Early Summer Tourney Recaps

2015 Girls:

The 2015 girls took their talents to the National Draw Tournament this weekend. The team was placed in the top bracket and played some of the toughest teams they’ll see all summer. The girls battled all weekend, putting forth a strong effort in every game. Stand out performances came from the Biscardi girls and Ciara Gordon. All three really stood out to their coaches and had a positive impact on the team. The girls look to grow as the summer progresses and look forward to competing again.

FLG 2019 – Emily Lampasone

2016/17 Girls:

The 2016 team really found their momentum this weekend at the National Draw Tournament. Coach Ruszkowski was impressed at how well the team worked together and how hard they worked. “They never gave up,” said Coach, “I am very proud of the team.” The girls used many of the strategies and skills that their coaches had showed them, leading to success in their first two games. Starting from the back, Grace Steinthal impressed the coaches defensively, as Emily Sandford and Hailey Harder stood out in the midfield. In the attack, Kerri Metzler did a great job and showed her coaches how impressive she can be. The girls finished the weekend with high hopes for the rest of the summer. They look to continue working and playing hard in the next couple of weeks.

2018 Girls:

The 2018 Girls played hard over the weekend at the Lax by the Sea Tournament, fighting in every game and leaving it all on the field. Midfielder Stephanie Walsh had a great weekend and made a huge impact on the field. She was a leader and a strong, positive influence on the rest of the girls. The 2018 team looks to continue playing hard and giving a strong effort as they continue playing throughout the summer.

You could see determination in their eyes as the 2018 Girls took the field this past weekend. They were ready to play and motivated to win. The result was magical — the girls went undefeated and were named Champions of the Long Island Laxfest. They finished off the weekend winning 13-5 in the championship. The success came from the girls’ focus at practice, where they really worked on the draw and dump concept leading to the majority of their goals. Stephanie Walsh, Marielle Baranello, Gianna Bifulco, Julia Davis, Meghann Sprotte and Daniella Panicia were key to the team’s success this weekend. Coach McGinty was quoted saying, “The girls did a great job implementing everything from practice. Everyone worked hard and multiple people scored.” The coaches hope to continue the streak as they continue on their summer campaign.

2019 Girls:

The 2019 girls continued the trend of their fellow FLG teams. Their game was characterized by hard work, dedication and relentless play and the coaches were very happy to see them using the tools taught at mini camp. In particular, two plays and three defenses were introduced at mini camp and the girls were able to execute each and every addition to the satisfaction of the coaches. The defense and middies really stood out. Kaitlyn Pellechia, Nicki Mormile and Molly O’Hara had great weekends in the center of the field. Emily Lampasone and Gabby Levinson did great jobs of shutting down opposing offenses. The girls hope to continue their strong play as they reach the heart of their summer season.

One of the most impressive performances by an FLG team came this past weekend. Following in the footsteps of their older counterparts, the girls of the 2019 team became champions of the Long Island Laxfest. The girls entered the weekend determined to make a name for themselves and that’s exactly what they did, finishing the weekend undefeated, behind organized and efficient offense and shut down defense. Coach McGrath was amazed at how well the girls played. “The team played awesome and completely unselfishly,” said Coach, “Everyone played a huge roll in each game.” The team scored 34 goals throughout the weekend and 25 of them were assisted. Meanwhile, the defense shifted between three different schemes and the communication was stellar. The defense was recorded with 20 caused turnovers throughout the tournament, an outstanding number. The girls really put in an all out effort and saw the results they wanted. They hope to keep up the positive play throughout the rest of the summer.

Early Summer Tourney Recaps

Tournament Recaps

Committed Team:

FLG Committed Player – Jack Tigh (Yale)

The committed team got off to a strong start at NYLA. Despite injuries, the boys were able to remain undefeated in their 2014 campaign, with strong wins over the West Islip Varsity Team and Primetime 2015. The strongest performances came from Jonathan “The Wall” Klobus and Nick “No Goal” Gray; both looked stout behind the strong play of Quintin Germain and Matt “Patrick” Kane.

The offense started the day off slow, scoring 6 goals in the first game, but finished the day with strong showings, scoring 13 and 11 goals in their last two games. The coaches hope to continue their success throughout the summer as they look forward to the Best of the Best Showcase.

