THROGGS NECK, NY – On Friday night, the Maritime College men's lacrosse team hosted the Skyline Conference Championship Game for the fifth straight season.  The top-seeded Privateers (11-7) rallied from three goals down midway through the fourth quarter to within one in the final minutes.  However, third-seeded Farmingdale (16-3) held on for a 12-11 victory at Reinhart Field to capture its first-ever Skyline title.

It was tied 1-1 after the first quarter, but the Rams rattled off four straight goals in the second quarter to open up a 5-1 lead.  Charles Gerace (Rocky Point, NY) snapped the Farmingdale rally at the 1:57 mark of the period, then a man-up score by Parker Reilly (West Islip, NY) brought the Privateers within 5-3 at halftime.

After the Rams started the third quarter on a 4-2 run that extended their cushion to 9-5, Gerace and Ryan Brice (Wall, NJ) found the back of the net.  Charles Longo (Bellport, NY) then put home a man-up tally to get Maritime within one, 9-8.  Farmingdale extended its margin back to three at 11-8 before the Privateers again cut their deficit to one on goals by Longo and Thomas Kennedy (Orangeburg, NY).  Thomas Stock gave the Rams a two-goal lead with 3:55 left, but Maritime again countered with a man-up score, this time by Gerace.

Maritime had one last chance to tie the game when the Rams' Sean Lawson was called for a penalty with five seconds to go.  The Privateers were unable to get a shot off, however, as Gino Luchetti caused a turnover as time expired, giving Farmingdale its first conference championship after two title game losses to Maritime in 2021 and 2022.

Gerace and Longo led the Privateers with three goals apiece, while Brice and Kennedy each scored twice.  The Farmingdale defense frustrated Reilly all night, as he was limited to just one goal, finishing the year with 74.  Patrick Schnell (Jericho, NY), meanwhile, distributed five assists in his final collegiate game.  Kieran Hendry (East Northport, NY) picked up a team-best seven ground balls, and Luke Caliendo (North Babylon, NY) corralled five ground balls.  Goalkeeper Michael Monahan (Ronkonkoma, NY) (4-3) was credited with 13 saves in a losing effort.

Tournament Most Outstanding Player Dan Erler (16-3) made 10 saves and added two ground balls for the Rams.  Stock scored four goals for Farmingdale, while Tyler Kollar had two goals and an assist.  Amir Slaughter also contributed three points on a goal and two assists.  Antonio Kaminskey gathered a game-high 10 ground balls, and Lawson tallied six ground balls to go along with four caused turnovers.  Luchetti added four caused turnovers of his own.

The Privateers, who had never reached the Skyline Championship Game prior to the 2019 season, have now made five consecutive appearances.  Maritime is 3-2 all-time while playing for the conference title.