West Islip's Sagl Adds Another Championship With Empire Gold

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Michael Sagl's broad smile said it all.  Another lacrosse game, another championship.

Less than two months after winning back-to-back Class A state crowns with West Islip High School, the rising senior midfielder celebrated a golden moment at the Empire State Games.

Sagl was all over the field as the Long Island scholastic boys lacrosse team knocked off the previously unbeaten Central region, 7-6, in the gold medal game on Sunday at Canisius College. And when he wasn't pressing the attack with lightning-quick drives to the net, he was orchestrating the postgame water shower the team gave coach Jay Mauro on the sideline.

With a gold medallion hanging around his neck, Sagl hugged his teammates and reflected on a journey that began with tryouts in June – just four days after the state championship game – and continued with brutal practices in the summer heat and humidity, not too mention the long bus rides to exhibition games up and down the East Coast.

"I'm going to miss all of them,'' Sagl said. "I'm going to miss hanging out with them."

Sagl, who committed to Quinnipiac, didn't score in the gold medal game. But his goal in the first meeting with Central on Friday night might have been as significant as any in the tournament.

Central shut out Long Island in the first half Friday and jumped on top 5-0 in the third quarter. But it was Sagl's over-the-shoulder score in the crease with 1:55 left in the third that made it a 5-3 game that unraveled the Central defense.

Although Central ending up wining the game in overtime 8-7, Sagl's magical stick work left the defense on its heels the rest of the way.     

"The game was a heartbreaker," Sagl said. "We spotted them five goals, but we battled back and tied it up. We showed tremendous character. Unfortunately we lost in overtime. But it gave us the confidence to know we could run with them."

The attitude on the field was entirely different in the rematch. Everyone realized it was only a matter of time before Long Island took control. 

Central goalie Tyler White proved a worthy adversary. Long Island pressed the attack and peppered White with volley after volley. White made 16 saves, including one on a blast from Sagl just before the end of the first quarter.

Sagl racked up six goals and one assist to help Long Island go 5-1 in the four-day tournament. But he couldn't break through against White in the rematch. He went with another behind-the-back shot midway through the third, but that one sailed wide of the cage.

"Even though I didn't have a goal, I was running the field well, getting the transition game going and playing good defense," Sagl said. "It's about not trying to do too much. Just play your role and do everything to help the team."

That's the Sagl way to winning championships.