John Jay travels a long road en route to N.Y. playoffs

GARDEN CITY, N.Y. -- Here were the No. 8-ranked John Jay (Cross River, N.Y.) Indians last Saturday, spearheading a comeback against No. 14 Garden City Trojans and nothing seemed to provide the necessary breakthrough. Still, despite twice facing three-goal deficits, the Indians refused to retreat over the Whitestone Bridge back to Westchester County without a fight.

So they battled and battled and after junior attack Chris Bocklet's goal with 5:27 remaining in regulation tied the score at 6-6, the game went into overtime. But the Indians' last stand came just two minutes into the sudden death session as Garden City's Dillon Dwyer scored to send John Jay home with a 7-6 defeat.

"This one hurts," said John Jay defenseman and Maryland recruit Ryder Bohlander. "We know the legacy coming to Long Island and all, but we're done making statements. We want wins now."

Having come of age the last three seasons as a Section 1 power in Westchester, the Indians have not found the Island to be a welcome weekend getaway. In March, John Jay suffered its only other defeat of the season, 9-6, to Huntington (N.Y.), the nation's top-ranked team and the Long Island power this year. In that game, the John Jay players witnessed firsthand the power and aggressiveness on the Island, but what they saw Saturday was more of the area's depth.

"We need to get better at starting without any tentativeness," Bohlander said. "We need to come out with the attitude and swagger that these other teams come with. You can see it in the other teams' eyes."

That swagger may come in time, but first the Indians are going to have to prove they can win on Long Island. Last month, John Jay hosted Manhasset (N.Y.), another nationally ranked team from the Island, and they won, 9-8. Behind the senior leadership of Bohlander and Drexel-bound attack Kevin Stockel, John Jay is equipped with talent, especially with the play of Bocklet, who has already given an oral commitment to Virginia. But while the respect of the Island teams has been earned, it is the missed opportunities of losing to the best competition that keep John Jay coming back for more.

"They've been good for a while now, dominating Section 1 so it's not like they're the new kid on the block," says Garden City coach Steve Finnell, whose team is now 2-1 against John Jay over the last three seasons with the home team winning each time. "They're clearly not ducking anyone. They come right for you on the attack."

On Saturday, the final eruption of noise came from the Garden City crowd reacting to Dwyer's goal, and it was their celebrations that will echo through the ears of the John Jay players and replay through their minds until they get another shot. Those opportunities may come soon enough, though, as John Jay faces the possibility of playing Huntington or Garden City in the state semifinals. That match would be played at Hofstra University, located in the heart of Long Island.

"What we have in firsthand knowledge of these teams is invaluable in preparation down the road. Hopefully we get out of our section and will see one of them again," said John Jay coach Nick Savastano. "No videotape could assist us any better."