Garden City Edges Cold Spring Harbor in Nassau Clash

On Tuesday afternoon, Garden City and Cold Spring Harbor - two of Nassau County's premier lacrosse programs - met in a high-stakes showdown at Garden City. The Trojans, fresh off an emotional win over Manhasset in the legendary Woodstick Classic, carried their momentum into this matchup and came away with a 10–8 victory in a physical, back-and-forth contest.   Cold Spring Harbor struck first, with senior midfielder [player_tooltip player_id='126192' first='Alex' last='Bauer'] (Michigan) ripping a stepdown shot to ignite the offense. The Seahawks showed early energy, ending the first quarter with a 2–1 lead thanks to additional goals from Roy Testa and Brady McKeon, who played a key role throughout the day.   Garden City responded decisively in the second quarter. Behind dominant faceoff play from [player_tooltip player_id='127342' first='Luke' last='Cascadden'] (Navy), the Trojans gained repeated possessions and capitalized, outscoring CSH 5–2 in the frame. The offensive engine was [player_tooltip player_id='126883' first='Ben' last='Smith'], the freshman lefty phenom who scored three of his four goals in the second quarter alone. James DeBuschere, Dan Medjid (Holy Cross), and [player_tooltip player_id='82287' first='Charlie' last='Koester'] (Lehigh) each added goals as GC built a two-goal halftime lead.   The third quarter saw Garden City continue to control tempo, with Koester scoring two, including a highlight-reel behind-the-back finish off a feed from [player_tooltip player_id='126885' first='Michael' last='Berkery'] (Villanova). [player_tooltip player_id='123459' first='Anthony' last='Asaro'], though held without a goal and faceguarded heavily, found other ways to impact the game, dishing out four assists.   Cold Spring Harbor refused to go quietly. McKeon added a second goal, and senior midfielder Sam Bruno ripped a step-down shot. Sophomore FOGO [player_tooltip player_id='126325' first='Alex' last='Vitale'] improved as the game wore on, going better than 50% in the second half at the X and providing crucial possessions for the Seahawks.   Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='126197' first='Blake' last='Cascadden'] (Cornell) stood out for Garden City, creating turnovers and disrupting CSH's flow, while in net Jake Schlipf made seven saves. On the other end, CSH goalie [player_tooltip player_id='127860' first='Matty' last='Kammer'], just a sophomore, was sensational. His 12 saves including several point-blank stops kept his team within striking distance until the final whistle.   Both teams now turn their focus to playoff runs in their respective classifications, and given the talent on display Tuesday, both could be playing deep into the New York State Tournament.    Smith was the breakout star of the game. The left-handed freshman displayed poise, power, and finishing ability well beyond his age. He scored three of his four goals in the second quarter, helping Garden City flip the momentum after a sluggish start. Smith showcased a smooth shooting stroke and high lacrosse IQ, often finding open space and converting feeds into goals. He's already a key piece of Garden City's offense and will be a major recruiting name in the coming years.     A Lehigh commit and Garden City's leading scorer, Koester made a significant impact in the second half. He scored two goals in the third quarter, including a dazzling behind-the-back finish that highlighted his stick skills and creativity. Koester's ability to dodge from X, finish in tight, and operate under pressure makes him one of the top juniors in the state. With a balanced blend of power and finesse, he's a cornerstone of the GC offense.     Even while being locked off and heavily faceguarded, Asaro still found ways to make a difference. The sophomore facilitated with precision, recording four assists and showing strong field vision and unselfish play. A true quarterback of the offense, Asaro stayed patient under pressure and delivered pinpoint passes to open teammates, particularly during Garden City's dominant second quarter. His composure and skill under defensive heat are already elite for his age.     Bauer opened the scoring with a powerful step-down shot and later added an assist, setting the tone early for Cold Spring Harbor. Known for his high motor and two-way game, Bauer was a steady force in the midfield and played a leadership role for the Seahawks. He showcased his Division I skill set with his athleticism and shooting range, keeping Garden City honest throughout the game.     Kammer was nothing short of brilliant in goal. The sophomore stood tall against a relentless Garden City offense and made several point-blank and reaction saves to keep CSH in the game. Kammer showed tremendous poise, quick hands, and great footwork in the cage. With 12 saves and a commanding presence in net, he proved he's one of the top young goalies on Long Island and someone to watch closely this summer.

On Tuesday afternoon, Garden City and Cold Spring Harbor - two of Nassau County's premier lacrosse programs - met in a high-stakes showdown at Garden City. The Trojans, fresh off an emotional win over Manhasset in the legendary Woodstick Classic, carried their momentum into this matchup and came away with a 10–8 victory in a physical, back-and-forth contest.