Girls: 

Each year, the FLG Lacrosse staff is becoming more and more excited about the girls program. As the number of teams continues to expand, the FLG girls had been able to elevate their games, both individually and as a team, to not only compete with the top talent in the country, but to beat them. Their success on the field was largely matched by their activities off the field, as the girls bonded all summer in any setting they were in together, from FLG camp to weekly practices.

The 2019 girls served as an embodiment of selflessness, one of the most important values taught at FLG, on their way to securing two tournament championships this summer. Parents and coaches alike felt inspired as they watched the girls become a team both on and off the field as the summer went on. It was hard to contain the excitement and the roar of the FLG sideline as they cheered the girls on!

Equally as impressive in their 2014 campaign, the 2018 girls established themselves as one of the closest knit teams in the FLG program. Their team chemistry and hard work in weekly practices helped them win three tournaments in a row, building more and more momentum as the weeks went on. The girls were able to take what they learned from Coach McGinty and Coach Chiarenza on a weekly basis and improve their individual games, which improved their team play tremendously.

Effort was the driving force behind making the talent of the 2016/2017 girls team stand out this summer, competing and contending in every game. No matter what situation the team found themselves in, their effort and determination were always present, resulting in major wins during both the Summer Slam and Capital Cup tournaments. The team’s record of three wins and one tie at the Capital Cup, one of the nation’s most competitive recruiting tournaments, served as a testament to the team’s dedication to improving as the summer went on, both individually and as a team.

The 2015 girls team was tested in more ways than one this summer. The girls were asked to be at their best as a team each weekend, going up against the top talent in the country, as well as individually, showcasing their skills to college coaches. Despite many teams who would have backed down from the challenge, the 2015 FLG girls rose to the occasion and one of the most successful summers an FLG girls team has had. In a fitting conclusion to their FLG careers, the girls showed impressively at the Capital Cup tournament, a representation of the success they have had in the FLG program, both on and off the field.

Boys:

FLG was proud to add numerous additions to the boys program this year, notably select teams in the elementary boy ages as well as the first-ever all committed select team the country has ever seen. However, in a summer characterized by new accomplishments, the FLG boys carried with them the time tested core values that the FLG program was founded on, both on and off the field. As each young man learns on the first day as a member of the FLG program, it is just as important that they learn to be a great person, friend and family member as it is to become a great lacrosse player during their time playing for FLG. This year’s boys definitely set the standard for excellence for next year’s teams to carry forward!

The 2022/2023 boys team had a summer for the ages. The team’s strong showing at the FLG Spring Shootout set the tone for the rest of the summer, giving them the motivation to compete with anyone they went up against in the country. Week in and week out, coaches, Terry Kennedy and Liam Kennedy, could not say enough about how excited they were to get to work that week and see each boy show up to practice, eager to get better. Safe to say, the future of FLG looks bright with the 2022/2023 boys team leading the way!

The 5^th grade lacrosse world was taken by storm by the FLG 2021 boys team this summer. With defense providing a consistent backbone throughout the summer, the coaches were able to watch the team grow together with every practice. The boy’s hard work culminated at the end of the summer with the team’s most impressive win when they beat LB3 in overtime to avenge a loss suffered earlier in the tournament. The ability of the FLG 2021 boys team to bounce back and overcome adversity in the last tournament could not have been more of an accurate representation of the values and life skills the FLG program hopes to teach their players.

While success on the field is not the only thing FLG strives to accomplish during the summer, the 2020 boys sure seemed to have a lot of it in the 2014 season. The team captured the championship at the Harvard Crimson Classic in dominating fashion, making the FLG program repeat champions in Boston. With Coach Mike Winkoff at the helm, the boys carried their winning ways through the summer, finishing with an impressive third place performance at the FLG in 3d national tournament among the top talent in the country.

The impressive season that the 2019 team had last summer set the bar pretty high for this year’s team to live up to. It was no surprise, however, that the 2014 team was able to meet expectations and exceed them. The team’s hard work at every practice and attention to detail when preparing for the tournaments allowed the boys to achieve their goals both on the field, with impressive wins at the NXT Cup and FLG in 3d, as well as off the field, creating friendships and lifelong bonds these boys will carry with them as they continue to grow as players and young men.