2015 Boys:

After playing for the first time together in a BBL scrimmage, the 2015 boys showed incredible growth in the NYLA Tournament. The team was resilient as they battled each game despite tired legs and strong in their two wins against the Sting and the Long Island Outlaws, winning by three and four goals. There were inspiring performances by Jared Warner, who played in six games, while Ryan Kelly, who “can do it all” according to Coach Hungerford, helped push the team to victory. The defense was tenacious behind two of the best in Nicholas DeLuca and John Shea. Performances led to interest from a number of coaches including Boston University, Navy, Rutgers and Adelphi, just to name a few. They are currently battling in the King of the Hill Tournament at McDaniel College.

The 2015 boys are known for their relentless effort on the field, and this week they did not disappoint. The team left everything they had on the field and each game was battled to the end. At one point, goalie Tommy York picked up a long pole and took a run at long stick midfield to help out his teammates. Ryan Kelly, Nicholas Orlowski, Jared Warner, and Justin Wright all stood out this weekend. The performances by the whole team led to interest by Ithaca College, Lynchburg and Bowdoin. The team looks forward to continue playing together as the season progresses.

2016 Boys:

The 2016 boys kicked their summer off with positive play at NYLA Tournament. Despite a slow start, the team continued to improve as they finished off the day with a strong 12-4 win over the New Jersey Riot. Top performances this week came from Lawrence Galizia, who was a force in the middle of the field causing turnovers and starting the transition game, while Goalie Zach Walsh stepped up in net and provided strong leadership to the defense. At the X, Charles Mazzocchi and James Gadaleta were dominant, winning countless possessions for the offense. Kevin Pastier led the team with seven goals in three games and was relentless on the ride, causing turnovers and transition offense. Alex Alacqua also grinded all day on both offense and defense, showcasing his talents as a two way midfielder. The talented group received attention from schools such as Duke, Navy, LIU Post and St. Johns. They hope to continue growing as a team as the summer progresses.

2017 Boys:

The youngest team to take part in the NYLA Tournament was the 2017 boys team. Another team with a lot of talent, they truly showed how dominant they can be when playing with each other. In their second game of the day, they won big 10-4, showcasing their electric offense and stout defense. Kevin Mack, Jarred Strauss and Jack Gatto shined on the offensive end and played very strong together. Defensively, Dylan Guarneri, Phil Puccio, Kyle Higgins and Luke Pacher shut down teams, giving up an average of five goals per game. The team looks strong heading into the busiest part of the summer and hopes to improve each week.

2018 Boys:

The 2018 boys spent their weekend at the FLG Spring Shootout. The team looked strong winning their first game by 9 and their third game by 13. They finished the weekend strong on Sunday, winning their final game by a goal and giving the team a third place finish in their division. Driven by their strong team defense and skilled long-poles, the team only let up an average of 3 goals in four of their games. As the summer progresses, the team hopes to continue playing shut down defense and scoring in bunches.

FLG 2020 – James Moroney

2019 Boys:

The sharp shooting seventh graders went 4-1 at the FLG Spring Shootout with each of their wins against strong teams. The boys started off the weekend 3-0 after beating the Jesters 6-4, BBL 10-1 and Express NYC 9-4. They then continued to win when they took third place after defeating the Jesters one more time 8-5. Standout performances came from Charles Andrea, Michael Farrell, Chris Glynn, Mitchell Kozak, Steven Moscatiello, Alex Racanelli and John Whelan. The team hopes to keep up the successes as they continue into the summer.

Next up for the 2019 boys was Laxfest. The boys played hard and experienced success during the weekend with a 10-3 win over Laxachussets and a 5-4 win over Superstar. The team played well and got along very well with each other. Chris Glynn had a wonderful weekend for the team playing hard in every game. Michael Farrell, John Whelan, Steven Moscatiello, Jack Mansfield and Louis Perfetto also had great weekends for the team and really made a difference on the field.

2020 Boys:

The 2020 boys found their stride at the FLG Spring Shootout. They went into the weekend hopeful and came out victorious. Winning their first three games Saturday, the team came into Sunday ready to play. When all was said and done, the team had finished in third place with a 4-1 record. They fought hard and came back from being down in two games, showing a lot of heart and effort throughout the weekend. Led by Jacob Bruno and Brian Mack on defense, the team allowed only 15 goals through five games over the weekend. Midfielders James Moroney, Liam O’Donohue and Casey Reynolds controlled the center of the field and were a force to be reckoned with. The team hopes to improve despite their early success.

The 2020 boys continued their summer at Laxfest this past weekend and found their stride, finishing with three great efforts. “The team plays hard and continues to show that they never give up,” said Coach Fast. The best part of the weekend was the character and sportsmanship exhibited by the boys — they truly lived up to the FLG name. “It is a pleasure to coach these kids,” said Coach Fast, “we look forward to continuing to grow as players and young men.” Tim Barrett, Brian Mack and James Moroney all had strong tournaments and left everything they had on the field.

