In 2000, there were two elite boys club lacrosse programs on Long Island, LIMLF “Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation” & Team Long Island. LIMLF aka Metro was made up of mostly Nassau County players, while Team Long Island was made up of mostly Suffolk County players.
I had the pleasure of playing for the LIMLF as a kid. Some of my best memories were the games against Team Long Island. We usually got the best of Team Long Island. Reason being, our team was a group of skilled, slick players with a high lacrosse IQ. Team Long Island typically consisted of bigger, stronger, and more athletic players. Even though Team Long Island had the size and athleticism, we had the skill. However, at the end of every game against Team Long Island, I always walked off the field thinking, “once those guys develop their skills, watch out!”
Even today, Suffolk County is filled with tons of athletes that are bigger, faster, and stronger! 15 years after facing Team Long Island in a 7th grade club lacrosse game, the make-up of the lacrosse player’s from Suffolk County has changed, for the better. The big, athletic Suffolk players of the early 21st century have developed some serious skill, lacrosse IQ, and slickness.
Some of the top players on the island hail from Suffolk County Public School Programs. Not only are the best players coming from out east, but some of the best programs on Long Island hail from Suffolk too. The perennial Suffolk powerhouses like Ward Melville and West Islip are being challenged by other big time programs like Sachem North, Smithtown East, Smithtown West, and Northport!
It’s great to see how much the level of lacrosse has grown throughout the island.
I am proud to announce that FLG will be expanding into Suffolk County during the summer of 2016. We’re looking forward to bringing back the youth rivalry between the top lacrosse players in Nassau County and the top players from Suffolk County. The west end vs. the east end. 516 vs. 631.
Stay tuned for more info on FLG’s expansion out east!
