In Shel Silverstein’s brilliant book of poems titled Falling Up, he teaches life lessons through his illustrations and rhyming words.
In his poem Three Stings, three different guys all experience the same thing, getting stung by a bee. While all three guys experience the same thing, the way they react to the experience is totally different.
If you get stung, how would you react?
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!
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.
The score is 14-2 during a early season High School Varsity girls lacrosse game. The winning team (let’s call them the Seagulls) gains possession of the ball and is approaching their offensive end. There is 15 minutes and 35 seconds left in the game. Out of respect for the opposing team (let’s call them the Dolphins), the Seagulls head coach instructs her team to pump the breaks by yelling, “Statue! Statue! Statue!” Statue is code for stall aka keep the ball away from the other team.
For the next 6 minutes, the Seagulls keep the ball away from their opponent. With less than 9 minutes on the clock, the Dolphins are still left without a possession. The Dolphins quickly transition from defending their goal to defending their pride. The clock continues to tick down: 8 minutes, 7 minutes, 6 minutes are now left in the game.
After the Seagulls flawlessly execute dozens of cuts and passes around the outside, the Dolphin’s best player (let’s call her Kelly) leaps in the air and picks off a pass. Kelly drives the length of the field, drawing a defender as she enters the 8-meter, and completes a pass to her wide open teammate. One on one with the goalie, her teammate puts the ball in the back of the net, making the game 14-3.
Now, put yourself in the cleats of the Dolphins. How would you react if you had to spend nearly 10 minutes defending a team in open space? Think about it. You’re down 10 goals to a team. They clearly have no intention of scoring any more. They just want the game to end. They want to exhaust time, shake hands, get on the bus, and go home.
Would you let that happen sooner by trying less, sulking more, and giving up.
or
Would you fight harder, talk more, and play faster?
Casual spectators of the Seagulls vs. the Dolphins see a great team, a blow-out, or an easy win. However, if you look carefully, this game can be an opportunity to see who refuses to quit, who can stay positive when their team is down, or who is playing the hardest with little to no time left on the clock.
When some of the best High School female lacrosse player’s go from playing club to playing for their schools, they soon experience very different teams, situations, and challenges. For Kelly, she is on a team that is still building a competitive and successful culture. She will be placed in situations that challenge her to fly away or fight back. In this situation, it’s obvious the choice she decided to make.
Mt Sinai
Mascot: Mustangs
Suffolk Division II/III
Long Island Ranking: 1st
Key Returners:
Key Losses:
“At Mt. Sinai, we really focus on the process. We try and win each day. Get better every day by playing hard, doing the little things really well, and enjoying the process.” -Al Bertelone, Head Coach, Mt. Sinai
Senior defender, Emily Vengilio, is a tenacious lock-down asset for the Mustangs. Her experience is one of the many reasons Mt. Sinai is the favorite to three-peat at NYS Champions in 2017. Photo Credit: USAtodayhss.com
Best Case Scenario
The Mustangs hope to capture their 3rd consecutive NYS Class C State Championship this year. The Mt. Sinai girls have been playing together all-year round and coach Al Bertelone says, “This is the deepest team I’ve ever had. These girls live, eat, and breathe lacrosse, they are the definition of lacrosse addicts.” This makes, even more sense when you look at the roster and see D1 commits literally all across the board. The best case scenario for the Mustangs is holding up a Class C NY State Championship for the third year in a row.
Worst Case Scenario
The worst case scenario for this year’s Mustangs would be not winning it all. With studs at every position, losing is not an option. This is arguably the most talented team on the island and losing at any stage in the playoffs would be considered a disappointment.
Key Games:
Bayport-Blue Point
Mascot: Phantoms
Suffolk Division II/III
Ranking: 2nd
In a Twitter Poll on March 20th, the lacrosse community voted BBP as the favorite to bringing home a NYS Championship in 2017!