2021 Boys:

The young guns of FLG showed real resilience at the FLG Spring Shootout. After a slow start, they were able to finish the weekend without another loss. The team improved every game and showed huge growth throughout the day. The offense was sharp, moving the ball swiftly between players, and always had their head up looking for the next pass. The defense was strong on man-down, working hard to protect their goalie. At the end of the day, the 2021s did a great job and we look forward to seeing what they can do next.

The youngsters on the 2021 team delivered dominant performances throughout the weekend at Laxfest. Starting off the tournament with wins of 10, 10, 11 and 12 goals, the team found themselves clicking on all cylinders. They were dominant throughout the tournament and everyone battled each time they stepped on the field. The transition game was the most improved, providing numerous scoring opportunities for the offense. Jack Cacioppo, AJ Pascarella, Brian Connelly, Steve Pidegian, Max Willard, Dillon Skeans and Nolan Garcia were dominant throughout the weekend and truly left a lasting impression on the coaches. Coach Bennazzi hopes the team continues their success as they move further into the summer.

2022 Boys:

Despite a tough bracket, the youngest FLG team was able to fight their way through the competition at the FLG Spring Shootout and take the third place medals. Coach Kennedy had high expectations for his team, and the skill and technique exhibited by these young men was just incredible. We witnessed the growth of a young team in their final game on Saturday as the 2022s finished off the day with a 19-3 win, showcasing their incredible progression as lacrosse players. “The games were exciting and the team really came together and exceeded my expectations” said Coach Kennedy. Jason Kozak, Brandon Rosenblatt and Matt Dileo really made an impression on Coach and helped their fellow players both on and off the field. As the summer continues, we look forward to watching the growth and maturity of this team.

We have seen incredible growth and effort from our youngest athletes so far this summer. The third and fourth grade squad looked to tackle the competition at the Long Island Laxfest this past weekend and picked up right where they left off. With stout defense leading the team, the offense found their footing and began to play well. Overall, the team played great — the effort, dedication and relentless play was a sight to see on the field. Strong efforts by James Rossellon and Aaron Daversa led the team to success as the 2022 team showed great maturity. With the heart of the summer schedule coming up, the young guns are projected to be a dominant force throughout the summer.

Deemed by many in the sport as the ultimate experience for lacrosse players, FLG and 3d Lacrosse have teamed up, once again, for one of the leading recruiting showcases in the nation – the FLG in 3d Summer Shootout. The event has grown exponentially from its first year of 40 recruit-able boys’ teams in 2012 to 100 recruit-able teams in 2014. 

The number of high school and college student athletes working the event has grown as well. FLG has employed nearly one hundred young athletes in the local area within a three-year span. In addition, the tournament has attracted up to 200 college coaches to attend. The widespread popularity and ongoing success of the event makes each year bigger and better.

This year’s competition will take place on July 18-20^th and will feature between 60 and 80 college coaches, representing division I, II and III schools, and 100 recruit-able teams. Thousands of athletes from 20 different states will again compete to prove they are worthy of playing at the collegiate level.

“The FLG in 3d Summer Shootout has been the genesis of the recruiting process for many athletes. In recent years, recruiting showcases have been a primary source of talent selection for college coaches,” said Mike Winkoff, CEO of FLG Lacrosse. “It has provided them with the opportunity to introduce themselves to college coaches through their play on the fields. The unique scheduling of the teams provides maximum exposure for the athletes.”

The FLG in 3d Summer Shootout is a multi-faceted tournament. Not only are teams competing against one another, but players are being ranked on an individual level as well. Player ranking, done by college coaches and a computer-generated analysis, determines which athletes are invited to play in the coveted All-Star games. Meant to showcase the best athletes, a position in one of the two All-Star games, scheduled for the evening of July 19^th, grants players an additional opportunity to play and be viewed by college coaches. All-Star participants are awarded a custom sublimated jersey and short. The MVP of each All-Star game will be awarded a custom-designed cascade helmet with an FLG in 3D head-wrap, Maverick head and shaft, and custom MVP t-shirt.

To add even more excitement and opportunity, FLG Lacrosse and the FOGOLAX Face-off Academy, a leading instructional facility in teaching and cultivating top-notch face-off players, will bring the FLG Face-off Combine to the tournament weekend. On Friday, July 18th, a Face-off Combine will be held to train, develop and crown a Face-off X-traordinaire in 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th grades, increasing the number of players to be seen by college coaches. This competition will challenge players in grades 6^th through 11^th from all over America to find our nation’s top players in the face-off position.

And, the college coaches will even get the chance for some playing time. On Saturday evening, they will participate in a Hoop It Up tournament – a highly-competitive competition that is truly fun to watch.

“The FLG in 3d Summer Shootout gives lacrosse players a unique opportunity. They are able to play against teams from across the nation, rather than playing against local clubs they face on a regular basis,” said Jamie Munroe, CEO of 3d Lacrosse. “With an abundance of college coaches, highly competitive teams and talented athletes, this tournament provides an atmosphere conducive to success.”

To find out more about the FLG in 3d Summer Shootout or for the full tournament schedule, please contact Mike Winkoff at 516-750-6500 or visit FLG Lacrosse.

Strength, grit and pure athleticism, the ever-evolving face-off position is not reserved for the weak at heart. Gone are the days when coaches selected a player at random; the face-off position has become increasingly popular and highly-specialized, so much so that college coaches are taking it into serious consideration when recruiting an athlete. As the initial play in every game, quarter, and after each goal scored, a quality face-off player determines the flow of the game and increases a team’s scoring potential. Truth is, not every athlete can truly play this position and not every coach can effectively teach it.

“There are four essential components to becoming an elite face-off player,” said Matt Schomburg, CEO of the FOGOLAX Face-off Academy. “The player in this position is required to have speed, balance, technique and power in order to be successful.”

To put lacrosse players to the test, FLG Lacrosse has teamed up with the FOGOLAX Face-off Academy, a leading instructional facility in teaching and cultivating top-notch face-off players, to bring you the FLG Face-off Combine. This competition will challenge players in grades 6^th through 11^th from all over America to find our nation’s top players in the face-off position. The four regional tournaments will take place in the hotbed areas, Massachusetts, Long Island, Philadelphia and Maryland, for lacrosse; however, players from all areas are encouraged to partake in the competition. Matt Schomburg, founder and CEO of the FOGOLAX Face-off Academy and former member of the Australian National Team, will be a key resource in the competition. He and his team of face-off experts will teach, train and test participants prior to competition.

“We are excited to be teaming up with Matt Schomburg and the FOGOLAX Face-off Academy for the FLG Face-off Combine,” said Mike Winkoff, CEO of FLG Lacrosse. “His level of expertise in facing-off will provide young athletes with the opportunity to learn from and compete in front of one of the best coaches of the face-off position.”

The tournament, set to begin in October of 2014, will feature a regional and national component. Sixty-four players from each age bracket will compete in the regional phase of the competition; after competing in a series of best of seven match-ups, players will be ranked. The top 16 in each age bracket will advance to the national tournament, which will take place during the FLG in 3D Summer Shootout on July 19, 2015. Players who advance to the national tournament will be given the opportunity to show their skills in front of approximately 100 college coaches.

The FLG – FOGOLAX competition is on a first-come-first serve basis. The first 64 athletes in each age-group per region will be admitted into the competition. To register or for more information please visit the FLG Lacrosse website or contact Mike Winkoff at 516-750-6500.

Once the cold months of winter pass, lacrosse players will be eager to get back outside and begin training for the upcoming season. To help players better prepare for the season ahead, FLG Lacrosse offers a one-of-a-kind spring training program for its 3^rd through 8^th grade FLG Select Teams.

In the past few years, the sport of lacrosse has become extremely competitive, even at the elementary school level. Now, more than ever, young players find themselves battling for starting positions, which subsequently places an increased importance on quality training programs. FLG Spring Training gives players the opportunity to build a strong foundation prior to the start of tournament season while providing them with an edge over competitors in PAL, town leagues and middle school leagues. It also promotes team bonding for the upcoming summer season.

FLG Spring Training is not your run-of-the-mill instructional clinic; using its proven methodology, FLG combines a variety of techniques to provide athletes with a top-notch training regimen that will improve all areas of play. Overall, coaches will work with their teams on various aspects of the game, such as creative play, transition play, riding and clearing, offense and defense and odd man situations. Training days will be used for system implementation, team development and game planning. Game days will serve to put FLG teams to the test, tracking each player’s progress. In addition, FLG Select teams will compete in organized scrimmages against other elite club lacrosse programs. 

FLG 2018, Chris Jordan, drives to the cage against Leading Edge defender!

