguyen answered with back-to-back goals, the first of which came at 7:25 of the third on the man advantage, to put Columbus back up four goals.

Sophomore Nicholas Dopyera scored Midwood's final three goals of the game. His tally with 10:56 left in the game made it 6-4, but Columbus wouldn't be denied. Nguyen assisted on Sabovic's second goal of the game with 8:13 to make the score 7-4 and all but clinch victory.

"This is what it's all about,"said Columbus coach Victor Arroyo, who as athletic director started the program four years ago. "You can't ask for anything more. It's a dream come true."

Scoop shots... Arroyo was named Coach of the Year by the Unites States Lacrosse Association... Zych was named Player of the Year by the USLA... Midwood last won the title in 2008 with a 9-5 victory over Tottenville... this was the first PSAL lacrosse championship game held at night.

http://www.psal.org/psalsports/articles/psal_stories.aspx?storyid=18772