Key Returners:
Key Losses:
“The development of this team has been exponential than in years past. These players have committed every day since last season ended. There is lots of motivation in what they are doing. If we can put it all together, we can do big things.” -Ryan Gick, Head Coach, BBP
Senior attacker, Kyla Zapolski, will be the go to weapon for BBP this season. Her team hopes to rise to the top and be holding up a County Championship trophy towards the end of the 2017 season. Photo Credit Newsday
Best Case Scenario
Best case scenario for the Phantoms is winning a County Championship in 2017. The Phantoms need to rely on their Seniors, like Kyla Zapolski and Cassidy Weeks, if they want to get past the top opponents in their Division and make it to a County Championship. Head Coach Ryan Gick said, “If Courtney Weeks isn’t ready to go towards the end of this season, then we won’t put her out there. The last thing I want to do is put a player onto the field if they aren’t fully recovered.” After tearing her knee in October, Courtney is projected to return towards the middle to the end of this season. This would be just the boost BBP needs to get past top Divisional match-ups and pursue a County Championship. Over that past few years, BBP has built an intense rivalry with Mt. Sinai. When addressing this new found rivalry with Coach Gick, he said, “There is a mutual respect for each other’s programs. When you see Black and Red, the competitive juices get going. We know each other and each other’s tendencies. Finding success in those types of games comes down to gameplan, who shows up that day, and who can rise above the intensities of the fans.”
Worst Case Scenario
Worst case scenario for the Phantoms would be not making it to a County Championship. The Phantoms have high goals and aspirations for the 2017 season, and if they can’t reach their primary goal of winning a County Championship, they will be disappointed.
Key Games:
Eastport-South Manor
Mascot: Sharks
Suffolk Division II/III
Ranking: 3rd
Key Returners
Key Losses
“They are extremely close, almost as if they are sisters. At practice, they push each other to their fullest and make each other better even if it’s in the weight room during workouts. Over the years our program has become stronger. This is the first year where I can comfortably say that even girls who do not start can become impact players any given day.” -Becky Thorne, Head Coach, ESM
Not many teams possess a player like Kelsey Huff. This USC Commit is a do it all midfielder who is a match-up nightmare. Photo Credit: Newsday
Best Case Scenario
ESM hopes to go far as possible. However, making it to that County final again would be ideal, giving the Sharks an opportunity to take it from there.
Worst Case Scenario
Not making it to a County Championship.
Shoreham-Wading River
Mascot: Wildcats
Suffolk Conference II/III
Ranking: 4th
Key Returners:
Key Losses:
“Last year, we didn’t approach the season with enough confidence. Half-way through the year, we only had lost to BBP by one goal. The girls began to realize their worth and how good they actually were. This year, confidence is up and they feel they are ready for anything. Building on old skills and expanding into new ones, we plan to push further, add more tricks to the bag, and work towards making it to a Championship game.” -Brittany Davis, Head Coach, SWR
Senior midfielder, Sophia Triandafils has one more chance to bring the Wildcats to a County Championship. Will this be the year Shoreham wins it all? Photo Credit: Riverhead News Review
Best Case Scenario
The Wildcats lost on a sour note last year, but are ready to get started with the 2017 season. At the end of the 2016 season, the Shoreham varsity girls team lost two games in a row to Mt. Sinai, the last game of the regular season and again in the first round of the playoffs. Shoreham will play Mt. Sinai for the third time in a row, being that they open up the 2017 season against the reigning State Champs. The main goal for the girls this year is to make a run at a County Championship. With a number of college commits and growing confidence, the Wildcats could be in contention to win Counties.
Worst Case Scenario
The girls are hungry for something they missed out on last year after a quick exit from the playoffs. This year’s goal is to have more of a team mindset and focus less on individual stats. Last year, the girls did not have the confidence to get it done and they hope that that’s not the case this year. This team wants nothing less than a trip to the County Ship.
Key Games:
Garden City
Mascot: Trojans
Nassau Power Conference I
Ranking: 1st
A Twitter Poll conducted on March 20th pegged Garden City as having the best shot at winning a State Championship in 2017
Key Returners:
Key Losses:
“Our girls work very hard. We have a very enthusiastic and dedicated group.” -Diane Chapman, Head Coach, Garden City
Garden City’s Celia Concannon is a dream for Ivy League Women’s lacrosse programs. Celia will be heading to Harvard next year. Before she makes moves to Boston this Fall, she’s got her eyes set on another NYS Class B State Championship. Photo-credit: Newsday
Best Case Scenario
This year, the Lady Trojans hope to be right back where they were last year, holding up a State Championship. Even after losing three All-Americans, this year’s team still has the components to make a State Championship run. The 2017 roster has great chemistry and feels they can play with anyone.
Worst Case Scenario
The worst case scenario for this year’s Trojans would not be making an appearance in the County Championship. Not many teams in Nassau have the talent that Garden City has. So, a quick exit from the playoffs would certainly be a disappointment.
