GUILDERLAND — It’s like night and day.

The two games between Niskayuna and Guilderland were total opposites this season. The Dutchmen played their worst game of the season — and maybe in Guilderland lacrosse history — just less than a month ago. Guilderland lost that game, 14-2, but the outcome on Tuesday was much different.

The Dutch played their best game of the season to beat the Silver Warriors, 6-5, at Don Snyder Field at Guilderland High School. It was Niskayuna’s first loss in the Suburban Council and Section II since 2004.
"I’ve been on them all season," Guilderland Coach Sean McConaghy said of his team. "That’s what they need. This group of guys hasn’t played well all the time. The seniors haven’t always stepped it up. But today the seniors closed the locker room door and talked. This is a great team victory."

"Fired up"
"It hasn’t hit me yet," said Guilderland senior co-captain Scott Raffensperger. "We could tell from the start that we were ready. In the locker room and on the field, we did not talk about anything but lacrosse. We were fired up and it showed. The defense played phenomenally."

Raffensperger was part of that defense that played tough against a very good offense. Joining him on the defensive side of the field were sophomore Kip Stillman, senior Kyle Klapp, and junior Paul Malamood.
"We clicked," senior Matt Stillman said of the offense. "Everybody found everybody. But we’re taking it one at a time. That’s our new motto."

The Dutch offense clicked for six goals, none more important than the final one.

Stillman did the honors of putting the Dutch ahead for good with 3:18 left in the fourth quarter.

Senior Uriah Myrie assisted on the goal as he found Stillman wide open on the crease. Myrie’s perfect pass was quick-sticked into the goal by Stillman and the Dutch had the lead.

Guilderland led after the third quarter, 5-3, but Niskayuna barraged the Guilderland goal with shots but couldn’t get many by junior goalie Nick Koss.

The Silver Warriors were finally able to connect for a score with 7:04 left in the quarter.

Rob Prendergast picked up an unassisted tally.

Ben Romer’s goal tied the game for Niskayuna and appeared to give the Silver Warriors the momentum. Nick DiSarro assisted on the tally.

To the Dutch’s credit, they were able to hold off the Niskayuna flurry and came back to get the game-winning goal.

Niskayuna took 14 shots in the fourth quarter.
"They had the ball for most of the fourth quarter," McConaghy said. "Nick Koss was great. Those kids on that team can shoot."

"Ready to play"

Niskayuna led, 1-0, after one quarter. Romer scored off a feed from DiSarro with 23 seconds left in the stanza.
"Last time," McConaghy said. "It was 7-0 at the end of the first quarter."

Guilderland tied the game just a minute-and-a-half into the second frame.

Senior Jordan Dubose tallied after dodging a couple of defenders. Myrie got the assist on the score.

DiSarro gave the Silver Warriors the lead back on an unassisted goal with 7:18 left in the quarter.

And that score would stand through halftime and until sophomore Rory Nunamacher tied the game for Guilderland.

Nunamacher got a pass from junior Quinn Connell and rifled a high shot past Niskayuna goalie James Manchester.

Stillman gave the Dutch the lead with 5:34 left in the third frame. He scored on a quick shot in front of the goal after getting a pass from senior Greg Murphy.

Guilderland took a 4-2 lead when Myrie scored with 2:04 left in the stanza. The tally came on a man-up opportunity with the assist going to senior Chris Conway.

DiSarro cut the Niskayuna deficit to one on an unassisted goal with 48 seconds to go in the third frame.

The Dutchmen answered 18 seconds later on an unassisted goal by Stillman.

Niskayuna then tied the game in the fourth quarter on goals by Prendergrast and Romer.

The statistics from the game seem to favor Niskayuna. The Silver Warrior out-shot the Dutchmen, 35-19, and won the face-off battle, 12-4. However, the two teams were even on groundballs and Koss was the difference, making 14 saves.

Manchester made seven saves for Niskayuna.
"The biggest thing is people get intimidated by the silver uniforms and the ‘N’ on the helmet," Raffensperger said. "We realize that they are not superheroes. They are kids just like us. He thought, ‘Why can’t we beat them"’"
"We came at Niskayuna this time," Stillman said. "We came ready to play. I feel like I’m on top of the world."

But the Dutch know it’s back to work to get ready for the next game. The Dutch are 6-3 overall — they lost to Canton, 10-9, on Saturday. But Guilderland is 6-1 in the Suburban Council.

Guilderland plays Columbia today (Thursday) and then hosts Lakeland of Section I on Saturday and Ballston Spa on Wednesday.
"This game is all over now," Raffensperger said. "We are now focused on Columbia. We want to keep rolling and win sectionals. That is our goal."