The goal of FLG’s Long Island Lacrosse Journal is to promote the sport of the lacrosse on Long Island. The LI Lax Journal will include team previews, coach interviews, rankings, top players, and much more. Follow FLG Lacrosse this Spring to get inside access to what’s happening in the world of lacrosse on Long Island!
Comsewogue 2017 Season Preview
Comsewogue
Mascot: Warriors
Suffolk Class B
Ranking: 1st
After coming off of a tough loss to Shoreham Wading River in the County Championship last year, the Warriors are determined to make a run again this year as they locked up the number 1 seed for the preseason. Furthermore, with Shoreham Wading River being bumped down into Class C it leaves the Warriors as favorites to winning the Suffolk Class B County Championship.
Senior Captain, Robert Free, hopes to lead Comsewogue to Suffolk Class B County Championship. Robert will be heading to SUNY Cortland in the fall.
Key Returners:
- Robert Free – Defenseman – Senior – Captain
- Ryan Dorney – Attack – Senior
- Christopher Gross – Attack – Senior
- John Rivoli – Defenseman – Senior
- Justin Rivoli – Defenseman – Senior
- William Snelders – Attack – Senior
- Kevin Tiedemann – Midfield – Senior
- Daniel Wright – Midfield – Senior
Key Games:
- Home vs Hills West – 4/18/17
- Away @ Shoreham-Wading River – 4/22/17
- Away @ Eastport – South Manor – 5/04/17
- Home vs Harborfields – 5/8/17
Hills West 2017 Season Preview
Hills West
Mascot: Colts
Suffolk Class B
Ranking: 2nd
After missing the playoffs last year the Colts are hungry for a chance to play for a county championship. Since being moved to Class B the Colts are eager to prove to everyone that they are for real. With class B and C combining for regular season games it should get interesting each week as the Colts will be going up against quality opponents. However, the Colts are up for the challenge as the team is led by an abundance of young talent. Anything but an appearance to a county championship would be considered disappointing for this years Colts as they feel their talent can compete with anyone.
“Keep our eyes on the immediate task at hand, whether it’s one ground ball, or a big defensive stand. If we can focus on staying in the moment and never look past that one play in front of us, we can move on to the next one come late May and into June.” -Tom Rooney, Head Coach Half Hollow Hills West
Cam Mule will electrify crowds this season as the Colts look to take the #1 spot in Suffolk Class B. Cam will be heading to Duke in the fall.
Key Losses:
- Riley Forte – Hofstra, great player, do everything middie, he was a captain and great leader, he will be missed.
- Anthony Lucarelli – Ithaca, football, QB up there. Number 1 defenseman last year.
Key Returners
- Cam Mule – Senior, Duke Commit, Attack. Injured going into last season and wasn’t 100%, QB of the Offense
- Jenson Corabi – Senior, Tufts Commit, Attack/Middie, More middie this year, leading scorer for Hills West last year
- Christian Mule – Sophomore, Duke Commit. Starter as a freshman last year, one of the top players in his class
- Gerald Filardi – Sophomore, Penn State Commit, LSM. High-level athlete. QB of the football team in the fall, started as a freshman last year. Broken collarbone in last play of Long Island Championship for football.
- Justin Brown – Freshman, Michigan Commit, Middie, 1st line middie as an 8th grader, freakish athleticism, 2 hands. Plays football/lacrosse. Got moved up from JV in football and had 3 TDs in his first game.
- FOGO Position – 3 or so athletes who are committed to going to the face-off specialists, don’t have 1 go to guy, we will have more guys by committee.
- Charlie Riccatoni – Senior, Cortland Commit, Goalie. Very good stopper. Excellent on outlets, good leader in the cage, DI goalie going DIII. On smaller side, but is very good all-around goalie.
Key Games:
- Home vs East South Manor – 3/31/17
- Away @ Bayport-Blue Point – 4/12/17
- Away @ Comsewogue – 4/18/17
- Home vs Sayville – 4/22/17
Eastport South Manor 2017 Preview
Eastport South Manor
Mascot: Sharks
Suffolk Class B
Ranking: 3rd
The Sharks are looking to make this 2017 season their year as they try to make a run for a county championship. The Sharks have been working almost non-stop this offseason in hopes of playing into May. With a solid group of guys on the offensive side of the ball, the Sharks feel confident they can compete with anyone in the goal scoring department. It remains to be seen how ESM will hold up on the defensive end of the field. Overall, the Sharks are looking to make a statement in class B this year in hopes of obtaining a county championship.
“I think we are gonna be a really good team, especially on the offensive end. We want to make it to the playoffs and take it one game at a time.” -Kevin Huff, Head Coach ESM
Chris Clemente will lead ESM’s talented offensive group in 2017. Chris will be heading to Monmouth in the Fall.
Key Losses:
- Zach Clemente, Monmouth, Midfield, Captain and Biggest Threat
- Mitchell Johnson, Pace, Defenseman
- Chris Sparacino, Western Connecticut, Midfield
Key Returners
- Brandon Styles, C, Midfield, Cortland Commit, Senior, 5 year varsity player. Started for third straight year.
- Chris Clemente, C, Midfield, Monmouth Commit, Senior, 4 year varsity player, Can face-off
- Hunter Mason, C, LSM, Salisbury Commit, Varsity for 4 years, Started for 3 years. Will play some close defense as well because of his leadership abilities
- Justin Wieck, C, Attack, Mt. Saint Mary’s in MD Commit
- Tom Szalkowski, C, Cortland Commit
- Andrew Child, Goalie, Senior
- James Sherwood, Midfield, Plattsburgh Commit, Senior
Key Games:
- Away @ Hills West – 3/31/17
- Away @ Miller Place – 4/22/17
- Home vs Comsewogue – 5/04/17
- Home vs Sayville – 5/10/17
Harborfields 2017 Season Preview
Harborfields
Mascot: Tornadoes
Suffolk Class B
Ranking: 4th
This year Harborfields is looking to make a splash as they got a top 4 spot in the preseason rankings. Last year, the Tornadoes played a lot of young guys which means this year they are coming back with a year of quality experience. In 2016, the Tornado’s lost five one-goal games and are posed for revenge this year. With playing against some of the top teams during the offseason the Harborfield Tornadoes feel confident about making a run to the county championship.
“We are a sum of our parts. We put a lot of guys out there that can contribute and do stuff. Not making the playoffs would be disappointing, but we have a lot of guys with game experience. We were hanging with the best teams this off-season, and feel we can beat the best teams in our Class.” -Glenn Lavey, Head Coach Harborfields
Ian is a 2-year starter for the Tornadoes at defense. He will be playing for Roanoke in the Fall.
1 Key Loss:
- Jack Walsh, Bates, FOGO, 3-year starter
Key Returners:
- Sam Bergson, Defense, 4 year varsity,
- Ian White – Senior, Roanoke Commit
- Zach Yorio – Goalie, Junior, Rookie of the year in Suffolk Class B in 2016 as sophomore
- Aiden Costello – Middie, Sophomore
- Thomas Sangiovanni – Middie, Sophomore
- Andrew Loiacono – Middie, Senior
- PJ Clementi – Attackman, Junior
- Andrew Derrasmo – Attack, Junior, St. Joseph’s (PA) Commit
- Ben Schwarz – Back from last year after a concussion sidelined him
Key Games:
- Home vs Hills West – 4/04/17
- Home vs Miller Place – 4/12/17
- Away @ Sayville – 5/02/17
- Away @ Comsewogue – 5/08/17
