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!
Garden City 2017 Season Preview
Garden City High School
Mascot: Trojans
Nassau Class B
Rank: 1st
Garden City comes into the 2017 season as the number one seed following last year’s county championship. With talent across the board and a heavy senior class Garden City expects to be right back where they were last year. On top of that, almost every player on this year’s team is a multi-sport athlete which goes to show just how dynamic this team is. With all this talent it is no surprise that the roster is filled with such high-level commitments. If anyone wants to get past the Trojans this year they will have to bring their A-game as not that many teams on the Island can stack up with them talent-wise.
“Last year, I think we had a very strong group of seniors who allowed us to persevere, stay the course, and play hard. Not every town has football/lacrosse kids who have the passion, commitment to each other, and commitment the coaches. We have a hungry group of kids here.” -Steve Finnell, Head Coach, Garden City
Jamie Atkinson is a force at the midfield. He will work to lead the Trojans back to a Long Island Championship in 2017. Jamie will be attending Princeton next year.
Key Losses:
- Brian Haeffner – Midfield
- Tim Schmelzinger – Midfield
Key Returners
- Jamie Atkinson, Senior, Midfield, Princeton Commit
- J.P. Basile, Senior, Attackman, Duke Commit, All-County as a Junior
- Finn Gibbons, Senior, Attackman, Brown Commit, All County
- Kyle Steinbach, Junior, Midfield, Maryland Commit
- Kiernan Gunn, FOGO, Senior, Dartmouth Commit
- Goalie, Teddy Dolan & Eric Muller both competing for the starting job
- Phil Puccio, Defenseman, Senior, Bucknell Commit
- Timmy Gormley – Defense, Senior, Biggest Leader on Defense
- Colin Hart – Defense, Sophomore, Started as a freshman
Key Games
- March 21st @ Syosset
- April 21st @ South Side
- April 29th @ Manhasset
- April 10th vs. Wantagh
Manhasset 2017 Season Preview
Manhasset High School
Mascot: Indians
Nassau Class B
Rating: 2nd
Fast, uptempo, and run and gun is the style of lacrosse that the Manhasset Indians have been known for. With big time players and big time commitments, the Indians hope to have a successful 2017 season. Led by Keith Cromwell, the expectations are set high as the goal is to contend for a state championship. However, being in one of the toughest classes as well as playing an incredibly tough non-conference schedule, the goals for this year’s team will not be easy. It seems as if the Indians have guys at every position that can get the job done and once the team chemistry clicks, the Manhasset Indians will be a force to be reckoned with.
“My goal this off-season was to get to know the guys as much as possible. Get to know strengths and weaknesses. I like to play fast, get up and down, play in transition. It’s important to understand skill sets too. We have the athletes to do that, but I’m still checking in on film to see what they can do well. I don’t want to change things too much.” Keith Cromwell, Head Coach Manhasset
Ben Cirella (Right) is the anchor of the Indians defense. They hope to hold down their competition in pursuit of a Class B State Championship. Ben will be playing at Michigan next year.
Key Losses:
- Matt Gavin – Attackman – At UNC
- Jack Miller – Midfield – At Richmond
Key Returners:
- Brandon Hagerty, Villanova, Goalie, vocal leader, nice anchor, good ball stopper, good with his outlets because he can help us push in transition game, and does a nice job stopping the ball
- Ben Cerillo, Michigan, Defenseman, has been used in many ways, wings, close, facing off, nice anchor in the past, very energy, plays hard, wears emotions on sleeve, and gives everything he has
- Steven Schneider, UNC, Midfield, leader from the midfield, big strong, two-way athletic middie, steps up and takes charge in practices,
- Chris Glynn, G-town, Midfield, nice skill set to his game
- Jack Keogh, Hopkins, Attack, very skilled, good vision, QB of offense
- Kevin Mack, Michigan, Attack, very skilled, quick, nice dodge from X
- John Psyllos, Lefty Attackman, good off-ball guy, tough kid, plays hard, energy guy, scrappy, nice compliment to the other two guys.