The 2018 boys learned an important lesson from the moment they made Coach Corey Winkoff and Coach Eric Dunne’s squad: Success is impossible to achieve if you lack discipline. The team would be challenged both physically and mentally any time they stepped on the field for FLG and, as shown through their accomplishments both on and off the field this summer, it was clear that the boys stepped up and answered the bell every time. Characterized by unselfish play on the offensive half of the field while being tenacious and cohesive on the defensive side of the ball, the team performed impressively in all of their summer tournaments, peaking in their final time together as a team in Maryland at the FLG in 3d National tournament. There is no doubt that each member of the 2018 is ready to take the skills they learned this summer and use them to have an immediate impact at whichever high school they attend in the fall.

It is no easy task to make the transition from middle school to high school level lacrosse, especially as the landscape of college recruiting becomes increasingly younger and younger. That is why the performance and accomplishments of the 2017 boys team this summer was particularly incredible. The team rounded out the season with a winning record, topping the season off with an impressive 4^th place finish at the u15 National Championship. The greatest accomplishment of the 2017 boys this summer for the coaches was how they concentrated on being a team during a point in their careers where so much attention is put on individuals. The reliability demonstrated by one another took this team to another level and as a result, the success the boys had as a team allowed many of the players to earn individual recognition, making all star teams at both tournaments and national camps.

While there are many words that can be used to describe the 2016 boys’ summer, restful is not one of them. Between practices and tournaments every weekend, the team got to spend a lot of time with each other and their coaches, allowing the team to build chemistry. That chemistry would end up playing a vital role in the overwhelming success the boys had this summer as seen by the 20-5-1 record. The third place finish at the first- ever IL Invitational tournament really put the members of the 2016 boys on the radar of college coaches from across the country, giving them plenty of momentum to capitalize on, when the high school spring seasons come around.

In their final season as players in the FLG family, the 2015 boys certainly left their mark on the summer lacrosse circuit. Refusing to stop learning or not give it their all, the team of high school juniors truly showed the FLG family what it means to never stop working on your game and not allowing yourself to be satisfied. Their enthusiasm, along with the numerous wins that the team achieved throughout the summer, enabled the boys to achieve as much exposure to the college coaches as possible. More importantly, it has been incredible to watch the players grow as both players and young men during their time with the FLG program. We are excited to watch where each boy ends up taking his game for their college career and following him as they continue to achieve success.

For the first time, FLG was proud to announce the newly all committed players team into their program this year. A concept yet to be unveiled anywhere else, the FLG Committed Team was comprised of players already committed to play college lacrosse. The team was largely started in an effort to keep kids motivated to improve their game after committing, in addition to providing an opportunity for players to continue playing with each other in an environment less stressful than the college recruiting circuit. The inaugural Committed Team had a hot start to the summer, taking the Best of the Best tournament championship. The boys ended their successful summer in Lake Placid, where they were able to enjoy time together off the field and win games on the field – a truly fitting ending to their FLG careers.

As tweeted by longtime FLG player Brian Lang: “Wow @flglax is over…have had the greatest experiences playing for this organization. #nicestteamintheleague #alumnisquadiscoming”

The summer of 2014 was as successful as ever for FLG teams across the board, from watching young men and women commit to colleges to tournament championships. More importantly, it has been a pleasure to watch each FLG player mature as a player and a person, carrying with them the core values that FLG strives to teach in their athletic, academic and personal lives. The FLG staff wishes a safe and relaxing rest of the summer to all of its players and parents, and hopes to see everyone at tryouts in the fall!

With so many club lacrosse teams to choose from on Long Island, it may seem difficult to choose the right one for both you and your child. Begin by asking yourself what goals you would like to achieve through your involvement with the club: coaching, tournament play, college recruitment, or simply the camaraderie and character building that come from being on a sports team?

