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!
Ward Melville 2017 Season Preview
Ward Melville
Mascot: Patriots
Suffolk Class A
Ranking: 1st
After tweeting to over 2,000 of FLG’s followers, 79 votes came in. Ward Melville was the favorite when asked, “Who is the best HS boys team in Suffolk?” See above.
Coming off of a superb season where the Patriots captured both County and Long Island championships, they look to pick up right where they left off last year. With a boatload of returners and big time commits the Patriots are poised to make another run for the Championship. As head coach Jay Negus said “We are really just focused on what we need to do on a daily basis. Need to compete every single day in practice and get better. Expectations would be getting to be where we were last year. We need to get better every day.” The biggest thing for the Patriots this year is sticking together and becoming a tight knit group, if the team chemistry continues to grow there are very few teams on the Island that could compete with the Patriots this year. A target has been placed on this team’s back, it will be interesting to see how Ward Melville rises to the challenge of being the team to beat!
“As a coach and educator, it’s so important to coach the guys in the middle. We don’t just focus on our most talented guys. We need to make sure everyone is ready. We need our players to represent their unit so we can accomplish our goals as a team.” -Jay Negus, Head Coach Ward Melville
Andrew McKenna is the heart and soul of the Patriots. Andrew will be attending Navy in the Fall.
Key Losses:
- Connor Grippe – Stony brook
- John Day – Army
- Grillo – Ohio Wesleyan
- Kellerman – Quinnipiac
Key Returners:
- Andrew McKenna – Navy, All-County, Captain of the defense
- Eddie Munoz – Midfield
- Dominic Pryor – Midfield
- Zach Hobbs – Midfield, Harvard Commit
- Liam Davenport – Army Commit
- Ryan Pallonetti – Midfield
- Joe Larosa – Attack
- Connor McGinley – Attack
- Jack Purdie – Attack
- Kepes – Attack
- Andrew Lockhart – Cornell Commit
- Pat O’Beuik
- Matthew Grillo
- Dylan Pallonetti – Attack/Midfield, UMass Commit
- Connor Cunningham – Goalie
- Michael Giaquinto – UPenn Commit, Face-off
- Brandon Aviles – Syracuse, Face-off
Key Games:
- Home vs Chaminade – 4/08/17
- Home vs West Islip – 4/10/17
- Away @ Smithtown West – 4/21/17
- Home vs Smithtown East 4/27/17
Smithtown East 2017 Season Preview
Smithtown East
Mascot: Bulls
Suffolk Class A
Rating: 2nd
Smithtown East will try and take home a Suffolk Class A County Championship in the upcoming 2017 season, but they’re going to have to go through the likes of Ward Melville, West Islip, and Smithtown West to do so. It’s do or die for this Smithtown Senior class as all of them are taking their game to the next level in 2018. It all relies on this Senior class if the Bulls want to win the Suffolk Class A County Championship. In one of the toughest conferences in the country, Class A is an absolute grind for even the most talented of teams. Last year, Smithtown East lost three games by a total of three goals, including two Overtime matches.
“We are a very Senior heavy team. With 15 Seniors on the roster, we have 13 committed to play at the next level. We want to finish on a good note, we feel we can compete for a county championship. We just want to win our league and anything after that is gravy.” -Jay Lambert, Head Coach Smithtown East
Connor Desimone (#22) was an All-American as a Junior. He will look to lead his team to a Suffolk Class A Championship in 2017. Connor will be attending Johns Hopkins in the Fall.