Key Games
Manhasset
Mascot: Indians
Nassau Power Conference I
Ranking: 2nd
Key Returners
Key Losses
“Prove it. Prove to me, prove to your teammates, and when you get your opportunities on the field, prove it by doing right by your teammates.” -Danielle Gallagher, Head Coach, Manhasset
Madison Miller is a senior midfielder heading to Vanderbilt in the Fall. Miller will need to step-up this year for the Indians. She definitely has the athleticism and ability to do so. Photo-credit: 3sixtyathletics.com
Best Case Scenario: The Manhasset Indians have the ability to do a lot this year. They have very good individual players. However, this program is expecting more than great individual play. The Indians are looking for their athletes to prove they can play within a system, as well as, play within an offensive and defensive unit. Coach Gallagher keeps the door open every day in practice, giving her players an opportunity to show they can play hard, play selfless, and play for a championship caliber team. This mentality raises the level of play each day, making this group one to watch out for!
Worst Case Scenario: It would be disappointing for the Indians to sustain injuries and not fulfil the team’s goal of winning a County Championship.
Key Games:
Wantagh
Mascot: Warriors
Nassau Power Conference I
Ranking: 3rd
Key Returners:
Key Losses:
“I was impressed with what they had, but I’m even more impressed with what’s left.” -Greg Cody, Head Coach, Wantagh
Alexandra Murphy is a stand-out athlete at Wantagh. Not only does she lead the Warriors on the lax field, but she’s an All-State soccer player as well. Can she lead this group to a County Title in 2017? Photo credit: News 12 Varsity
Best Case Scenario:
This year’s Warrior squad is filled with both athletes and excellent students. “We see a lot of togetherness from the girls. Good senior leadership and very impressed with their attitudes.” Said Head Coach Greg Cody, “But, I’m most impressed with their abilities in the classroom. All our top girls have a 90 average or better.” This is arguably the most dedicated group of girls that Head Coach Greg Cody has ever had. The Warriors goal is to capture a County Championship. Every game will be a grind this year as the conference is packed with talent, but the Warriors themselves have plenty of experience and college commits to lead the team.
Worst Case Scenario:
Not capturing a County Championship would be disappointing for the Warriors this year. This team is very dedicated and is striving for a Championship. These Seniors are looking to make their last year count, but it will not be an easy road.
Key Games:
Cold Spring Harbor
Mascot: Seahawks
Nassau Power Conference I
Ranking: 4th
Key Returners:
Key Losses:
“Our motto this year is rise-up. We need don’t want to sweat the small stuff. We want to get up and keep moving forward all year.” -Danielle Castellane, Head Coach, Cold Spring Harbor
Kate Kotowski has the ability to take over a game. She’s a five-year varsity player and will be the key to the Seahawks offensive in ’17 Photo Credit: Newsday
Best Case Scenario
Playing all the way into June is the main goal for this year’s Seahawks as they have their eyes set on a County Championship. Some might think losing two All-Americans will cause problems for this year’s team. However, if you ask Coach Castellane, she’d say her team will be just fine. “Losing two All-Americans means more opportunity for players on our current team to step up. We have a lot of weapons and threats this year. They are just going to be used differently. Overall, I’d say we are a more balanced team across the board in 2017.”
Worst Case Scenario
The worst case scenario for this year’s team: not holding up a County Championship plaque. This team has incredible chemistry and lots of big name commits. With the talent they have, it’s hard to see many teams beating them this year.
Key Games:
Long Beach
Mascot: Marines
Nassau Power Conference I
Ranking: 5th
Key Returners:
Key Losses:
“Our motto this year: Empty the Tank. It’s symbolic of giving everything you have.” -Rachel Ray, Head Coach, Long Beach
Long Beach Goalie, Sarah Reznick, has been in the cage for the Marines since 8th grade. Sarah’s thirst for knowledge of the game has allowed her to grow as a goalie each year. Watch this super-star light up the field this season. Photo Credit: Newsday
Best Case Scenario
The goal for this year’s team is to get back to the semi-finals and eventually capture a County Championship. This year’s squad is very focused and is hungry to get a chance to compete for a title. According to coach Rachel Ray, “This is one of the most competitive teams I’ve ever been around. I don’t need to ask a lot of them, they are ready to go before the coaches even get to practice. While it’s a fun group to be around, they know exactly when to dial it in and focus.” With a deep bench and lots of athleticism, the Bulldogs are primed to play a fast-paced style all year long.
