Since Connetquot’s turf field is not yet complete, Sachem has a fifth home game for the 2012 regular season and it may need it more now than ever. Reason being, Trent Crossan and Tyler Andreassi are officially done for the rest of the season.
Crossan has been nursing knee and hamstring injuries all season and for his health and future it’s best he doesn’t put any more stress on the leg, according to Sachem’s coaching staff. Andreassi injured his thumb against Longwood last week and has already had season-ending surgery. He should be healthy in time for his spring lacrosse season. Anthony Ross (foot), and a number of other starters are still out for Sachem as the injury bug continues.
Connetquot, mind you, is 7-0 and the top team in Suffolk County Division I. Yes, it has been an odd and daunting 2012 season. They will wear their red jerseys, while Sachem will sport the gold alternates for the second time this year.
There are two trains of thought here: 1) feel sorry for one another, and bring a negative and downtrodden emotional output to the stadium, or 2) play as hard as you can and make this a game we remember 20 years down the line.
After speaking with Sachem defensive coordinator Dave Caputo this afternoon, he feels this could be a memorable game. Sachem is an underdog on its home turf (22-0 on that turf since 2009), against the top team in the county, who for years was a key rival to Sachem thanks to the Ronkonkoma border, and the Arrows are without three of its top four players. Adversity is an understatement.
It’s been written countless times, in countless ways, but this is Sachem Football, a storied program of winning in big games under immense pressure. If this group of young men wants to go down as being part of a special group, tonight is the night to make that happen. Tonight is the night where players like Kevin Bragaglia and Malik Pierre can make their names last forever in Sachem lore. Where Steve Mills, Connor Harris, Nick DeRossi and Bryan Morris play their games better than they ever have and have something to show for it when they look back on their high school careers at Sachem. #OnToVictory
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-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro