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PREVIEW – Harborfields vs. Comsewogue

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Derek Taylor

Today’s game will contain two of the top Suffolk Girls lacrosse teams in Harborfields and Comsewogue. Harborfields in currently 7-2 with a tough one-goal loss to Cold Spring Harbor and a defeat to one of the best teams on the Island in Eastport-South Manor. On the other side, Comsewogue is also off to a hot 8-2 start. Harborfields isn’t the only team suffering a big loss to ESM, the Warriors lost to ESM 15-2 earlier this month. Don’t be fooled by those two losses, these teams are capable of playing with anyone on any given day.

Harborfields is led by Mikayla Bergin with 23 points, Falyn Dwyer with 21 points, and Grace Zagaja with 30 points. Grace is the leading points getter on the team and has been superb at draw controls this season. Erin Tucker has been stellar in goal with a combined 73 saves on the year. Harborfields is off to a great start as prior to the season they were considered underrated by many. The Cyclones play fast and love to push the ball in transition. Every girl on the team possesses great stick skills and lacrosse IQ. With all that and great goalie play, Harborfields is a legitimate contender to make a County Championship run. Coach Kerri McGinty always has her girls playing their best lacrosse come May. Her focus is not only on winning games, it’s on development, playing as a team, and being prepared for their next opponent.

Grace Zagaja (#15 front left) is the leading scorer for the Cyclones this season. She is very good at the draw circle and is a good leader for this team. Photo taken by FLG Lacrosse

As for Comsewogue, they are also off to a dominant start and are led by Hannah Dorney with 42 points, Ava Fernandez with 36 points, and Jamie Fisher with 27 points. Similar to Harborfields, they’ve had great goalie play throughout the first part of the season. Brianna Blatter has 67 saves on the season. With a very strong team that can play on both sides of the ball, Comsewogue hopes to make an appearance in the County Championship this year.

With today’s matchup, we will see which one of theses teams has a legitimate chance at a title. Since both teams are showing promise and have gotten off to great starts it should lead to a great game.

Location: Harborfields High School

Home Team: Harborfields

Start Time: 4:30pm

Weather at Start of Game:

Source: Weather.com

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Mistakes

Posted on April 23, 2017 by Corey Winkoff

Some see mistakes as tragedies, others as opportunities.

Some think mistakes are strenuous and make you tenuous, others see mistakes a time to be constructive, strong, and generous.

Some see mistakes as par for the course, others as an eagle on the number 18 handicap fourth.

Some see mistakes as a time to hide, others as one to collide and apologize.

Some see mistakes as a chance to point fingers, others as a chance to take ownership, step-up, and deliver.

Some think mistakes are okay, to them I say, “Hey, don’t accept a life below your highest level of play.”

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ANALYSIS – Laxin’ For Autism

Posted on April 22, 2017 by FLG Lacrosse Staff

Following the first day of the “Lax For Autism,” the games were back and forth, the crowds were energetic, and there was a huge increase in awareness for autism. Before each game, shirts that correlated with every team playing were sold, food and drinks were provided, and raffle tickets were distributed for the chance to win brand new lax gear.

The first game of the afternoon was between Sachem East and Northport. The first half was promising as it was a back and forth battle. The battle at the X was even and the goal scoring was balanced. Not until the second half did the tide switch in the favor of Northport. Northport began dominating at the faceoff X and in the scoring department. Number 27 on East, Jake Kelleher, asserted his dominance as he scored 4 goals in the game. He is an uncommitted junior who might be a hot recruit this summer season. He possesses great stick skills and unbelievable athleticism, it’s hard to think colleges might have missed on this kid. However, one kid can’t win a game on his own and Northport took advantage. Tim Brockwell stepped up the Tigers, going 4 goals and 3 assists, on the day. He controlled the tempo and gave his team a chance to start pulling away. After gaining a 4 goal lead early in the second half, they never looked back. Controlling the ball and being good in transition led to a big Northport victory. The final, 18-7 Northport.

