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Defending champion Yale (15-3), the No. 5 seed, faces No. 3 Virginia (16-3) in the title game 1 p.m. Monday, May 27 (ESPN2) at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Sophomore attackman Ian Laviano, a five-year starter and four-time all-county selection at Cold Spring Harbor High School, scored 51 seconds into double overtime to give Virginia a 13-12 semifinal win over Duke on Saturday, May 25, securing the Cavaliers' first title-game appearance in seven years and snapping an 11-game losing streak to Duke.
Laviano had four goals. Virginia faceoff specialist Petey LaSalla, a two-time All-American at Rocky Point High School, won 18-of-30 faceoffs, including the last eight of the game, as UVa overcame a two-goal deficit in the final minute of regulation.
Eleven players scored goals as Yale defeated No. 1 Penn State, 21-17, in the other national semifinal in Philly.
Former Chaminade HS first-team All-LI middie Jack Tigh had two goals and two assists for the Bulldogs.
Former Smithtown East HS All-America and All-Long Island midfielder John Daniggelis assisted on Yale's first goal just 52 seconds into the game and scored a goal of his own later in the first quarter to give Yale an 8-1 lead. Daniggelis is Yale's lone senior captain.
Lucas Cotler, a junior attackman from Syosset, then made it 9-1. Luke Eschbach, a sophomore middie from Smithtown, scored the first goal of the fourth quarter, giving Yale a 17-13 lead.
Long Island players in the NCAA title game:
Yale (11): Donald Ahrens, Old Brookville (North Shore); Lucas Cotler (Syosset); John Daniggelis, St. James (Smithtown East); Thomas Duran, Manhasset; Luke Eschbach, St. James (Smithtown); Sean Kuttin, Head of the Harbor (Chaminade); Joe Neuman, Port Washington (Salisbury); Steven Reilly, Levittown (Division); Will Renz, Rockville Centre (Chaminade); Jack Tigh, Garden City (Chaminade); Kyle Zawadzki, Smithtown (Smithtown West).
Virginia (5): Logan Greco, Hauppauge (Smithtown West); Petey LaSalla, Miller Place (Rocky Point); Ian Laviano, Laurel Hollow (Cold Spring Harbor); Chris Merle, Westhampton Beach; Regan Quinn, Rockville Centre (Chaminade).
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