Before Tuesday, seven CHSAA Class AA boys lacrosse state championships had been played.
Kellenberg never had appeared in one.
In their first chance at a title, the Firebirds capitalized. They defeated St. Joseph’s Collegiate of Buffalo, 12-5, Tuesday at Mitchel Field.
Dylan Willis had three goals and two assists. Brendan Kelly had three goals and one assist, and Joe Grimm had two goals and two assists.
“Today we made history,” said Willis, a junior. “Being here next year, it’s never going to feel like this again, being the first ones. It’s a really good feeling knowing we’re the first ones.”
The Firebirds (12-5) believed this year could be special after they returned several key pieces from the team that lost to Fordham Prep in the CHSAA AA Intersectional Championship. They got a taste of late-season playoff lacrosse, and they knew the unsatisfying experience would only make them better.
“From the beginning of the year, we had one goal,” Kelly said, “and that was to avenge the loss to Fordham in the (intersectional) championship.”
Read the full article on Newsday.com: http://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/boys-lacrosse/dylan-willis-brendan-kelly-lead-kellenberg-to-its-first-chsaa-lacrosse-title-1.13691063?pts=528669