Leading off today: If you're only going to win a state boys lacrosse tournament quarterfinal every three decades or so, this would be the one to win.

   Ithaca won its first New York State Public High School Athletic Association game since 1978 with a 6-2 upset of top-ranked West Genesee yesterday, becoming the first Section 4 team in 27 tries to knock off the Wildcats in the quarterfinals.

   Junior midfielder Gabe Mendola won all 12 of the game's faceoffs and connected for the go-ahead goal, Reily Lasda scored two goals and A.J. Fiore made 13 saves as Ithaca stopped West Genesee short of a state finals appearance for the first time since 2001. West Genesee has won 15 NYSPHSAA championships, the most by any school in any sport.

   "This is just another step," senior Evan Thomas told The Ithaca Journal after posting a goal and an assist. "We're excited about it. It's a huge win, an outstanding win for us. We played great today. But it's just another step toward that eventual goal."

   West Genesee took a 2-0 lead in the first quarter but could not solve Ithaca's zone defense the rest of the way.

   "Being a captain in my senior year, it's something I'll remember for the rest of my life," said Ithaca defenseman Zach Feldshuh.

   Orchard Park dominates: Orchard Park will play in the state semifinals for the first time since 2006 after dominating Webster Thomas in the Class A quarterfinals, 22-10. Orchard Park will meet Ithaca at 5:30 p. m. tomorrow.

   "We expected West Genny, who didn’t?” Orchard Park coach Gene Tundo told The Buffalo News. "It’s like not playing New England in the Super Bowl. That’s incredible. Ithaca’s got to be a heck of a team. You don’t beat West Genesee too often."

   Orchard Park, which has won the last 15 Section 6 championships, dominated Thomas as Mike Moran won 20 of 32 faceoffs to go with a four-point night, Ryan Cole made eight saves and Jeff Tundo and Sean Rimmer scored six goals apiece. Tundo added three assists.

   Sayville advances minus coach: Suiting up three days after the death of his grandmother in South Carolina, Sayville junior Dan Mellynchuk scored two crucial fourth-quarter goals in a thrilling 12-10 victory over Garden City in the Long Island Class B boys lacrosse final.

   "Absolutely, it was on my mind," Mellynchuk told Newsday. "She was real sick, but it was still upsetting. Especially for my dad (Scott, an assistant coach who missed the game). They were very close. It had a big impact on me. Not having my dad on the sidelines was tough."

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   Sayville head coach Christian Doller was ejected after drawing two flags with 3:41 remaining in the first half and will have to miss tomorrow's state semifinal game against Niskayuna.

   Garden City was winning 5-3 at the time, but the Golden Flashes killed off a non-releasable three-minute penalty in winning its first Long Island crown in its ninth season of boys lacrosse.

   Niskayuna advances easily: Senior All-American Dan McKinney scored a career-high seven goals as Niskayuna downed Somers in a Class B quarterfinal, 14-5.

   Stefan Sloma (10 saves) was pressed into duty in goal after starter James Manchester came down ill.

   Niskayuna, ranked No. 1 in the state, took its first lead of the game early in the second quarter and held an 8-3 margin at the half as Jared Franze and McKinney each scored in the final minute.

   "I'd say this was definitely our best performance. We've played well before this year, but not under this pressure," Niskayuna coach Mike Vorgang told The Times Union. "Jared Franze and Dan McKinney did a real nice job getting open. If they don't play well, we won't win."

   Crisp showing by Yorktown: Yorktown scored seven goals in the first quarter, converted its first three extra-man opportunities and held Guilderland scoreless for almost 35 minutes in a 16-4 victory in Class A.

   Johns Hopkins-bound John Ranagan grabbed the opening faceoff and fed Remy Lieberman 12 second into the game for the first of his four goals. Extra-man goals by Ranagan, Kevin Interlicchio (three goals, one assist) and Ty Schuldt (three goals) gave Yorktown a 5-1 lead 4:38 into the game.

   Justin Mabus and Tom Casey also had two goals and an assist in the win.

   "We looked like a well-tuned machine tonight," Ranagan told The Journal News.

   Mets draft Ward Melville ace: The New York Mets took lefthander Steven Matz of Ward Melville yesterday with the 72nd pick on the amateur draft.

   The 6-foot-3, 192-pound pitcher led Ward Melville to its first Suffolk County League I title in 24 years by going 6-1 with two earned runs allowed in 54 innings. He struck out 74 batters and has accepted a scholarship to Coastal Carolina.