Knowledge is Power

Once armed with these goals, let your fingers do the walking. Explore different club team websites and have a list of important questions on hand. Use our list below as a starting point:

i.       When are the tryouts?

ii.      How many teams does the club take, in each age group?

iii.     How often do they practice?

iv.     When/where are the practices?

v.      When/where are the tournaments?

vi.     What are the program’s philosophies?

vii.    Who are the coaches for each age group? What is their history?

viii.   Does the club offer additional training events?

If the information you want isn’t readily available, pick up the phone and get answers. We can’t stress enough how important it is to have an open line of communication with your future club team, as this will benefit you both now and in the future.

“One of the biggest things that attracted me to FLG was how available and willing they are to answer my questions,” said John Kiernan, Parent. “I never have to worry that my child isn’t getting the guidance he needs because they always keep me well-advised.”

Commitment Expectations

Lacrosse has become highly competitive at the select team level and may demand a big time commitment; some programs play up to five days a week. Clubs typically attend between one and four fall/winter/spring tournaments and up to five summer tournaments that may require overnight stays. Make sure you know exactly what is expected of your child and your schedule.

Think of the Big Picture

Remember, when picking a club lacrosse team you shouldn’t just be looking to join a lacrosse team, you should be looking to join a lacrosse organization. An organization takes a big picture view on kids’ goals in lacrosse AND in life.

“An organization is organized, communicates effectively, is transparent, and is willing to discuss your son’s or daughter’s goals,” said Bob Jahelka, CFO, FLG Lacrosse. “At FLG, the biggest compliment we can get is that we’re organized; we believe that goes a long way in helping these kids excel and get recruited by top colleges and universities.”

If club lacrosse is something you want for your child, make sure the program you choose takes pride in helping student-athletes achieve their dreams. It shouldn’t be solely about winning a lacrosse tournament! It should be about winning in life, and developing both as an athlete and a person.

Girls End of Summer Recaps

The FLG girls teams really showed what they could do this summer. Their improvement is both a tribute to hardwork, dedication and their commitment to getting better. They are the perfect example of what happens when everyone buys in to a team. We are extremely proud of all their successes throughout the lacrosse season!

2019:

After an amazing tournament appearance at Beach Blast against great competition, the 2019 girls closed out their summer of lacrosse with a dominating performance at Stowe! With the whole team focused and ready to go, they quickly jumped out to a 3-0 record and dominated the opposition. Incredible performances came from Nicole Mormile and Allie Cooney who wore the red 19 jersey all weekend. With the end of the tournament in sight, the girls fought their way through their final two games and came out victorious. They ended the weekend as champions with a 5-0 record for the tournament, their second championship of the summer. The 2019 girls have a bright future ahead of them and we are looking forward to more great moments from this remarkable team!

2018:

The 2018 girls have established themselves as one of the best FLG teams this summer. With another championship at the Beach Blast and Stowe, the girls finished the summer with three championships. The girls “really started to gel and play as a unit,” said Coach McGinty, successfully executing the new plays, transitioning well great and crashing on defense. With the improvements across the board, the team hasn’t lost a game since the first tournament of the summer. Standout performances came from Erin Tucker, Stephanie Walsh, Julia Kavan, Megan Sprotte, and Daniela Paniccia at the Beach Blast, while Caroline Scamell, Emily Vomvas and Kendall Fressle really showed their stuff at Stowe. The girls really made a statement this summer. We hope to see everyone at tryouts this fall.

2016/2017:

The girls of the FLG 2016 team turned out to be one of the strongest FLG teams this summer. After winning the Summer Slam Tournament, they continued their hot streak entering the Capital Cup, going undefeated against stronger competition than the week before. According to Coach Ruszkowski, “This team has made great improvements throughout the summer.” A huge factor that has contributed to the success of the team comes from the friendships that the girls have created with each other. A team that gets along off the field, gets along on the field as well and this team is a perfect example. Goalie Kaitlyn Rivera and midfielder Hailey Harder both impressed at the Cup. The team received looks from both Tampa and JMU after showing their talents on the field. The girls have been great role models for the younger girl’s teams who are looking to follow in their footsteps. We look forward to future summers with this team.