Tim Brockwell went 4 & 3 in a big win over Sachem East. Photo was taken by FLG Lacrosse

The Following game between Sachem North and Huntington proved to be the game of the night. The back and forth action did stop, the battle at the faceoff X was pretty even throughout the game. Cole Pillon and Jared Leake on Huntington and Ryan Voyt for North, made it a very interesting battle at the X all night. James Avenzado for North proved to everyone that he just might be one of the top players in the nation. The Maryland commit put on a show with four goals and 3 assists. Normally a midfielder, Avenzado is the full package with smart play, speed, quickness, great stick skill, and unbelievable awareness. He was leaving defenders in the dust and making kids look silly. On top of that, North was great at controlling the pace of play when they were on offense. However, Huntington did not go away, solid teamwork and ball movement of offense led to a close game. In the end, North pulled away with a huge win thanks to Connor Griffin’s 5 goal performance. In front of a rowdy home crowd, North edged Huntington by a score of 13 to 12.

James Avenzado (#10) & Connor Griffin (#23) went off Wednesday night. These two accounted for 9 of Sachem’s 13 goals on the night! Photo was taken by FLG Lacrosse

Thursday, the second day of the Lax for Autism event, was just as exciting as the first. Raffles, food, apparel and more were on display once again. Thursday night was all about the girls and they made sure not to disappoint.

The first game was between powerhouse Northport and Sachem East. Emerson Cabrera (Florida Commit) and Natalie Langella (Bryant Commit) on Northport were standouts and they both possessed a superstar quality. They both had incredible stick skills and accounted for almost every point scored for Northport. However, it wasn’t just those two that looked good for the Tigers. The entire Northport squad played like a well-oiled machine dominating on both sides of the ball. East showed some bright spots, especially from freshman Kristen Shanahan, who carried the team as much as she could. She’s a stellar athlete who does it all. Takes the draw, dodges, scores goals, and guards the best players on the other team. Goalie, Jess Serpe played will in the cage as well. After a convincing win, Northport stays undefeated and looks to be one of the strongest teams on the Island.

Emerson Cabrera asserted her dominance on Thursday against Sachem East. Emerson is a do it all middie who is committed to play lacrosse at Florida. Photo was taken by FLG Lacrosse

The final game was between Sachem North and Ward Melville. The first half, for the most part, was very balanced with Ward Melville gaining a slight edge. The battle in the draw department stayed neutral and the scoring stayed low. For the most part, the first half consisted of stellar defensive play and superb goalie performances by both teams. The game was played at a very fast pace with both teams pushing the ball in transition. Despite some fast paced play, neither team was having tremendous success in executing during transition opportunities. With patience and persistent offensive possessions, Ward Melville executed on their 7v7 chances and managed to take the lead at half 6-2. As for the second half, it was more of the same, a back and forth fast-paced battle. Ward Melville hung on to win in a nail biter 11-8. The Patriots didn’t have many stand-outs because of their team-oriented style of play. Their stat sheet was spread out, with over 9 different people scoring goals. That’s incredible when you think about it. After the game, Hannah Lorenzen, who was the offensive String King Player of the Game for Ward Melville said, “we try and build each other up. We offer constructive criticism to one another. We are always looking to pass and cut through, pick, and really emphasize the simple things that work into our game plan.” Hannah scored two goals on the day and helped propel her team to a quality win over Sachem North.

Ever wonder why Melville is so hard to stop? Because they play as a collective unit. Ward Melville had nine different players score goals in a win over Sachem North Thursday night. Photo was taken by FLG Lacrosse

Overall, the Laxin’ For Autism event was a great experience for everyone involved. There was some tremendous competition on the field, the communities contributing to the event were very supportive, and the vendors did a great job raising money for a great cause. FLG Lacrosse is privileged for the opportunity to be a part of the 2nd annual Laxin’ For Autism event. We look forward to supporting the cause again next Spring!

