Coach Coughlin's fifth grade lacrosse squad beat cross-town rival Garden City by a score of 8-6 in a crowd-thrilling contest. Manhasset capped its season with a satisfying come-from-behind victory. Trailing 3-0 early in the second quarter, the Manhasset boys showed their character by storming back to close the score to 4-3 at halftime. After a rousing "win one for Manhasset Lacrosse" speech from Knute Coughlin, Manhasset tied the score at 5-5 after three-quarters of play. The Manhasset boys rose to the challenge and outplayed Garden City in the fourth quarter to finish with an 8-6 victory.

Manhasset's offense came together in this final contest of the season with outstanding ball movement, accurate feeds and motion without the ball. Manhasset's scoring reflected this offensive motion as all of the boys contributed to the offense. Tristan Miller, the bull of Manhasset's attack, led all scorers with three goals, followed by Joe Lovas with two goals and three assists. Lovas had a breakout game, moving the ball and starting many of Manhasset's offensive drives. Ryan Clarke played an excellent game at all ends of the field, contributing a goal and an assist. Bryan Kane, the St. Peter's thespian, demonstrated his versatility by moving to attack and tallying one goal and two assists. Manhasset also received offensive punch from Ryan Conway (one assist), Andrew Morici (one goal) and Lukasz Mosakowski (one assist). The Manhasset midfield did a great job of running with the talented Garden City midfielders, as Clarke, Anthony Loschiavo, Lovas, Gary Mancini, Erick Gadaleta, Kane, Morici and Mosakowski ran hard on every shift and contested every loose ball. Each of these midfielders set the tone for the Manhasset comeback, as they did all season, by giving 110 percent on every shift.

Rich O'Hara led the Manhasset defense in goal, who registered 12 saves in his inaugural outing in front of the cage. O'Hara donned the chest protector to free up Mosakowski and turned in a stellar performance, particularly for someone playing the position for the first time. Manhasset's defense of Billy Coughlin, Michael Easton, Erick Gadaleta, Richard Parsons and Paul Pate played its usual superb brand of tough team defense. This defensive unit has improved with each game and was Manhasset's secret weapon throughout the season. With the heady play of quarterback Coughlin, the lethal aggressiveness of Parsons, the tenacity of Pate and the hustle of Easton and Gadaleta, many a potent offense was shut down.

Tristan Miller led Manhasset's attack all year, a rare combination of an irresistible force and an immovable object packed in one body. The wing attack of Ryan Conway and A. J. Pegno added hustle and gutsy performances, as each mixed it up with an aggressive Garden City defense. Brad Lightcap and T. J. Mallon brought speed, intensity and accurate passing to the motion offense.

Manhasset's ground ball play was dominant, as Lukasz Mosakowski led all players with seven grabs. Conway, Clarke, Coughlin, Easton, Loschiavo, Lovas, Mancini and Pate all led the ground ball attack for Manhasset.

Manhasset's win added a sweet finish to a strong season for this fifth grade squad. Manhasset ended on a high note, as each of the boys showed his best in this final outing. Manhasset came together as a team, never gave up in the face of the early Garden City lead and once again showed their strength of character in a hard fought contest. Manhasset finished four goals from an undefeated season and has much to look forward to next season. Coaches Frank Coughlin, Kevin Conway and Bruce Miller would like to thank each of the boys for a terrific experience and a great season.