2015:

The oldest girls finished their summer campaign alongside an FLG ally, the 3d girls, and were able to finish on a winning record in their final tournament. They fought hard and mixed well with the 3d girls making the experience a good one. All of the FLG girls had strong tournament appearances and were able to enjoy their summer experience as FLG athletes. Their efforts caught the eye of a Tampa University coach who was interested in a number of girls.

This group of Studletes has paved the way for our FLG girls program with their strong determination and hard work. We are very proud of them!

Boys End of Summer Recap

As the summer lacrosse season comes to an end, we want to acknowledge the incredible growth and success of all of our boys teams..

FLG 2020 – Casey Reynolds

2022:

The future of FLG started the summer surprising their coaches with strong showings in games at the Spring Shootout. As the summer continued to progress, so did the athletes and the team. Everyone exceeded expectations and, with kids improving in leaps and bounds, the 2022 boys looked like a different team by the end of the summer. Heart and hustle were never a problem for this team. Each game they gave it their all and really made Coach Kennedy happy. “Amazing!! Getting better every week,” remarked Coach. The little guys were a prime example of what happens when you work hard every day.

The most consistent player was Jason Kozak who was not only a leader on the field, but a leader off the field as well. James Rossellon, James Teadore and Aaron Daversa also delivered for the team each week and set great examples for the rest of their teammates.

2021:

The 2021 boys found themselves fighting hard every week. Each game, effort and determination drove the team to overcome obstacles and deficits. The boys finished the summer with their best game the entire season, beating LB3 in overtime, a team they had previously lost to in the tournament. The win showcased the strong work ethic the kids showed all summer. “The second LB3 game was the best the team has played all year,” said Coach Benazzi, “it was an awesome game to coach, watch, and play.”

The most consistent aspect of the team was their defense; they delivered week in and week out. The offense found inspiration from players like TJ Roszko and Nolan Garcia on the attack, while AJ Pascarella, Steve Pidejian, Brian Connelly, Brian Russell and Kyle Carney controlled the center of the field. At the end of it all, the 2021 Boys team showed incredible growth as athletes and young men.

2020:

At the beginning of the summer, the 2020 boy’s team had some strong showings and quickly figured out how to play with each other and come out successful in games. In their final stretch of the summer, they won the championship at Harvard Crimson Classic and had a strong third place showing against tough competition at the FLG in 3d tournament. They finished these two tournaments with an overall record of 8-2 — an incredible result.

Defensive forces Tim Barrett, Brian Mack and Jacob Bruno held the team together and provided a strong base. Through the midfield, Jagger Kuhner and Liam O’Donohue were strong leaders pushing transition and starting offense. Attackman Christian Sullivan finished the ball well and was the main scoring threat for the team. Altogether, the team improved each week and had fun while doing it. They fought hard together and relied on each other to push through the tough times and enjoy the good times. The friendships forged on this team will last a long time and we hope everyone returns for tryouts in the fall.

2019:

The end of the summer marked the best the 2019 boys have played this season. With each week better than the last, the boys really showed progress and growth. The coaches were amazed at how much the team improved throughout the summer. “The progress was definitely noticeable, and that’s what matters,” said Coach Will Kogel.

Standout performances at the FLG in 3d tournament came from Buck Andrea, who has matured as a player and a young man, Alex Racanelli, called a “brick wall in net” by the coaches, and Mike Kelly, who has improved drastically and is one of the team’s strongest two way midfielders. Louis Perfetto had a presence all over the field, both as an offensive threat at the midfield and X attack, and as a defensive block shutting down opposing midfielders. The effort was the best of the summer and the boys did a stellar job finishing the summer. We hope to see everyone at tryouts this fall.

FLG 2018 – Nolan Pappas

2018:

The 2018 boys found their stride as the summer of lacrosse came to a close. The boys performed best in tight situations, the team delivers when the game is on the line. The NXT Cup showcased the talents of Jack Tiedemann, Chris Mormile and James Amorosana, who always go 110% no matter what the situation is on the field. The same went for FLG in 3d; the team picked up where they left off and played strong defense and cohesive offense all weekend long, finishing the summer with their best game to date.

