LI Lacrosse Journal
Recent Long Island College Commitments
For the week of 09/30/2019 here are 8 Long Island High School stand-outs who made their college commitments.
Regy Thorpe Growing Box Lacrosse in America
Regy Thorpe is one of the most respected names in lacrosse. He played college lacrosse at Syracuse where he captained the 1993 championship team during his All-American season. Upon graduating Thorpe played professionally, in the NLL. For 15 seasons he was a member of the Rochester Knighthawks, he played in Rochester from 1995-2010 and was the captain of two championship teams a decade apart; 1997 and 2007.
Thomas Liantonio; Overcomes. Inspires. Excels.
One of the most inspirational stories of the 2020 lacrosse season will be taking place at LIU Post. 5th year senior Thomas Liantonio is so much more than a lacrosse story. In 2017, he was diagnosed with myocarditis, a rare heart disease resulting in an inflammation of the heart. The diagnosis was devastating and for the first time since 1st grade Liantonio missed a lacrosse season. The following year, Liantonio was again stricken with medical hardship.
Desiree Kleberg; LI Star to Bobcat
Desiree Kleberg was a two sport standout at Walt Whitman High School. Her tenure at Walt Whitman was marred with achievement. She starred on both the basketball court and lacrosse field. Playing two sports made Desiree a household name in South Huntington. Her constant presence on and around the athletic community. Her basketball game was outstanding and only outdone by her lacrosse performance. 22 assists in her season to accompany a whopping 59 goals. She is now playing at Quinnipiac in Hamden, Connecticut and was gracious enough to handle a few questions for us.
Joe Spallina Jr. What’s Next for LI’s Freshman Phenom?
Joe Spallina Jr. has lacrosse in his blood. He is the son of New York Lizards GM and head coach of the women’s lacrosse team at Stony Brook University, Joe Spallina. Joey, the Mount Sinai sophomore, has already outgrown his dad’s shadow. During his freshman campaign he led the mustangs to an unbelievable regular season, they went an outstanding 15-0 in conference play. Spallina filled up the box score to a nearly unprecedented degree, the freshman was second in all of Suffolk county with 131 points. He ranked third in goals with 65 and second in assists with 66… as a freshman. That type of production is fantastic for any player, but putting up those numbers as a freshman; the sky is the limit for Joey Spallina. The team took their undefeated record all the way to the finals, where they suffered a heart breaking one goal loss to Shoreham-Wading River. Spallina will be back and presumably even better; a scary preposition for the rest of Suffolk County.
Katie Desimone; Redemption Tour to Victory Lap
Katie Desimone, is one of the best lacrosse players on all of Long Island. The reigning Class AA MVP enters her senior year with sky high expectations. Katie’s MVP year was part of St. Anthony’s “Redemption Tour”, as was famously printed across their sweatshirts a season ago. After a devastating defeat in 2018, the friars were on a mission. Katie led her team to an impressive 17-1 record, including a much anticipated 9-7 victory over Sacred Heart in the championship game. Katie put in three goals and added one assist; at long last Katie’s dream season was realized. Katie is not done yet, with one season left at St. Anthony’s prior to her arrival at Duke University, Katie and the team are looking to repeat. With a player of Katie’s caliber returning there is no reason to expect anything less.
NY School Preview: Siena College
Siena Saints
Head Coach: Liam Gleason
Assistant Coaches: Tim Cox, Derrick Eccles, Kevin Prunty (Undergraduate Assistant)
2019 Record: 6-7 (6th in MAA conference)
Long Island Representation:
Colin Gleason/Freshman/ Massapequa
Dylan Pape/Freshman/West Islip
Brandon Meir/Sophomore/Smithtown West
Thomas Rooney/Sophomore/St. Dominic
2020 recruits
Andrew Arcuri, Westhampton
Jack Erb, Shoreham Wading River
Jack Cavaioli, Farmingdale
We are really excited about the direction of the program. Siena College and our lacrosse program has an amazing inclusive and family atmosphere. This has cultivated a feeling of fun and high positive energy on and off the field. -Liam Gleason, Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach, Siena College
The 2019 lacrosse season at Siena College will not go down as a particularly memorable one. The Saint Bernards went 6-7 in the first season with coach Liam Gleason at the helm, the sub .500 record was disappointing but seeing as those six wins matched the combined totals of the two previous seasons. Coach Gleason and the Saints are on an upward trajectory. Senior Dylan Pantalone is coming back off an all MAAC first team appearance a season ago, and last year’s all freshman midfielder Tyler Menniti will only get better. The optimism around the program is contagious as Coach Gleason anticipates the Saint Bernards to have their first winning season since 2014.