“Although scrimmages are an important training element, ignoring drills and the fundamentals can be detrimental to a player’s progression and skill development,” said Corey Winkoff, FLG Lacrosse, program director. “FLG Spring Training offers the whole package, allowing a player to hone in on important skills and test their ability against others in their age bracket.”

While this program is not required, it is highly recommended. Registration can be done online through your player profile. For more information, please call the office at 516.750.6500 or visit the FLG Lacrosse website.

The college recruitment process represents the culmination of the hard work and dedication put forth by a young athlete throughout his or her middle and high school years. Although the process is extremely exciting, the thought of choosing a college can be quite overwhelming, as there are several factors to consider, both athletically and academically. Furthermore, there are many rules and regulations put forth by the NCAA, such as when an athlete can begin to speak with college coaches and when coaches can begin contacting recruits via email or phone.

To help athletes and parents better understand the process, FLG hosted its inaugural recruiting night at LIU post on December 18, 2013. There, a panel of ten FLG alumni, who currently attend Division I, II, III and MCLA schools, discussed their personal recruiting experiences, answered questions and offered valuable advice to a crowd of over 250 people.

“College decision-making is more than just choosing what coach you will play for or what jersey you will wear. It is important to talk to former student-athletes with first-hand experience to gain further insight,” said Corey Winkoff, program director of FLG Lacrosse. 

The panel answered various questions about lacrosse, college programs, the decision-making process, recruitment and much more. Parents and players listened as each panelist shared his or her experience. Among them was FLG alumnus and HarvardUniversity sophomore Stephen Jahelka, who gave the audience insight into what to consider when choosing a college.

Jackie Jahelka, Marie Christoforo and Jackie Ferri all spoke on the FLG Alumni Panel during FLG’s Inaugural Recruiting Night

“There were so many factors that weighed on my college decision,” said Jahelka. “Although lacrosse is an important part of the college experience, it is critical to consider a school’s academic programs as well. You want to select a university that suits both your athletic and academic needs.”

Jackie Ferri, FLG alumnus and AmericanUniversity freshman, also shed some light on this topic. “Above all, it is important to find a good balance between your athletic and academic needs. You should never lower your academic standards just to play lacrosse in college,” said Ferri.

The audience also shared their questions and thoughts on the role of college coaches when it comes to recruitment. Aside from sifting through video footage, it is common for college coaches and scouts to attend lacrosse games/tournaments. Players often become nervous and, as a result, do not display their true talent.

“College coaches can sense when you are trying too hard to impress them. Stay calm, trust in your training and, as coaches typically preach, play within yourself,” said David Murphy, junior at Weslyn University.  

Following the panel presentation, parents and players were invited to participate in a meet and greet session with an additional 20 FLG alumni. There, they were given the opportunity to talk one-on-one with FLG alumni and ask more in-depth questions about the recruiting process. 

“As a high school student, there is so much pressure to choose the right college, team, and academic program,” said Kevin Mack, current FLG player. “Hearing former FLG Select players speak about their experiences really helped me put the process into perspective and gave me better insight into how I should move forward.”

“We enjoyed having our alumni come back to share their experiences and guide our current players along the road to recruiting success,” said Mike Winkoff, FLG Lacrosse president and CEO. “It was great to see the alumni reunite with the FLG Lacrosse family. We had an overwhelming positive response to this event and we are looking forward to making this an annual tradition.”

FLG Takes Learning Lacrosse to the Next Level with its Fusion Program

At its most basic level, learning the sport of lacrosse should be fun and engaging; children should be given the opportunity to expand their horizons, hone in on important, fundamental skills, and have an enjoyable experience that helps them grow fond of the sport. The FLG Fusion program is a new, innovative way to teach lacrosse to elementary and middle school aged children. Through the fusion of multi-sport concepts, rules, and techniques, children remain attentive while developing undiscovered aspects of their game. 

The concept of FLG Fusion is simple: less talking, more playing. Rather than drills that require long explanations from coaches, the program incorporates a variety of highly active, game-based drills that evoke a competitive atmosphere. The games and drills change from week to week to keep children interested and engaged in the curriculum.

“Constant interruptions from coaches can be distracting and discouraging to young athletes,” said Corey Winkoff, program director at FLG. “The free flow of play, offered by the FLG Fusion program, lets children learn from their mistakes and get right back into the game.”

The FLG Fusion program breeds success through competition: its fast-paced game has children playing at 100% for the entire session.  Children in this program are in a fun environment, which lets them perform freely and creatively. The lack of inhibition to learn and excel in lacrosse allows young athletes to develop skills and play at a level they never thought was possible.

Click here to register!