Worst Case Scenario:
The worst scenario for this year’s Bulldogs would be a quick exit in the playoffs. With a difficult schedule it will definitely not be an easy road, but with the talent the Bulldogs have anything is possible.
Key Games:
North Shore
Mascot: Vikings
Nassau Power Conference I
Ranking: 6th
Key Returners:
Core Defensive group led by Junior class
“The work ethic and leadership is everything. The girls in our program want to do well and go far. Having that mentality really helps. Our girls are really focused. We do lots of things in the off-season and get the middle school girls involved throughout the year. I try to get everyone in the program on the same page and have them use the same language.” -Meg McCormick, Head Coach, North Shore
Quinn Lacy is an acrobatic stopper who not only makes saves a goalie should make, she makes ones that most goalies don’t make. Her active style of play puts her in positions to pick off passes and create havoc for an offence.
Best Case Scenario
After a .500 season last year in Conference I, the Vikings are hoping to capture a County Championship this year. This year’s squad is super close and have been training hard all offseason. The keys this year for the Vikings are to limit turnovers and maintain possessions. By doing this for a full 50 minutes, the Vikings are confident they can compete with anyone in Nassau Conference I. This year’s team has lots of depth, especially on the defensive side of the field. If this competitive group maintains their composure come playoff time, they might find themselves holding up a County Champion trophy.
Worst Case Scenario
Since everyone in Conference 1 makes the playoffs, the worst thing that can happen to the Vikings this year is a quick exit from the dance. The talent is there for this year’s Vikings. So, a trip to the Championship will be in the eyes of every girl on the team.
Key Games:
Syosset
Mascot: Braves
Nassau Power Conference I
Ranking: 7th
Key Returners:
Key Loss:
“I took 26 girls this year. This will be my biggest team yet. A majority of our girls have been with us since 8th or 9th grade. So, they know what to expect. I set the bar and the girls take it and raise it for themselves. They love each other and want to accomplish this goal together.” -Lauren Lomonaco, Head Coach, Syosset
In 2016, the last game for Nicole Concannon was a big win against Cold Spring Harbor. After being sidelined for the rest of the 2016 season, it’s safe to assume Nicole is excited to get back at it in 2017.
Best Case Scenario:
For this year’s Braves, the goal is simple: get right back where they were two years ago, playing for a Long Island Championship. This year’s team is led by an experienced core, who are committed to playing for Division I schools in the years to come. Playing in one of the hardest conferences in Public High School lacrosse, it will by no means be an easy road for the Braves. With that said, winning a County Championship is not out the realm of possibility and will be the goal for this year’s team.
Worst Case Scenario:
The bar is set high this year mainly because this team’s Senior class has been playing together since 4th grade. The chemistry for this group is the best it’s ever been. Not winning a County Championship would definitely be a disappointment.
Key Games:
Next Sunday, FLG will be launching a first of its kind, Small Area Games Town Team tournament. Below is a sneak preview for one of the drills we will be playing at this event!
For more information on our FLG Fusion Town Championships, click here.
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:
Key Returners
Key Games
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:
Key Returners:
Key Games:
Non-League Games Include
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:
Key Returners:
Key Games:
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:
Key Games:
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!
Shoreham-Wading River 2017 Season Preview
Shoreham-Wading River
Mascot: Wildcats
Suffolk Class C
Ranking: 1st
Coming off a Long Island Championship last year the Wildcats are heavy favorites to recapture their title. With a tremendous amount of young studs including five D1 commits in ninth grade, it’s safe to say that the Wildcats are set for the future. Furthermore, the Senior class is a very tight-knit group that has been together since kindergarten. The only real concern for this year’s Wildcats would be that they lost their starting goalie and two defensmen. With a plethora of talent coming up from JV, the question remains, which one of these guys will step up on varsity?
“Being a Canadian I push the ball a ton in transition, we are a Syracuse type of team. We play fast.” -Mike Taylor, Head Coach Shoreham Wading River
Chris Gray was an All-American in 2016. He will be playing for Boston University in the Fall.
Key Losses:
Key Returners:
Key Games:
Sayville 2017 Season Preview
Sayville
Mascot: The Flashes
Suffolk Class C
Ranking: 2nd
The Flashes are looking to make noise this year as they will strive for a spot in the county championship game. As head coach Don Fleming said, “When I look at our team, we are a team of all-conference guys, and we feed off each other. Hopefully we will be able to do well with that. I have four interchangeable middies, five defenders that can play, and we are deep, but don’t have superstars.” Despite playing in Suffolk Class C and being ranked second, Sayville will play more B schools than C schools in the regular season. Hopefully a tough regular season schedule will prepare The Flashes for the playoffs. Even without any big name super stars the Flashes still believe they have a good shot at playing for a county championship.