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PREVIEW – Farmingdale vs. Massapequa

Posted on April 21, 2017 by Derek Taylor

One of the biggest and most intense high school rivalries continues today at Burns Park as the Chiefs take on the Dalers of Farmingdale. Massapequa is off to a solid start as they are 6-1 on the year (2-0 in their Conference) as their only loss was to Smithtown East in a one-goal game. After graduating almost 17 seniors last

Despite being young, the Chiefs are made up of a bunch athletes who are skilled with HI Lax IQs. They will have a tough match-up today against a very sound Farmingdale defense who is good in transition. Photo Taken By FLG Lacrosse

year the Chiefs are still prime for a shot at a County Championship. Led by Senior Brendan Nichtern (Army Commit) and James Hall (Adelphi Commit) on the attack and senior middie Sal Ienna (Binghamton Commit) the Chiefs have shown serious promise in 2017. On top of that, the Chiefs have an abundance of talented underclassmen who are playing a huge role in the Chiefs early success. With the addition of Coach Powers, the Chiefs have been running two middie lines that play both ways. They like to play fast in transition, control the ball, and break down defenses with their dodging ability. On the defensive side of the ball, Senior leader Michael Peco (Hofstra Commit) alongside junior Griffin Horthawn (Leigh Commit) and Brian Lenehan have a toughness and swagger about thier game. They hope to shut down the fast-paced Dalers on their quest to a Nassau Class A Championship.

Asst. Coach Eric Dunne prepares his defense to keep the Chiefs skilled and savvy offensive group in check. Photo Taken by FLG Lacrosse

After losing key players, Matt DeLuca (University of Delaware), Tommy McPartland (Mercy College), Steve Kunz (University of Albany) and Legendary coach Bob Hart the Dalers are now headed by Mike Hungerford and his assistants John Campbell, Eric Dunne, and Kenny Garia to lead this Senior heavy team. The Dalers are led by players like; Kyle Tucker (Cabrini University), Senior Attack having a total of 16 goals for the season so far, Darrin Simons (Stony Brook University), senior Middie with a total of 14 goals, Kevin McCormick (Uncommitted) Junior, LSM scoring a total of 3 goals in the season thus far, Brian Michael (Air Force) Junior FOGO scoring 2 goals so far, and Brody Agres (St. Johns University), Junior Goalie saving a total of 66 shots. The team is looking stronger than ever hoping to take home a County Championship. The Dalers are looking good this season as they are 7-1. The Dalers only loss was to West Islip by 2. The Dalers are going into tomorrow’s game ready, with the hope of bringing a key victory back to Farmingdale.

MASSAPEQUA:

Brendan Nichtern – Attack – West Point Commit – Captain – 3 Year Player
Sal Ienna – Midfield – Binghamton Commit – Captain – 4 Year Players
James Hall – Attack – Adelphi Commit
Garrett Gibbons – Midfield – Maryland Commit – Sophomore
Angelo Petrakis – Fogo – Leigh Commit – Sophomore
Mike Peco – Defenseman – Leader of the Defense – Hofstra Commit

FARMINGDALE:

Kyle Tucker, Attack, Senior, Cabrini
Darrin Simmons, Midfield, Stony Brook
Kevin McCormick, LSM, Junior, Uncommitted
Brody Agres, Junior, Goalie, St. John’s
Brian Michael, Junior, FOGO, Air Force

Game Time: 4pm

Location: John Burns Park, Massapequa, NY

Updates: Twitter @FLGLAX

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PREVIEW – Laxin’ For Autism

Posted on April 19, 2017 by FLG Lacrosse Staff

This week’s prime time girls and boys lacrosse matchups will all be in support of Autism. Four boys teams and four girls teams will square up on Wednesday and Thursday in support of the cause. Since April is Autism Awareness month, it’s great to see local high schools using their sports teams to help raise awareness. Donations for the cause will be accepted at the gates before every game. All proceeds will benefit the Spectrum of Dreams Foundations and Sachem Students with Special Needs. At every game, food and drinks will be available along with “Laxin’ for Autism” t-shirts. On top of that, there will be activities for kids, youth lacrosse halftime games, and a 50/50 raffle. Hopefully, people will come down and watch some great lacrosse games while showing support for a great cause.

The game which will kick off the Laxin’ for Autism day will be on Wednesday, April 19th at 4:30 pm between Sachem East and Northport. Sachem East is 4-4 on the season as of now. Wednesday is a great opportunity for this team to capture their first quality win of the season. All four of their W’s this year were to “middle of the pack” teams and they seemed to struggle against the powerhouse schools. If leading scorers Jake Kelleher and Pete Engelken can continue to step up for East, they’ve got a shot to beat some of the higher seeds in Suffolk A. Starting Long Stick Midfielder, Chris Kouimanis, is a beast between the lines and can really get East going in transition.