There is an influx of Long Island talent on the Saint Bernards roster, four members of the 2020 season hail from the Island. Highlighted by FLG summer intern Brandon Meir. Brandon appeared in 12 of 13 games for Siena last season and looks to make a bigger contribution during his sophomore campaign. More are on the way, Siena already has three commits in class of 2020. Andrew Arcuri, Jack Erb, and Jack Cavaioli have signed up to play for Gleason and the Saints. With the new energy and massive incoming of talent heading towards them look for Siena to be a big player in the MAAC for years to come.
Matthew Borges – from Garden City to the Pros
“With the 63rd pick in the 2019 National Lacrosse League draft the New York Riptide Select; FLG alumni Matthew Borges.”
No, those were not the exact words of NLL commissioner Nick Sakiewicz, but it doesn’t make them any less true. 2015 Garden City graduate Matthew Borges is indeed heading to the Riptide. An illustrustrious high school career, during which Matt was able to excel not only on the lacrosse field, but also as a two-time lettermen in both football and ice hockey. The well-rounded Borges decided to play lax at The Ohio State University, where he anchored an elite Buckeyes defense. 48 consecutive starts while playing with Buckeyes culminated in a senior season for the ages. Borges led the Buckeyes with 16 caused turnovers, highlighted by three in a March 23rd game against Notre – an 11-10 overtime win for OSU. Borges’ best game of the season however came on February 9th, OSU defeated Boston University 17-10 and Borges picked up five ground balls, and caused two more turnovers. He was rewarded by being named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Borges was truly one of the greats to come through OSU program the Garden City product was also an All-American player during his time as a Buckeye.
Borges received a few more accolades during his time in school. He won gold with the United States U19 team, during the 2016 competition. On top of his excellence on the field Borges in the classroom is a true role model. Matthew was a four time Ohio State Scholar-Athlete and as a sophomore, in 2017, he was named to the Academic All Big-Ten team and the Academic All-American team. In March, Borges was selected 37th overall by the New York Lizards of the MLL and just a week ago the New York Riptide took him 63rd. Borges is about to embark on a new phase of his career and here at FLG we couldn’t be more excited to see him back on Long Island.
Borges and his teammates at Ohio State
Q: How did Lacrosse become the sport you decided to pursue?
It was very similar to hockey and all of my friends were going to play so I just wanted to be around them. Once I really started taking it seriously I realized I could play at the next level and I was fortunate enough to be recruited to Ohio State.
Q: What do you miss most about your time playing for Garden City?
I miss playing with my boys from home, obviously it was incredible growing up and playing with the GC guys so when you go to college that is something you start to miss.
Q:How did you end up at The Ohio State University?
I knew I wanted to be at a big school having seen my brother at penn state, his experience was incredible. Ohio state checked that box and I fell in love with the university and the coaching staff. Coach Myers vision and passion was very clearly and he was someone I wanted to align myself with. Finally, it had a great business school and I knew after my career ended I would be set up for success.
Q: What was your biggest takeaway from the U19 championship?
My biggest take away from the world games was probably never take things for granted. It was an incredible honor to wear the red white and blue but more importantly I understood that it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and it was only going to last a few weeks no matter what. I love that group of guys and I’m excited to be lucky enough to still play with them professionally. Winning a gold metal with that group was an unreal experience.