The key to the success on the field was the bonding time off the field. The boys came together and finished the season off right. Standout performances came from Matt O’Brien, Jack Tiedemann, James Amorosana, Matt Miller, Brandon Meir and Kyle Steinbach. “Overall, our team got better every week,” remarked Coach Winkoff, “they were a pleasure to coach and a great group of kids.” We hope to see all of them return next year.

2017:

The 2017 boys had a grueling summer, but were able to grind through and finish with all positives. “The team had a tremendous summer together,” said Coach O’Connell, “we showed tremendous ‘grit’ winning some very tough, close games.” The team became very close due to the intense schedule. With every athlete leaning on one another, the season became a group effort rather than an individual one and the team secured an impressive fourth place finish at the U15 Nationals and a 4-1 record at FLG in 3d against excellent competition.

The summer provided insight to what is to come from this team, and the future is bright. Over the weekend, Shayne Gallagher and Jared Strauss dominated the midfield while Brian Schindler was a wall in cage. The defense was stout behind Nolan Parisi, Kyle Higgins and Tommy Whelan, while on the other end of the field, Dominic Pizzulli and Christopher Gray ran the attack. Possession was huge with the Joes (Miller and Grimm) dominating at the face-off X. Immediately after FLG in 3d, we saw standout performances by the aforementioned as well as Brian Schindler and Lucas Ciriello. The efforts by everyone sparked interest from schools like Binghamton, Fairfield and more. As we look ahead to next summer, we hope to see everyone ready to go at tryouts.

2016:

One of our most successful and driven teams of the summer was the 2016 boys. Characterized by their hard work, relentless effort and unselfish play, the team finished 20-5-1 with athird place finish at the IL Invitational. The team thrived with strong coaching by Coach Tower and Coach Hedstrom, fully buying into the concepts and game plans of both coaches.

At 3d, the team had a number of standout players including Dan McEntee, Kyle Thornton and Larry Galizia, Rob Johnson and Brandon Croteau on the defensive end. Kevin Pastier, Eric Zimm, Seth Obadia, John Constant and Christian Athanasian are continuing to improve their games and get comfortable playing together. Fellow midfielders Joe Carney, Chris Rogers, Will Renz and Alex Alacqua are true leaders through the middle of the field. The possession game was won by CJ Mazzocchi all weekend, a force at the face-off X.

The team carried on their relentless play to the IL Invitational and stood out among the competition as one of the best in the 2016 division. Despite a long weekend, they managed to step on the field with unmatched intensity at every game. The team delivered in every aspect, leading them to their third place victory. “We are extremely proud of our team efforts this entire summer,” said Coach Tower, “these young men have tremendous futures in front of them and Coach Hedstrom and I really enjoyed coaching them.” We look forward to continue watching the 2016 players grow and hope they find the right schools for them.

2015:

The 2015 team worked hard as they gained exposure at many premier showcases . Coaches were intrigued by our 2015 team at each tournament as they continued to impress everywhere they played. The team played hard and really helped get one another recruited. Throughout the summer, Jared Warner, Nicholas Orlowski, Nick DeLuca, Ryan Kelly and Daniel Doreste really showed that there are still strong recruits in the 2015 class. With the upcoming season quickly approaching, we hope they continue to get recruited and find the right school.

Each individual will have countless memories from this summer lacrosse season. We are happy to say that these fine young men have played and represented our club, and we look forward to following them as they find their school and continue playing.

Committed

The FLG Committed Team made their mark this summer at Be the Best Tournament. Against the toughest of competition, this team rose to the top finishing with an impressive and well deserved championship! They continued their winning ways at Hofstra, though riddled with injuries this team made it all the way to the semi finals. The Committed team concludes their summer up at Lake Placid. We look forward to watching these “Studletes” compete in their last tournament representing FLG!

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.