On the other side of the bench, you have Northport, who sits at 2-4 and is hoping to gain some kind of momentum. Similar to Sachem East, Northport has had a tough time capturing a quality win against a powerhouse school. This season, Northport has fallen to Syosset, West Islip, Ward Melville, Huntington, and Connetquot. Even though Northport hasn’t beaten a quality opponent of late, they have been in every game. Justin Roderka is leading the way with 22 goals and 5 assists on the season, putting him in the top 20 in goals on the Island. Despite Roderka putting up points, Northport has lost to Syosset, West Islip, and Ward Melville by a combined 10 goals, including a one-goal loss Syosset to open the season. If Northport can start clicking offensively and win the close game, they will go from knocking on the door to beating down quality opponents such as Sachem East and the rest of Suffolk A.

Following the East v. Northport game will be Sachem North facing-off against Huntington at 7:00 pm on the Stadium field. Sachem North is 3-2 on the year, suffering two tough losses where they lost by 2 goals or less. Led by James Avanzato (Maryland Commit) and Anthony Coppola (Binghamton Commit), North is a team that is young and under the radar. If you get these two studs going early, North can put up serious points on the scoreboard. They will have to be weary for opponents shutting off Avanzato & Coppola. If that’s the case, their young attack will have to step-up. Brothers, Frank & Christian Quadrino work alongside big righty finisher Connor Griffin. Those three are crafty, work well in tandem, and have high lacrosse iqs. North has some solid two-way middies, including Scott Smith, which should lead to some transition goals. A steady defense lead by seniors Ryan McAllister, John Mandola, and net-minder Mike Inzone, North has quality talent at all positions.

James Avanzado of Sachem North driving from X against in conference opponent Commack. Photo by FLG Lacrosse, Inc.

Huntington is 2-5, as they are trying to stay alive and hopefully cause some problems for a good under the radar team in Sachem North. Don’t be deceived by the Blue Devils 5 losses. They’ve gone through a buzz-saw early on this season. With opponents like Ward Melville, West Islip, Connetquot, and cross-town rival Cold Spring Harbor, it’s obvious that Huntington is making sure they can play some of the best teams prior to Conference play. Garrett Moya has 30 points on the season. His balanced game provides some stability and consistency for the Devils. You have to respect Huntington’s push to play some of the best talent on the island. But, if this team wants to demand respect from the conference and fans, they’ve got to start knocking off these top teams.

On Thursday, April 20th the girls Laxin’ For Autism day will draw-off between Sachem East and Northport. The Sachem East girls squad is 3-3 on the year as they dominated Commack, Brentwood, and Floyd. However, they took their lumps in their 3 losses as they lost all three of those games by at least 9 goals. Leading scorer, Morgan Benedectis will have to step-up is East has any chance against a young, but highly talented Northport group.

Northport is cruising in 2017, as they are currently 5-0 and have bullied every team played. Olivia Carner and Danielle Pavinelli have asserted themselves as stars this year. Carner is a sophomore committed to Duke University and Pavinelli is a freshman committed to play at Florida University. Both girls have excellent styles of play and intelligence out on the field and have asserted Northport as a powerhouse team. Carner is top 20 in Suffolk in points and Pav top 30. If Northport’s Emerson Cabrera can continue filling up the goal, Northport should have no problem remaining undefeated in 2017.

Olivia Carner of Northport set to take a free-position shot against West Islip earlier this season. Photo by FLG Lacrosse, Inc.

Following the 4:30 PM game, Sachem North will go up against Ward Melville in what hopes to be a great game. Sachem North is 4-2 on the year while suffering a close loss to Smithtown West and Northport. If you don’t already know about Eve Calabria, you should definitely tune into this game and see what she does. Eve is top 5 in Suffolk County in points, with over 20 goals and 24 assists. Calabria has been committed to Bucknell since her freshman year. Being the daughter to Syosset Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach, John Calabria, you know Eve plays with superior lacrosse IQ and toughness. Goal scorers Hailey Rhatigan & Grace Lipponer could be keys to this game as North looks to get their best win of the year.