“The key to this year’s team is sharing the ball, and playing as a team, if they can do that they can compete with anyone.” – Don Fleming, Head Coach – Sayville
Jay Intermesoli (Left) is the leading scorer for Sayville, collecting over 200 points in his career. Jay will be heading to Marist in the Fall.
Key Losses:
Key Returners:
Key Games:
Miller Place 2017 Season Preview
Miller Place
Mascot: Panthers
Suffolk Class C
Ranking: 3rd
The Miller Place Panthers are looking to make a statement this year as it’s the first time they have D1 commits all across the board. Coach Keith Lizzi is especially excited for this year’s group saying, “This is only the second time Miller Place has had the best athletes in the school going to school for lax. The first time was Liam Walsh’s group in 2013. It will be a small roster this year. If proven at practice, everyone on our squad will have an opportunity to step on that field.” A county championship appearance is in the eyes of every guy on this year’s team. This year, the Panthers will be playing a run and gun style because this year’s team is filled with athletes who have high lacrosse IQs.
“This is the group we’ve been waiting for. These guys have lots of experience with starting, have had their growing pains, and they should be able to find each other.” -Keith Lizzi, Head Coach Miller Place
Joe Bartolotto (Left) is a do-it-all LSM for Miller Place. He’s heading to Cornell in the Fall.
Key Losses
Key Returners
Key Games:
Mt Sinai Season 2017 Season Preview
Mt Sinai
Mascot: Mustangs
Suffolk Class C
Ranking: 4th
This year’s goal for the Mustangs is to compete for a county championship, but in order for that to happen guys on the offensive end are going to need to step up. The strong point for this year’s team will be their defense. With that, the Mustangs still have some big name commitments and every one of those guys are going to need to be at peak performance if they want to compete in an extremely tough Suffolk class C schedule.
“A lot of our guys play multiple sports. Good athletes. If our guys step-up this year we can compete for a country championship.” -Harold Drumm, Head Coach Mt. Sinai
Michael Hagenberger is an impact player on the defensive end for Mt Sinai. He is verbally committed to Lehigh.
Key Losses
Key Returners:
Key Games
Ian MacKay was the 2016 America East Player of the year. His game is multi-dimensional. He can create, dish, and score.
MacKay is a textbook example of a box player with a serious field game. Below are some reasons why this kid is so lethal on the field.
Athleticism – MacKay is a serious athlete. He moves well, has a great first step, can run backward, forwards, and side-ways, all while keeping his head up, eyes peeled. MacKay is big, strong, and tough.
Range – MacKay has to be respected from 13 yards & in. He can bring it from the outside, forcing defenses to slide early and turn heads constantly.
Vision – MacKay is capable of threading the needle if need be. Some say he has eyes in the back of his head (i.e. look at 35-second mark from his 2016 Season Highlights below)
Hands – ridiculous hand-eye coordination. Crazy handle when the rock is on his stick.
Poise – not fazed by stick checks, lifts, or when the defense brings body pressure.
MacKay’s game speaks for itself. His 2016 season highlights are below. Enjoy!
It’s now 2017, and the age of technology is upon us. Self-driving cars, wearables, and drones have become realistic possibilities for every day use. Phones have become pocket sized computers with capabilities beyond imagination. Individuals can start, build, and run businesses from a lap top with wifi connectivity. Technology has opened a door for people to create work that truly matters.
For 2017, I’m most excited to see who sucessfullly brings advancements in tech to world of lacrosse. Since the turn of the century, equipment, apparel, sticks, and lacrosse training methods have used tech to pursue bigger, and better. Innovations exist on a daily basis. Scroll twitter, YouTube, and the web, you’ll find Matt Gibson creating stick tricks, lacrosse companies designing lighter, stronger, sleeker shafts, or college programs orchestrating high definition episodes of their road to success.
For FLG, we hope to use technology to educate more of our followers. We wish to connect with more of our members, alumni, and coaches. We hope to post more content that’s inspiring, and entertaining.
Be sure to follow-us, provide feedback, and respond throughout the year. Let 2017 be the year of technology in lacrosse, and let it be the best year yet.
For Info on Upcoming Events, Clinics & Tryouts
Give it a try… you can unsubscribe anytime.