Q: Your academic track record speaks for itself, how were able to keep academics a priority given the workload of a D1 athlete?
I think for myself it was just having the ability to manage my time and have a plan everyday. Each day I had a routine and a plan and once you get into it early in your career it starts to become second nature. Ohio state also offered a tremendous amount of help on the academic side of the coin whether it was just study space or free tudors.
Q: Six months removed from graduating college how have you been adjusting to the working world?
Fortunately for me the working world hasn’t started so I’ve been able to play a ton of golf and just continue to workout and play lacrosse. I start work next week and I’m really looking forward to it.
Q: With MLL and NLL offers how do you see your lacrosse future unfolding?
I’m not sure there’s a clear future, I don’t know what’s going to unfold. I consider myself very lucky to have to opportunity to continue to play the game I love and I hope to do it as long as I can. The MLL season was a great experience and I am looking forward to playing for the riptide this coming winter.
Q&A w/ Grace Tauckus – From State Champ to Ivy Leaguer
GOAL! The final play of Grace Tauckus’ junior season was a goal, but more than that it was an 
overtime goal, and even more than that it was an overtime goal in the Long Island Class C championship game. Grace led her Cold Spring Harbor Seahawks team to the title in her junior year, and then followed it up during her senior season giving the program back-to-back State titles. Tauckus was tournament MVP in 2018 and a team captain in 2019, Tauckus had one of the most decorated high school careers in recent memory. 90 goals and 27 assists during her impressive four seasons at CSH.
Now at Princeton, the freshman midfielder has a whole new slew of challenges on her plate. As if attending school at one of the world’s most prestigious universities wasn’t tough enough, their lacrosse team is coming off of a very impressive 16-4 season a year ago. Grace as an incoming freshman has big shoes to fill on the field while keeping on top of the rigorous coursework. If anyone can do it, it is Grace. A great player, a proven winner, and an exceptional leader, she will do great things as a Princeton Tiger.
Q: What was going through your mind when the ball hit the back of the net in the championship game your junior year?
My initial reaction was shock. That game had been one of the most both physically and mentally demanding games we had ever played as a team. It took a few minutes for me to finally gather my thoughts and realize that our team was going to states, a feeling of utter happiness.
Q: Were there any additional pressures defending a title in 2019, opposed to trying to get it in 2018?
Going into our 2019 season, our team recognized that we now had a target on our backs; we were the team our opponents were gunning for and wanting to beat. In 2018, we weren’t favored to go all the way. Coming off a less successful season in 2017, we knew we had to prove ourselves. 2019, however, was a time for us to show that our states run the year before wasn’t just a fluke. We adopted the slogan “never settle” to demonstrate our determination to not become content with our past but to continue our success in the future.
Q: What do miss most about Cold Spring Harbor?
I could go on and on telling everything that I miss about CSH, but the main thing that sticks out to me is the level of community present in our everyday life. In our small town, odds are you know most of the people you’re walking with in the school hallways, and it’s truly an awesome thing to be able to say that about my school community. Cold Spring Harbor and the people there have created a family atmosphere, one that’s definitely hard to leave behind, but an amazing thing to come home to.
Q: Why Princeton?
Princeton has the best of both worlds: a stellar lacrosse program and even better academic reputation. I see college as a time when individuals should challenge themselves and dare to step outside of their comfort zones. It can definitely be intimidating being surrounded by such brilliant thinkers and talented athletes, but at the same time, these people push those around them to reach their full potential both in the classroom and on the field.
Q: What are you most looking forward to while at college?
Over the next four years, I am excited to learn more about myself as a student, athlete, and person. As a Division 1 athlete, time is pretty hard to come by. I’m looking forward to learning the skills that will help me to better balance my time and commitments while still achieving success in multiple areas.
Q: Where do you see yourself after graduating college?
As of right now, I don’t have a definitive answer concerning where I’ll be after college. I’m planning on using my first couple of semesters to figure out what I enjoy learning and what I’m passionate about, and from there I can gain a more clear picture of what I may want to do later in life.
