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A recent Sayville lacrosse alumnus who plays for SUNY Maritime is back in action after he was sidelined this spring by a devastating staph infection.
Connor Tomich spent two weeks in the hospital and had not played in a game since Feb. 21 when he took the field on Saturday, March 30, and scored five goals in Maritime’s 20-16 win over the Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point.
In early March, Tomich was diagnosed with an abscess positive for staph, after he was rushed to the hospital in severe pain, his teammate Patrick Schnell posted on GoFundMe.com. The infection spread to his blood, making his recovery process longer and more difficult.
“For nearly two weeks, Connor fought bravely in the hospital, enduring countless medical procedures and treatments to overcome this unexpected health setback,” Schnell wrote on a fundraising page he established for Tomich and his family. “Throughout it all, his resilience and positive spirit never wavered, inspiring all of us who know and love him.”
In his triumphant return to the field on Saturday, the 2021 Sayville High School graduate found the net twice within 48 seconds during a second-quarter scoring splurge that left the Privateers leading 12-4 at halftime. A First Team All-Skyline Conference player in 2023, Tomich had previously played in only one game this season for Maritime.
Maritime is 5-4 overall, and 2-0 with Tomich in the lineup.
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Schnell said that he started the fundraiser for Tomich to alleviate some of the financial strain caused by his friend’s medical bills and to ease Tomich’s mind as he rehabilitated and worked to get back on the field.
The GoFundMe effort has raised $8,375 from 138 donations.
Top photo: GoFundMe
