Brocato sets wins record at St. Paul’s

The St. Paul’s boys lacrosse team provided coach Rick Brocato a milestone win Saturday in Brooklandville.

The No. 5 Crusaders, 8-1 this season, scored the last five goals against New York’s Bronxville, claiming an 8-6 win to make Brocato the program’s all-time wins leader.

Brocato, in his 17th and final season, has 233 career wins as he passed George Mitchell, who posted 232 in 25 years before stepping down in 1985.

The special win didn’t come easily, making it that much rewarding for Brocato. The Crusaders trailed 6-3 early in the fourth quarter before making their closing statement. Logan Posner tied the game at 6 with 4:49 to play, and Jackson Woodward provided the game-winner with four minutes left. Afterward, strong defense and an insurance goal in the closing minute iced the win. Soon after, Brocato received an ice bath and plenty of handshakes.

“It feels good to get this done and now we can concentrate on playing lacrosse. This group — I’ve said it all year — they’ve got a lot of grit and they’re going to fight to the end. They made me very proud today,” he said.