Riverhead advances to quarterfinals with 11-9 win over Bay Shore

Riverhead defeated Bay Shore 11-9 at Bay Shore High School yesterday in the first round of the Suffolk Division I playoffs.

No. 10 Riverhead will now face No. 2 Smithtown West in the D-I quarterfinal round Friday at 5 p.m. in Smithtown.

In a game that took two days to complete because it was suspended by thunderstorms Tuesday, the Blue Waves demonstrated they came to win.

Riverhead jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first quarter, but Bay Shore came back with two in the second and the two teams traded the lead and and Riverhead ended the half with a 5-4 lead.

Bay Shore came out of the gate flying in the second half, gained possession on some sloppy Riverhead passing, and proceeded to rattle off three quick goals to make it 7-5. With with about six minutes left in the third quarter, a bad storm rolled in, and play was suspended until Wednesday.

The teams took the field in a steady rain yesterday. Bay Shore deposited the first goal to take an 8-5 lead, but Riverhead went on a 3-0 run, quickly tying it up at 8. Bayshore fought back with a low shot to grab a 9-8 lead. But Riverhead came back with two to take a 10-9 lead into the final quarter.

The Waves were a force in the fourth quarter — the defense was tight and the offense was hitting its stride. Bay Shore was pressing, but Riverhead goalie Anthony Caputo came up with a great save with about a 1:40 on the clock. Riverhead went downfield, set up the play down low, as Caleb Zuhoski carried the ball around the Bay Shore net, and with 56 seconds left, put in the insurance goal for Riverhead to make it 11-9. The game ended with Riverhead mobbing Caputo by the net.

Dan Mastropaolo was once again superb at the “X”, winning 21 of 22 face-offs. Caleb Zuhoski had three goals and one assist. Kamryn Gill had two goals and two assists. Connor Kalmus had two goals and one assist. Conner Batjer had two goals, Dalton Lucas and Connor Grauer had one goal each.

RiverheadLOCAL photos by George Faella