Key Losses:
- Gerard Arceri – FOGO, Penn State
- Dan Rooney – Attack, Ohio State
Key Returners:
- Connor Desimone – Johns Hopkins Commit, Attack/Middie
- Bobby Burns – Penn State Commit, All-County
- Luke Eschbach – Yale Commit, Middie, All-County
- FOGOS, 4 Division I Face-off Guys on their roster this year, Steven Cuccurullo (Harvard Commit), Brian Herber (Hofstra Commit) Younger Arceri (Upenn Commit) Herber’s Younger Brother (Hofstra Commit)
- Anthony Voelker – Fairfield Commit, LSM
- Thomas Harkin – Goalie, 2nd year starting
Key Games:
- Away @ Manhasset – 3/20/17
- Home vs Smithtown West – 4/10/17
- Home vs Massapequa – 4/15/17
- Away @ West Islip – 4/22/17
- Away @ Ward Melville – 4/27/17
Smithtown West 2017 Season Preview
Smithtown West
Mascott: Bulls
Suffolk Class A
Ranking: 3rd
The Bulls are looking to come into the 2017 season with a bang. After losing a good amount of key contributors, the Bulls are hoping to rely heavily on their young guns for production. Unlike most years where a majority of their players only played lacrosse, this year the lacrosse team is filled with multi-sport athletes. After falling just short of a county championship appearance last year, the Bulls are looking to make a run and compete for a county championship in 2017. However, with both Smithtown East and Ward Melville bringing back a bunch of studs, it will make for a much harder ride to the top of the conference.
“One game at a time” – Bob Moltisanti, Head Coach – Smithtown West
Kyle Zawadzki (#4 Right) will lead Smithtown West in his Junior season. Kyle is verbally committed to Yale.
Key Losses:
- Matt Kolasinski – Western Connecticut
- Anthony Kehrer – Suffolk Community
- Austin Biardi – Football at Trinity
- Danny Carello – Syracuse
Key Returners:
- Jimmy Cattigan – Senior, 2-time all-county, Colgate University Commit, Attackman, 4 year-starter
- Kyle Zawatzki – Junior, Yale Commit, Very high lax IQ. Very technical. Fundamentally sound. Very accurate shooter. All-county as a freshman.
- Danny Riley – Returning 3-year starter, 2 time all-county, two-way middie
- Andrew Arce – Junior. Binghamton Commit. Plays offense and defense. Strong shooter with both hands. Well balanced middie.
- Brandon Meir – Junior, Binghamton Commit, FOGO
- Conor Calderone – Sophomore, Maryland, FOGO
- Ryan Erler – Senior, Stony Brook Commit, Goalie, 2016 DI Goalie of the Year
- Hunter Greco – Senior, Binghamton, Very athletic. Might play some long pole as well.
- Kyle Walker – West Point Commit
Key Games:
- Away @ Cold Spring Harbor – 3/22/17
- Home vs Garden City – 3/25/17
- Away @ Smithtown East – 4/10/17
- Home vs Ward Melville – 4/22/17
West Islip Season 2017 Preview
West Islip
Mascot: Lions
Suffolk Class A
Ranking: 4th
After finishing the season 13-1 last year, the Lions suffered a heart breaking loss in the playoffs. However, this year the Lions are looking to make a run for county and state championship. Losing 17 seniors will not make this an easy task. The Lions spent the entire year playing together. With a good core coming back and loads of college prospects, Coach Craig will have his team ready to compete as always. For West Islip, every year is a new one. Roles change, chemistry changes, but expectations remain the same.
“The best case scenario for our team is to win a State Championship. We never have expectations lower than that. Can we win a State Championship in March? No. If we evolved throughout the Spring, I think we can.” – Scott Craig, Head Coach – West Islip
Jake Nicolosi is coming off a strong off-season and will lead WI back to the top. Jake will be attending Manhattan College in the Fall.
Key Losses
- Danny Mottef
- Conor Smith – Penn State
- Mike Lombardi – Manhattan
Key Returners:
- Brendan Engel- Quinnipiac Commit, Goalie, 3 year varsity, 2 year starter, All-Division last year
- Vinny Raccuglia, Florida Tech Commit, Defense, Senior
- Pat Mulchahey – Pace Commit, Middie, Senior
- Drew Cestaro – Binghamton Commit, Senior
- Ryan Forcino – Cortland Commit, Senior, 2 year varsity
- Dylan Wills – Oneonta Commit, Senior, 3 year varsity
- Jake Richter – Mt. St. Mary’s (MD) Commit, Senior, Midfield, LSM
- Jake Nicholosi – Manhattan Commit, Attack
- Colin Riley – Penn State Commit, Freshman
- Mike Alexander – Yale Commit, Sophomore, LSM, Defense,
- Jared Paquette – Yale Commit, Goalie
Key Games:
- Away @ Ward Melville – 4/10/17
- Home vs Smithtown East – 4/22/17
- Away @ Smithtown West – 4/27/17