Meanwhile, Ward Melville is 5-0 and have comfortably won every game. Similar to Northport, Ward Melville is filled with talented girls who know how to play the game at a high level. Earlier this season, Melville upset number 1 ranked Middle Country. This game turned some heads and got lacrosse fans talking about Ward Melville as a legit contender in Suffolk. Ward Melville is very well coached and play incredibly well as a unit. No one player dominates the game, but collectively they put together complete games that make playing them a difficult task.

We are looking forward to a great two days of lacrosse and hopefully, lots of money raised to support Autism. Be sure to follow FLG Lacrosse on social media to see video, photos, live updates, interviews, and our String King players of the game!

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Kids: Speak For Yourself

Posted on April 19, 2017 by Michael Winkoff

Check out an article I wrote for iSport360. Enjoy!

Kids: Speak For Yourself

To learn what iSport360 is all about, click here!

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A Letter to Rising Seniors

Posted on April 18, 2017 by Corey Winkoff

Rising Seniors are the most physically and mentally developed High School athletes going through the recruiting process. Also, rising Seniors are closest to stepping foot on a college campus. College coaches have an easier time projecting rising seniors, as opposed to rising juniors, sophomores, or freshman.

At FLG Lacrosse, we run one of the most competitive individual showcases for rising Seniors. We understand the importance of getting rising senior’s exposure. Our Premier Showcases bring in some of the best schools from around the country that are all still looking at the 2018 graduating class.

Are you unsure if you want to play in college?

If that’s the case, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Despite the uncertainty, it’s still important to proactively network with college coaches and attend recruiting events to come Summer of 2017. It’s important to keep the door open and develop relationships with college coaches going into your senior year. Fostering relationships with college coaches gives you a unique advantage. College coaches have a lot of valuable information about their schools. They can educate lacrosse recruits on their student body, the size of the school, financial aid packages, academic grants or scholarships, and much more. This recruiting process shouldn’t be just about committing and playing in college. It should be a continuous educational process that includes learning about all the amazing schools, conferences, and coaches out there!

Are you fed up with the recruiting process?

I’ve spoken to numerous parents and rising Seniors who are fed up with the process. Attending poor events, not getting the exposure you expected, playing on teams with favoritism can all be contributing factors. Don’t let one or a few bad experiences stop you from pursuing your dreams. There are lots of great events and showcases out there to help get you exposure. Before attending an event, be sure to get a reference from someone who attended in the past. If you don’t know anyone who attended, call the event directly. If they don’t pick-up the phone or answer your email, that’s a red flag and you should move on somewhere else. Do your research, see what looks appealing online, and try to attend events with a good reputation.

Do you feel all college programs already have their recruiting classes set in place?

If you look at the top Ten Division I programs, that might be true. If you are looking at all collegiate lacrosse programs, that simply is not the truth. In fact, over 90% of NCAA Collegiate lacrosse programs are still recruiting the 2018 class. Therefore, there is so much opportunity out there for your class. Go into this summer with an open mind. There is more opportunity out there than you think. Be open to not only building new relationships, attending events, and pursuing your dream schools this summer, but also be open to pursuing new opportunities you never thought about before. Only looking at Division I schools? Time to start connecting with Division II or Division III schools. Only looking at schools with big-time football programs? Start to consider schools with other big time sports where you can still get that ‘RAH-RAH’ experience. Your interests can change not only from year to year but month to month. So, find something that works for you at this moment. We are only 6 weeks away from the summer recruiting season!

If you are experiencing any sort of angst during this process, let someone at FLG let you realize there is hope and there is an opportunity out there for you. Let us guide you in the right direction and hear your story. We want to hear from you, not your parents. This is your process and this is your future.

To set up a call with myself or another FLG Director, simply click the button below and schedule a time to talk!

Set-up a Call!

We are here to answer questions, guide you through the process, and give you an opportunity. If we don’t have the answers, hopefully, we can find someone else who does.