Key Games:
- Wantagh, 4/21, Home
- Garden City, 4/29, Home
- South Side, 5/5, Home
Non-League Games Include
- Commack
- St. Anthony’s
- Lincoln-Sudbury
- Chaminade
South Side 2017 Season Preview
South Side High School
Mascot/Nickname: Cyclones
Nassau Class B
Ranking: 3rd
With a highly experienced returning offensive group, Southside lacrosse looks to bypass Manhasset and Garden City on their way to a county championship. However, an inexperienced but potentially talented defense, and uncertainty in the goal could make or break it for the Cyclones’ championship hopes. When playing in a very competitive conference every single league game will be tremendously important. The South Side roster contains many two-sport athletes and they pride themselves on being a team not only filled with good lacrosse players but with good athletes.
“One game at a time.” -Steve Dipietro, Head Coach South Side
Jo Licalzi is the heart and soul of this Cyclones Lacrosse Team. Already committed to Georgetown Licalzi has one last ride at South Side before he heads of to the NCAA.
Key Loss:
- Offensive Coordinator – Steve Serling
Key Returners:
- Jo Licalzi – Long Stick Midfielder – Georgetown Commit
- Mike Leeke – Attack – Maritime Commit – 40 points in Junior Season
- Ryan Langton – Attack – Air Force – 39 points in Junior Season
- Tim Leeke – Faceoff – Maritime –
- Jonny Pickett – Defenseman – Cortland
Key Games:
- Syosset (Non-League)- 3/27 Home
- Cold Spring Harbor (Non-League)- 3/31 Home
- Wantagh (In-League)- 4/13 Home
- Garden City (In-League)- 4/21 Home
- Manhasset (In- League)- 5/5 Away
2016 Nassau County Defensive Player of the Year: Jo Licalzi is the heart and soul of this Cyclones Lacrosse Team. Already committed to Georgetown Licalzi has one last ride at South Side before he heads of to the NCAA. Receiving an All-American in his junior season notching in 6 goals and 5 assists. In order for this South Side team to beat powerhouse teams like Manhasset and Garden City this year they need a healthy and consistent Jo Licalzi, if Licalzi isn’t on his game the Cyclones chances of a county championship are slim to none.
Wantagh 2017 Season Preview
Wantagh High School
Mascot/Nickname: Warriors
Nassau Class B
Ranking: 4th
With multiple key returning players and a talented senior class, Wantagh looks to make some noise in Nassau Class B in the 2017 season. Even though Wantagh might be one of the smallest Class B schools, they are always athletic and dangerous. Casey Murphy looks to be the biggest key for Wantagh in the upcoming season, but guys like Devin Kennedy, Tommy Rohan, Patrick Walsh, Sean Colbert and others look to help out Casey and lead this team to a Nassau Class B County Championship. Best Case Scenario for this team is a top three seed and a county championship appearance and worst case would have to be falling out of the top four seeds heading into the 2017 playoffs.
“Our team motto this year is two words: trust and believe.” -John Cuiffo, Head Coach Wantagh
Sean Colbert will be a team captain for the Warriors this Spring. He hopes to lead his squad through a brutal conference. Sean will be attending St. Joe’s (PA) in the fall.
Key Returners:
- Casey Murphy (Senior) High Point Commit, All-county, Attack, over 100 goals in 4 years, 2016 Stats 38 G 22 A Team Captain
- Matt Robbins, Midfield, Team Captain
- Devin Kennedy, Senior attackman, Team Captain
- Tommy Rohan, Midfield, All-Long Island in Football
- Patrick Walsh, Stony Brook Commit, Junior, Middie
- Anthony Teresky, Senior, Committed to Lincoln Memorial in TN, , 2G & 4A
- Chris Tucker, Senior, 13G & 3A in Junior Season – Captain – Attack
- Sean Colbert, St. Joseph’s, Senior, Team Captain
- Michael Kessler, 3 year guy, Committed to Tennessee Memorial as well.
- Joe Fitzpatrick, Senior, St. John’s Commit.
Key Games:
- South Side (In-League)- 4/13 Away
- Manhasset (In-League)- 4/21 Away
- Garden City (In-League)- 5/10 Away
