SECTION 4 BOYS' LACROSSE: 10 YEARS IN THE MAKING AS HORSEHEADS BOYS' LAX WINS FIRST SECTIONAL TITLE SINCE 2016 (24 PHOTOS) (May 30, 2026)

BY BRIAN FEES
Southern Tier Sports Report
HORSEHEADS — Ten years ago Boe Briggs was there as the Horseheads boys’ lacrosse team won their last Section IV Championship. 

The Blue Raiders standout was watching as his older brother, Garrett Briggs, won the sectional title, thinking about one day winning the title himself.

That’s exactly what happened on Saturday as the Blue Raiders topped Binghamton 13-3 to win their first sectional crown since 2016.

“It’s awesome (winning sectionals),” Briggs said. “From the start of my sophomore year I wanted it. Back-to-back coming to sectional championships and we sadly lost the last two games. But, we thankfully won this one. Ever since my brother won it 10 years ago (I wanted this). I was there, watching him when he won it. I was so proud of him and he said the next one is yours. I totally agreed with him. I wanted to put in the work and come here and win it.

“It’s emotional, it’s awesome. I am so proud of this team. We put in so much work. We came back, we fought and scrapped.”

For Briggs he had been told for years this was something he could win.

“He (Garrett) told me from the start, you have the power, you have the mindset,” Briggs said. 

The Blue Raiders have worked a long time to get to this point.

“It’s awesome,” Horseheads coach Jason Neubauer said. “These boys have worked so hard all year. It’s really all them. They got better a little bit every day through the course of the season and where they are now, the confidence they. Have, it’s amazing to see the growth. The support the community has shown the program over the years. They have stayed consistently working and this is what happens when you stay consistent and work hard every year, good things happen.

“They have been talking about it all year. They have been talking about it since they were little. It’s been a while since the last group did it and they are looking froward to getting back to work Monday. But, they are going to really enjoy this right now.”

The win was special for the Blue Raiders.

“It’s incredible,” Zack Bennett said. “To share it with this group is fantastic. We had a great group this year. We played tough. We started off the season a little slow, but finished strong. Six straight wins to get into the sectional championship. I was up two years ago, to lose both the past years was terrible and to come back this year was great.

“I have always wanted a sectional final win and to do it with this group was fantastic.”

Horseheads got off to a 5-0 lead after one quarter in the game.

“The early lead was huge,” Bennett said. “Binghamton went down year and we were up. We had the momentum the entire time. Keeping it through the game led to a 12-0 (lead) and eventually a 13-3 win.”

At times this year the Blue Raiders have struggled early, but not on Saturday.

“It’s awesome,” Briggs said. “We are usually a third-quarter team. We usually start out slow. I said in the locker room we have to start out strong. We came out and banged out five goals and I was like, okay, now it’s our game.”

Brogan Sullivan had a goal and four assists, including the 100th assist of his career. Seamus Lynch had three goals and an assist and Bennett had two goals and an assist.

Owen Johanson had two goals and Keenan McCarthy had a goal and an assist. Colin Phillips, Johnny Lowe andConnor McAllister all had goals. 

Ben Potter had seven saves and Graham Thompson had two saves.

Ty Miller, Tristan Durham and Lyshawn Forbes had goals for Binghamton and Aiden Hurley had six saves.

Briggs had a goal in the game, he had 13 ground balls and was a perfect 17-for-17 on face-offs.

“Boe Briggs has been an absolutely awesome force for us this year,” Neubauer said. “He’s been a team first guy. He does the dirty work. He never complains. He never says he’s tired and it doesn’t matter if someone hits him, he’s going to run through a wall for us and his leadership has been awesome for us, along with our captains.”

For Bennett it’s amazing what Briggs does for the team.

“It’s huge, it’s huge, he’s fantastic,” Bennett said of the perfect day on face-offs. “He’s going to Cortland net year, he’s fantastic for us.”

Briggs was happy to see all his work paying off.

“It’s awesome, hard work pays off, I’m so thankful,” Briggs said. 

For Briggs he kept winning face-offs and then the offense would go and score.

“I’m proud,” Briggs said. “If the offense is going to make it, take it, I’m going to win it. If they are going to score, I’m going to make sure they get that ball back.”

Horseheads plays in a sub-regional game at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Ithaca. 

“If they stay true to themselves, and they stay disciplined and they work hard, they can certainly compete as we go forward,” Neubauer said. 
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES

PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE GAME:

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