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!
Shoreham-Wading River 2017 Season Preview
Shoreham-Wading River
Mascot: Wildcats
Suffolk Class C
Ranking: 1st
Coming off a Long Island Championship last year the Wildcats are heavy favorites to recapture their title. With a tremendous amount of young studs including five D1 commits in ninth grade, it’s safe to say that the Wildcats are set for the future. Furthermore, the Senior class is a very tight-knit group that has been together since kindergarten. The only real concern for this year’s Wildcats would be that they lost their starting goalie and two defensmen. With a plethora of talent coming up from JV, the question remains, which one of these guys will step up on varsity?
“Being a Canadian I push the ball a ton in transition, we are a Syracuse type of team. We play fast.” -Mike Taylor, Head Coach Shoreham Wading River
Chris Gray was an All-American in 2016. He will be playing for Boston University in the Fall.
Key Losses:
- Jon Constant – Marist, Attack/Middie
- Puckey Brothers
- Jason Curran – Brown, Attack
Key Returners:
- Chris Gray – Senior, Boston University Commit, Attack, Led county in points, All-american
- Xavier Arline – Freshman, UNC Commit, Attack, Started last year as a eighth grader
- Joey Miller – Senior, Navy Commit, FOGO/Middie Two-way
- Kevin Cutinello – Senior, UMass Commit
- Danny Cassidy – Senior, Stony Brook Commit, Rookie of the year as a 9th grader, All-county last two years
- Jack Shertzer – Freshman, Ohio State Commit, LSM
Key Games:
- Away @ Harborfields – 3/29/17
- Away @ Hills West – 4/10/17
- Home vs Sayville – 4/18/17
- Away @ Miller Place – 5/04/17
Sayville 2017 Season Preview
Sayville
Mascot: The Flashes
Suffolk Class C
Ranking: 2nd
The Flashes are looking to make noise this year as they will strive for a spot in the county championship game. As head coach Don Fleming said, “When I look at our team, we are a team of all-conference guys, and we feed off each other. Hopefully we will be able to do well with that. I have four interchangeable middies, five defenders that can play, and we are deep, but don’t have superstars.” Despite playing in Suffolk Class C and being ranked second, Sayville will play more B schools than C schools in the regular season. Hopefully a tough regular season schedule will prepare The Flashes for the playoffs. Even without any big name super stars the Flashes still believe they have a good shot at playing for a county championship.
“The key to this year’s team is sharing the ball, and playing as a team, if they can do that they can compete with anyone.” – Don Fleming, Head Coach – Sayville
Jay Intermesoli (Left) is the leading scorer for Sayville, collecting over 200 points in his career. Jay will be heading to Marist in the Fall.
Key Losses:
- Joey Schenzia – Ohio Wesleyan
- Jack Coan – Wisconsin (Football)
Key Returners:
- Jay Intermesoli – Leading scorer, Marist Commit, Attack, 200 points returning at attack
- Max Fleming – Senior, Oswego State Commit, Attack
- Matt Dimeo – Attack, Maritime Commit, Senior
- Ashton Bradley – Midfield, Albany Commit, Senior
- James Lyons – FOGO, Junior, Marist Commit, Midfield, Hurt last year
- Rob Zeigler – St. John’s Commit
- Shamus Burns – Defense, Oswego St. Commit, Senior
- Andrew McGrathy – Defense, Senior
Key Games:
- Home vs Miller Place – 3/31/17
- Away @ Hills West – 4/22/17
- Home vs Comsewogue – 4/28/17
- Away @ Eastport-South Manor – 5/10/17
Miller Place 2017 Season Preview
Miller Place
Mascot: Panthers
Suffolk Class C
Ranking: 3rd
The Miller Place Panthers are looking to make a statement this year as it’s the first time they have D1 commits all across the board. Coach Keith Lizzi is especially excited for this year’s group saying, “This is only the second time Miller Place has had the best athletes in the school going to school for lax. The first time was Liam Walsh’s group in 2013. It will be a small roster this year. If proven at practice, everyone on our squad will have an opportunity to step on that field.” A county championship appearance is in the eyes of every guy on this year’s team. This year, the Panthers will be playing a run and gun style because this year’s team is filled with athletes who have high lacrosse IQs.
“This is the group we’ve been waiting for. These guys have lots of experience with starting, have had their growing pains, and they should be able to find each other.” -Keith Lizzi, Head Coach Miller Place
Joe Bartolotto (Left) is a do-it-all LSM for Miller Place. He’s heading to Cornell in the Fall.
Key Losses
- Chris Nielson – Attack, St. Joeseph’s (PA)
- Jake Bowrosen & Joe Kessler – Goalies
Key Returners
- Jack Walsh – Attack, Stony Brook Commit, Senior, All-County
- Patrick Doyen – Attack, Junior, Lefty, started last year.
- Anthony Seymour – Attack, West Point Commit, Junior
- Kevin Gersbeck – Middie, Lehigh Commit, Senior
- Anthony Beck – Face-off and Midfield, Stony Brook Commit, two-way defense, Senior
- Tyler Ammirato – Marist Commit, Junior
- Joe Bartolotto – LSM, Cornell Commit, Senior. The best LSM in the county, will never step off the field, had 10 goals + after offense. Man-up last year and pumped 3 or 4 in. Last year, we never had anyone where their number 1 guy beat us. Shut-down defenseman, big time wrestler. MVP last year. All-county kid last year. His personal goal is to get All-American.
- Anthony Filippitti – Defense, Marist Commit
- Matt McApline – Defense, Started last year, Plattsburgh Commit, Junior
- Matt Leen – Goalie, Marywood Commit, Senior
Key Games:
- Away @ Sayville – 3/31/17
- Away @ Comsewogue – 4/06/17
- Away @ Mt. Sinai – 4/10/17
- Away @ Harborfields – 4/12/17
Mt Sinai Season 2017 Season Preview
Mt Sinai
Mascot: Mustangs
Suffolk Class C
Ranking: 4th
This year’s goal for the Mustangs is to compete for a county championship, but in order for that to happen guys on the offensive end are going to need to step up. The strong point for this year’s team will be their defense. With that, the Mustangs still have some big name commitments and every one of those guys are going to need to be at peak performance if they want to compete in an extremely tough Suffolk class C schedule.
“A lot of our guys play multiple sports. Good athletes. If our guys step-up this year we can compete for a country championship.” -Harold Drumm, Head Coach Mt. Sinai
Michael Hagenberger is an impact player on the defensive end for Mt Sinai. He is verbally committed to Lehigh.
Key Losses
- Griffin McGrath – Albany
- Matt Boscarino – Cortland
- Ross Dibetta – Defensive Leader
- Peter Mastrorocco – Goalie
Key Returners:
- Lucas Capovinco-Hogan – Defense, Hopkins Commit, Senior
- Mike Hagenberger – LSM, Lehigh Commit, Junior
- Jason Schlonsky – Midfield, Skidmore Commit, Senior
- Russel Mahr – Midfield, Syracuse Commit, Freshman
- Joe Pirecca – Attackman, Marist Commit, Junior
- RJ Mahr – Lefty Attackman, Mt. St. Mary College Newberg, NY Commit, Senior
- Nick Rose – Midfield, Geneseo Commit, Senior
- Nick Cesario – Defenseman, Belmont Abbey Commit, Senior
Key Games
- Away @ Sayville – 4/06/17
- Home vs Miller Place – 4/10/17
- Home vs Hills West – 5/04/17
- Home vs Shoreham-Wading River – 5/10/17
