Northport goalkeeper Andrew Tittmann stared down a win Wednesday.
With his team up 8-5 with three minutes left, the senior knew he’d have to remain steady amid a barrage of shots to win the Class A crown. He did that and more, making back-back saves and rallying his defense to help the Tigers to their first Suffolk County championship in 19 years with an 8-6 victory over powerhouse Ward Melville.
“This is surreal. We dreamed about this moment since second grade,” Tittmann said. “They’re the kings of Long Island. We just happened to knock ‘em off, for once.”
The Tigers (14-3) did what many might have thought impossible. They clawed their way back from 3-0 and 4-2 deficits, and tied the game at 4-all heading into the fourth quarter. Northport scored four of the final six goals to take down the Patriots, which had won the last four straight Class A titles and were making their 42nd appearance in the championship game. Ward Melville is now 27-15.
“We said in the beginning of the year that we’re playing not only for ourselves, but for the Class of 2020 that lost their season [due to the COVID-19 pandemic],” said first-year head coach Larry Cerasi. “That was really important to us.”
Mike Meyer (two goals) scored to give Northport its second lead of the game with 9:36 left in fourth. The goal came off a scoop up of a ground ball off the faceoff from junior Tyler Kuprianchik. While Kuprianchik won most of the draws for Northport, the most important faceoff win came 30 seconds later, after a Trevor Dunn goal at 9:03. The junior raked in the ball, dashed down the right side of the field and snapped a quick pass to junior defender Jack Breckling, who rocketed the ball into the back of the net for a 6-5 lead Northport would not relinquish.
“I saw him out of the corner of my eye, hit it right to his stick, and he finished it,” Kuprianchik said. “I’ve been training my whole life for this moment. I know what to do. I know how to compete. I stayed focused and did things my own way.”
“I’m extremely impressed with and proud of Tyler Kuprianchik. He’s one of the best FOGOs on the Island, and he doesn’t stop fighting, no matter what — he takes everything to the chin and never stops,” Tittmann said. “And our transition with our long poles is better than anybody’s.”
Junior defender Aidan Foley proved that when he grabbed possession off a Tittmann stop with 5:25 left to play and took it all the way for a score. Senior midfielder Casey Fortunato (two goals, one assist) iced it with a blast to the right side of the cage with 3:04 left to play. Junior midfielder Dylan McNaughton also finished with two goals for Northport, his second of which tied the game at 4-all with 1:07 left in the third.
“We just wanted it more,” Fortunato said. “We’ve been waiting for this moment.”
The Patriots (12-4) put Northport in a 3-0 hole in the first quarter, but the deficit was cut to 4-3 by halftime. Tittmann said he knew how important maintaining his Tigers’ lead would be down the stretch.
“We stayed composed and did what we needed to do to win. I got in a rhythm at the right time,” the senior said. “We buckled down and kept fighting. I just kept telling myself we need to hold on, and don’t let go.”
