PITTSFORD—Section VI is one step away from its first state championship in lacrosse, and Orchard Park is one step away from a storybook ending to an already historic year.

The Quakers will play for the Class A boys lacrosse state championship after surviving a tense, big play-filled second half to beat Ithaca, 8-7, in the state semifinals Thursday evening.

Orchard Park put together a full-field performance that has typified its 21-1 season. Senior Artie Marrapese showed the depth of OP’s offensive weapons with four goals and an assist, senior Mike Moran won eight faceoffs and senior goalie Ryan Cole had several crucial stops—including one in the very last second.

“Everything we needed to happen at the end happened — it was perfect,” said Marrapese. “We’re in the state final. It’s amazing.”

Orchard Park advances to the state championship game against Long Island power West Islip at 1:30 p. m. Saturday at downtown Rochester’s Marina Auto Stadium (formerly Paetec Park).

It is the second state championship game this school year for Orchard Park, notably for the father-and- son tandem of Gene and Jeff Tundo. Gene coaches both the football team — which won its first state title in school history in the fall — and the lacrosse program while Jeff was a standout running back in football and is an All- American in lacrosse.

“This is a testament to our players,” said Gene Tundo. “I think this year’s team bonded together as a band of brothers. This is a fun team. They’re fun to watch, and we’ve got one more game.”

An estimated 1,000 at St. John Fisher College’s Growney Stadium watched OP take a 7-3 halftime lead and hold on despite scoring just once in the second half.

Moran won eight faceoffs and Marrapese one— while that accounted for winning less than half of the game’s draws (9 of 19), it was a major factor for OP to hold its own against standout midfielder Gabe Mendola. Mendola was credited for all 12 faceoff wins for Ithaca (18-3) in its stunning 6-2 victory over 15-time state champion West Genesee in the Central Regional.

OP’s only goal after halftime broke a scoreless streak of 20:06 and it fittingly came from Marrapese, who unleashed a long shot from the right side off an assist by Moran for an 8-6 lead.

Marrapese stepped up as a major offensive force while Ithaca’s zone concentrated on Jeff Tundo (one goal). His three goals in the first half included laser shots in the top corner against Ithaca standout goalie A. J. Fiore, who will play at Cornell.

“That’s a pretty good team that beat us,” said Ithaca coach Frank Welch. “That No. 18, that Marrapese is a heck of a player. He made two beautiful shots on our goalie right up in the upper corner.”

Ithaca made it an 8-7 game when Garrett Venuto scored with 1:29 left. Torrin Varn had a shot from the left side go wide. OP won possession thanks to Gary Davies’ hustle, but gave it back on a violation with 24 seconds left.

Varn backed in at the left side but his shot was blocked at the defense. An OP defender heaved the ball to midfield in a desperation clear with just seconds remaining, but goalie Fiore was there to nab it and send it back somehow to Varn. Varn had his back to the cage when he let go of a low shot that Cole nabbed with his stick.

“I just dipped the stick low and he shot it and I went to my knees and made the save,” said Cole, one of 10 lacrosse players who also played football. “It’s probably the biggest save of my life.”

West Islip defeated Yorktown, 13-8, in Thursday’s downstate semifinal. Since 1996, the Class A state championship has been won by West Genesee six times and by a team from Long Island six times. West Islip won in 2006 and 2007.

Section VI has never won a state championship in lacrosse, boys or girls. The only two state championship trips for the Quakers ended to Long Island teams, a 7-4 loss to Ward Melville in 2000 and a 15-10 loss to Northport in 2001.