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Getting Un-stuck

Posted on April 17, 2017 by Corey Winkoff

Ever feel like you’re stuck? Can’t get out of a specific relationship. You can’t leave your job. You can’t start a specific project. Well, you’re not alone. Getting stuck can be caused by lots of factors. For me, its fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of losing security, fear of recognizing that my fear isn’t even legit after all. Aside from overcoming the fear, below I’ve listed some ways I get myself un-stuck. Hopefully they work for you too:
Get started. Book needs to be read, taxes need to be filed, or paper needs to be written; whatever the project, just start it.
Stop multitasking. Tough to focus on getting 1 project done when you are concerned with 10. Simplify. Channel your energy. Focus on 1.

Focus on one thing for a specific period of time. 4 minutes. 4 hours. Whatever floats your boat. Most importantly, you’ve contributed something, always better than nothing.

Sit in a quiet environment. Find peace. Find your space. Quiet is nice. Nice is quiet.

Don’t focus on finishing focus on the process.

Celebrate the small accomplishments. Pat yourself on the back when you do something right, figure something out, or learn something interesting or new.

Find inspiration. Could be thru your work, music, or food. Get inspired, get to work.

If you have something to say say it.
Throw away the instructions. Don’t be so caught up in the don’t. Do. Go. Make. Create.

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The Why?

Posted on April 13, 2017 by Corey Winkoff

Coach: It’s important to move the ball up the field.

Player: Why move upfield?

Coach: It brings the ball and your team closer to your opponent’s goal.

Player: Why get closer to your opponent’s goal?

Coach: Getting closer to your opponent’s goal gives your team a better chance to score.

I encourage players and coaches to ask the question, why?

But, why ask why?

Asking why makes you think more about the purpose of your actions.

The why brings you closer to clearly defining your goals.

Knowing the why can foster positive habits.

The why turn these positive habits into steady development.

Development brings you one step closer to a complete understanding of your goals or what it takes to become great.

The why makes coaches and athletes dig deeper, think harder, and make connections quicker.

Promote the question, why? Don’t shy away from it. After all, what’s the worst that can happen, you have to answer, “I don’t know?” In this case, work together, ask Google, figure out the why?

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ANALYSIS: Smithtown West vs. Smithtown East

Posted on April 12, 2017 by Derek Taylor

Going into this prime-time matchup between Smithtown East vs West, most if not all of us were expecting two high power offenses to flex their muscles and demonstrate their abilities to fill up the goal. In front of a sold-out stadium, with the West fans on one side and the East fans on the other, it was team defense and unbelievable goalie play that defined this game. A 7-5 finish in favor of Smithtown East was led by Thomas Harkin, the uncommitted reclassified 2018, with 18 save. Harkin was virtually unbeatable, saving everything high, possessing great footwork along with great hand-eye coordination. If you ask Harkin, we would say his 18 saves was a result of, “the defense talked a lot, 2-slides, hot-slides, we were really communicating and our defense made me look a lot better.” Talk about a team player. On the other side of the field was Ryan Erler, the Senior Stony Brook Commit, who only had 6 saves but every one of those kept West in the game. Without Erler in net, this game would have been a blowout for the Bulls of the East.

The big three, Desimone, Eschbach, and Burns, for Smithtown East were surprisingly quiet, combining for only 3 points on the day. Desimone did a nice job in the clearing game, riding game, and in transition. With that said, it was Sean Barry and Michael Latini that asserted themselves as dominant players on the offensive end of the field. In FLG’s post game interview, Latini said: “It was important for us to play fast in transition but to settle it down so we could have full possessions and run our set offenses”. Both Barry & Latini has great stick skills and an intelligence about their game to know where the slides are coming from. These two studletes combined for 6 points on the day and really propelled their group to maintain a lead that was never given away.

As for West, Connor Calderone, the Sophomore Maryland Commit, obliterated everyone East threw at him on the face-off X. The sophomore won 11 face-offs only losing 3. This allowed for West to dominate time of possession throughout the game. However, it was Smithtown West’s lack of offensive cohesiveness that led to rushed possessions and undesirable shots on goal. Shots right to HArkin’s stick resulted in tired middies and a frustrated offensive unit. East now sitting at 4-2, and is poised to make a run at a County Championship. While West is sitting at 4-3, they still have all the attributes to be a powerhouse team. If they can click offensively and continue to dominant at the X, they can run deep in Suffolk Class A.

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