Leading off today: Orchard Park is one victory from capping a dream-come-true year, but the last step will be a doozy.

   The Quakers advanced to the NYSPHSAA boys Class A boys lacrosse final by beating Ithaca last night, 8-7. Orchard Park senior Artie Marrapese compiled four goals and an assist and goalie Ryan Cole made crucial saves down the stretch stops—including one in the very last second to keep the Little Red from capping a comevack from a 7-3 deficit.

   Marrapese scored OP's only second-half goal, connecting from about 10 yards out midway through the fourth quarter.

   Orchard Park, which already won a state Class AA football championship in the fall, advances to the final vs. West Islip tomorrow at Rochester’s Marina Auto Stadium. Section 6 has never won a state championship in lacrosse.

   West Islip eliminated Yorktown, 13-8 as Shane Craig scored four goals in leading the team to its sixth NYSPHSAA final. Nicky Galasso turned in another stellar game with three goals and an assist, and Andrew Hodgson and Brian Badolato each scored twice.

   Class B semifinals: Jared Franze and Mark Panneton staked Niskayuna to a 2-0 lead before Sayville had taken its first shot, and the Silver Warriors went on to a 15-8 triumph to improve to 24-0 for the season.

   All-American Dan McKinney put up five goals and three assists following a seven-goal performance in the quarterfinals against Somers. Stefan Sloma made 13 saves in his second start filling in for James Manchester (chickenpox).

   Niskayuna took a 9-3 halftime advantage en route to advancing to the final against Canandaigua.

   Canandaigua overpowered Jamesville-DeWitt, 12-6, with an 8-1 run covering 16:40 of the first half. Mike LaCrosse scored three of those goals, and midfielder Marshall Johnson won 16 of 17 faceoffs throughout the rainy night.

   The Braves will attempt to join Penn Yan (2001, Class C) as the only Section 5 teams to win state boys titles.

   Class C semifinals: Johns Hopkins recruit John Greeley scored three first-half goals to help build an 8-3 lead and

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spark LaFayette toward a 10-6 victory over Penn Yan.

   Miles Thompson added three goals, the last on nifty move outside the crease to foil a triple-team and fire past Ethan Kamholtz.

   Goalie Chris Klaiber made 14 saves in the victory.

   "Chris played out of his mind today," LaFayette defender Derek Bennett told The Post-Standard. "Oh my God, he snagged almost every shot."

   The Lancers advance to the final vs. Manhasset, a 16-3 winner over Putnam Valley courtesy of seven goals in a 3½-minute stretch bridging the first and second quarters.

   "We're peaking at the right time," senior attackman Connor English told Newsday after scoring four goals in Manhasset's highest-scoring game of the season.

   Senior midfielder Jeff Molinari scored three goals and an assist in the game, which went to running time when the 12-goal "mercy rule" was triggered early in the second half.

   Albany lures Porcelli: Having twice previously turned down the job, Pete Porcelli has finally agreed to take over the football program at Albany High, The Times Union reported.

   He'll leave after a run as the most successful coach in Lansingburgh history — a 67-19 record, six straight trips to a Section II Super Bowl and four Super Bowl titles -- three in Class B and one in Class A.

   Albany was 0-9 last season and has not played in the Section II Super Bowl since 1995.

   Statewide softball award: St. John the Baptist pitcher Olivia Galati has been selected the Gatorade state player of the year in softball.

   The Hofstra recruit led SJB to its third state CHSAA title in four years with three perfect games, 13 shutouts and 260 strikeouts.