Slow starts in games had become an annoying part of the Jamesville-DeWitt boys lacrosse team’s routine throughout its undefeated 2010 run. It became more than an annoyance in Thursday’s state Class B semifinal against Irondequoit at Cicero-North Syracuse’s Bragman Stadium, as the Red Rams faced its first three-goal deficit of the season and didn’t even get on the board until the fourth quarter. Still, J-D proved to be better than the Eagles, even though it waited until the fourth quarter to apply the final touches to an 8-4 victory. “We haven’t been a strong team in the first quarter all season,” senior captain Mac Feiner said. “But once we get going, we don’t stop.” “It’s never ideal to go down 3-0,” J-D head coach Jamie Archer said. “But now we know that we can come back strong. The kids showed a lot of heart.” Not much, other than frustration, was on display in the first half, most of which belonged to Irondequoit, who stunned state no. 1-ranked Canandaigua on its way to the Section V title, then beat Hamburg in the regional round as J-D was routing Corning West. Buoyed by goalie Tyler Nash making 12 first-half saves, Irondequoit showed poise and control on both ends of the field. Mike Utz put the Eagles on the board 5:51 into the game, and Emmy Poccia converted late in the first period to make it 2-0. Archer said his team’s rough starts could be attributed to the process of looking at an opponent up-close, to witness their tendencies and then make appropriate adjustments. By the time this happened against Irondequoit, the Eagles were up 3-0, thanks to Utz’s second goal early in the second quarter. Finally, J-D’s drought would end when Joe Shepard and Peter Goss scored 23 seconds apart midway through that period, and Cam Stone tied it two minutes later. An exchange of goals – Ian Brooks hitting for Irondequoit, Tim Edwards answering 17 seconds later – kept it even, 4-4, going into halftime. Much of the third period belonged to J-D’s defense. Mac Feiner, Dima Bakrukov, Matt Firman and the rest of the back line forced Eagles attackers outside and caused a rash of turnovers, while goalie Dan DiStefano would make several key stops. Alex Hatem had the only goal in that quarter, giving the Rams its first lead at 5-4, but the game remained in question until a fourth-quarter outburst settled matters. Eric DeJohn fed Goss for his second goal with 9:52 left. Edwards immediately took the ensuing face-off, charged up the middle and converted six seconds later. Right after that, Ed Kiesa scored, giving J-D three goals in a 40-second span. Just like that, the Rams had an 8-4 cushion. Between Edwards and Rob Elbers, J-D won 15 of 19 face-offs, including a perfect run through the fourth quarter that stymied any Eagle attempt at a comeback. On Friday morning, the J-D players boarded a bus and headed for Long Island. The destination is Stony Brook University, where the Rams will face Garden City (who edged Niskayuna 5-4 in the other semifinal) for the state Class B championship Saturday at 11 a.m. It would be the team’s second state title in four years. This time, Feiner said, the Rams intend to start well – and finish well, too, with a trophy in hand.