Charlie Corwin Nets OT Winner to Keep South Fork’s Playoff Hopes Alive

Charlie Corwin isn’t South Fork’s leading scorer by accident.

And despite coming up empty shot after shot Thursday, the junior midfielder finally found the back of the net when it mattered most — scoring the game-winning goal in overtime for a 12-11 win at Patchogue-Medford that keeps the Islanders in the hunt for a final playoff spot.

“It was a tough matchup, but I just kept pushing at the top, got myself free, shot and it went in,” said Corwin, who now has 35 goals and 11 assists on the season. “It’s kind of surreal. It was a huge game for us. Hopefully, this bumps us into the playoffs. It’s just a great feeling.”

Head coach Matt Babb said he felt confident going into the four-minute extra-session, especially with sophomore Jack Cooper fighting for possession in the faceoff circle.

“Jack’s been a weapon for us. He’s really stepped up this year. His win percentage is unheard of, and he scores goals when we need him to,” the coach said of his faceoff specialist, who has won over 80 percent of his battles at ‘X’ this season. “Jack Cooper has been amazing and he should be an All-American this year. Going into overtime, I thought we had the guys on the field that we needed to have and we got the looks we wanted, and Charlie did what Charlie does, and that’s go to the cage and score. That’s why he leads our team in goals and why he should be an All-County selection.”

But the team wasn’t as self-assured almost an hour earlier, with South Fork starting the May 11 contest down a quick 3-0. But Cooper’s (four goals, two assists) faceoff win after faceoff win earned his team crucial time of possession, especially amid a flurry of turnovers, and the Islanders (9-7 overall, 8-6 in Division II) began to make quick work with the ball. With each scoop of the second the team capitalized. But South Fork also scored off two of senior goalkeeper Cooper Ceva’s five saves. Senior midfielder J.P. Amaden did so when he notched his second to tie the game at 5-5, and Cooper’s win with just over a minute left in the first half led to freshman attack Luca Lattanzio’s good goal just seconds later to knot it again at 6-6 heading into halftime.

“He really helped us out a lot,” Corwin said of Cooper. “We got some good fast-break goals off his wins, which really got us back into the game.”

“We always have possession, so we always know we’re going to have our chances offensively,” Babb added. “And we have the talent that can put the ball in the net.”

But the Islanders found themselves in another hole to start the second half, with just Lattanzio netting his hat trick goal in the third as South Fork went down 10-7 after the 12 minutes.

“We talked about the hustle and fundamentals like ground balls, passing and catching,” Corwin said. “Once we picked that up we started getting back in it.”

Cooper dominating the circle in the second half was also crucial. He took the opening win all the way for a score, and kicked the ball to longstick midfielder Luke Castillo on the ensuing faceoff before recording his second straight to pull South Fork within one, 10-9, with 7:42 left in regulation. Cooper won the battle in the circle yet again, but this was one rare occasion where Patchogue-Medford (8-8, 7-7) scored after his win. It came after a wide shot by Corwin and a South Fork penalty amid a scrum for the rebound put the Islanders a man down. Cooper was early on the next faceoff, but all hope was not lost for the Islanders, as Castillo scooped up another ground ball and Babb called timeout with 54 seconds on the clock to draw up a play. With eight seconds left in regulation, Amaden faked a shot and dished the ball to Slate Glick in front of the goal. The sophomore attack, who had been unlucky twice before, with his second shot attempt hitting the post just two minutes prior, found a clear opening this time to send the game into overtime.

“I knew we were going to have possession with Jack on the faceoff, and I just thought if we did our thing we’d end up winning the game, and that’s what happened,” Corwin said. “It’s a big momentum boost. This one is a good for our confidence. Whatever happens next isn’t up to us, so we did what we could and I just hope we get in.”

Babb said his athletes, who have been battle-tested all year, have had slow starts and given up leads, but likes that they never give up and don’t panic in the moment. He said regardless of how things shake out, he’s proud of his team’s accomplishments.

“Without each of these guys from each of these schools contributing we wouldn’t have a program anywhere on the East End,” Babb said. “They all make a lot of sacrifices, and I’m happy they’ve had these moments and opportunities to play together and even play the game of lacrosse. They all rise to every challenge and that’s why we’re able to face adversity, because we do it every day. This is a nice feeling to have — we’re happy going home with the ‘W’ — and we know now we can be a dangerous team. Hopefully the rest of the league cooperates, but I know these guys are hungry for it, and I think they earned that last spot here today.”