Niskayuna tops Burnt Hills in B final

The halftime message from Burnt Hills head coach Tom Schwan was clear. Down by seven goals to one of the best high school lacrosse programs in the country, he almost made the plan of attack sound easy.

One goal at a time, he said. One defensive stop at a time.

It was a little easier said than done. The Spartans scored just two more goals. And by the time there was two minutes left in the game, it was a running clock mercy rule game. An 18-6, seasonending loss to Niskayuna in the third straight time Burnt Hills has played in the championship.

“They are frustrated,” Schwan said. “They are angry. They’re

also disappointed that their season has ended.”

It was a chippy game the entire night on the field, with penalties abound long after it was no longer competitive. After it ended, a Burnt Hills assistant coach had to be restrained by his coaches as he yelled expletives at a Niskayuna assistant. Schwan would say it’s all part of competing in a sectional final.

Jake Stanko had three goals and assistant on another to lead the Spartans. He had one pretty shot in the first half that he spun and ripped into the net with little space and time. Burnt Hills started the game up 2-1. But that early offensive outbreak was only temporary.

It wasn’t enough to stop Lucas Quinn, who had seven goals. Or Connor Wolff, who added four goals.

“We just didn’t come out on top today,” Stanko said. “After the first quarter, we really played hard. The defense stepped up. The seniors didn’t want to go home. They just played harder.”

Niskayuna early and they scored often. The first quarter ended with the Silver Warriors scoring seconds after a faceoff. It wouldn’t be the only time that night.

The Silver Warriors would go up 7-2 in the first quarter, a 6-0 run following the Spartans’ promising start. Burnt Hills wouldn’t get closer than four goals the entire rest of the evening.

When the score got to 18-6 in the final minutes, Niskayuna got the ball off the faceoff and just ran out the clock -- a move of sportsmanship in a game that got testy withshoving, cursing and a whole bunch of penalties.

But through the dramatic and emotional competition, a familiar champion emerged. And a familiar oh-so-closer did as well. Burnt Hills might be great in Class B, but Niskayuna is in a class of their own.

Niskayuna is 16-3 and is now going to advance to the New York State playoffs. Schwan said his team wasn’t focused on who their opponent was, even if their opponent is always the center of upstate New York lacrosse world.

“We just want to be back here next year,” Stanko said. “In the offseason, we’re going to put in the work.”