HS2K8: Top 25 Boys
Note: These rankings appear in the current edition of Lacrosse Magazine, a US Lacrosse publication available exclusively to its members. Join today to start your monthly subscription.
by Paul Ohanian, Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
1. LaSalle College (Pa.)
The Explorers (31-2) posted eye-opening numbers that were just too hard for us to ignore. In addition to winning more games than any other team in the country this year, LaSalle continued its domination of the Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL) by winning its fifth straight league crown and 14th in the past 16 years.
Coach Bill Leahy's squad then added both the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association (EPSLA) championship and the Keystone Cup state title to its 2008 resume. The program has amassed a whopping 138 victories over the past five seasons. And with an incredibly talented junior class back next year, there may be no let-up in sight.
"It's just an exceptionally close group of guys," Leahy said. "How many high school boys do you know that hug each other after practice?"
Leahy's philosophy to place much of the team's leadership in the hands of the players is clearly paying dividends. The coach designates one "president" each year -- in 2008 it was Penn State-bound senior Conrad Ridgway -- and the president then fills out his cabinet with the additional leaders.
"We like to put the ownership on the kids." Leahy said.
He encourages his players to play football in the fall, then transition to a winter full of team-building and conditioning activities that range from weight lifting to yoga to a morning basketball league.
"As much as I love lacrosse, there's nothing more special in high school than a football gameday," Leahy said. "The benefits they get from football -- commitment to teammates, dealing with pressure situations -- carries over to lacrosse."
This season, LaSalle lost its second game, then rolled to 21 straight wins that included victories over McDonogh (Md.), Lawrenceville (N.J.) and Malvern Prep. A second one-goal loss at the beginning of May only slowed the momentum slightly as the Explorers followed with nine more wins while collecting their second EPSLA and Keystone championships.
With a loaded group of returnees, LaSalle enters the 2009 season as the likely favorite to capture next year's inaugural Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) state championship. The new challenge should help Leahy's team -- led by goalie Niko Amato, defenseman Tucker Durkin, midfielder Peter Schwartz and attackman Randy Forster -- maintain its focus.
"We'll have a bull's-eye on our back, but we've already challenged them to repeat as champions," said Leahy.
2. Gilman (Md.)
The Greyhounds (18-1) were arguably the most impressive team in the nation for most of the spring, nearly completing an undefeated run through the difficult Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). Gilman's run ended with a one-goal loss in the league's championship game against Loyola, a team the Greyhounds had beaten by 10 goals one month earlier. The good news for coach Brooks Matthews is that Baltimore Sun All-Metro first-team juniors Marcus Holman (34g, 34a) and Jack Doyle (37g, 25a) return, but Gilman will need to find a new leader on defense to replace senior All-Metro performer Joey Ehrmann.
3. Mountain Lakes (N.J.)
The Lakers (22-1) won New Jersey's Tournament of Champions for the second straight season, with icing on the cake provided by beating arch-rival Delbarton 12-6 in the final. After suffering its only loss of the year against Delbarton in mid-May, coach Tim Flynn's team closed the year with 16 straight wins, including a heart-pounding 15-14 win over Chatham in the New Jersey Group I championship game. Senior Sean Kirwan (Tufts) scored five goals in that game, then he and fellow senior Brian Kasel (Delaware) netted three goals each in the TOC final as the Lakers clinched their seventh overall state title.
4. Darien (Conn.)
The Blue Wave (22-1) captured their fourth straight Connecticut Class M championship and outscored their four playoff opponents by a combined 61-14. Darien's only blemish during the season came by one goal, an 8-7 setback against FCIAC rival Greenwich. The Blue Wave rebounded well with 12 straight lopsided wins to close out the year. In addition to two victories over New Canaan and three against Wilton, Darien recorded impressive wins against New York's Jamesville-Dewitt, Yorktown and Manhasset. This year's senior class, led by goalie Jameson Love and defenseman Tim Clinton -- both headed to Bryant -- finished with a four-year record of 85-5, to go along with their four state titles.
5. West Genesee (N.Y.)
The Wildcats (21-3) may have started slowly, with three losses in April, but they sure closed strong. West Genesee claimed its eighth state championship in the last 15 years and its 15th overall since the state tournament began in 1977, defeating Syosset 11-7 in the final. Injury riddled at midseason, the Wildcats regrouped to win their final 12 games after many had written them off. The moral: never discount legendary coach Mike Messere, who has a 33-year record at the school of 688-45, for a winning percentage of .938. Midfielders Ryan Barber (Syracuse) and Tim Besio (Geneseo) helped lead the Wildcats down the stretch.
6. Ward Melville (N.Y.)
The Patriots (19-1) were the last unbeaten team on Long Island this year, but still fell just short in their quest for a spot in the state's final four. After beating West Islip in the regular season, Ward Melville lost to its Suffolk rival, 4-3, in the county championship game. Led by goalie Steven Rastivo (Penn State) and senior Matt Spagnoli (Bucknell), defense carried the Patriots for much of the season as they held 16 of 20 opponents to five goals or less. Midfielder Zach Pall (Quinnipiac) led the offense with 51 goals and won more than 75 percent of faceoffs.
7. Rocky Point (N.Y.)
The Eagles (21-1) defeated Carthage, 17-6, in the Class B final to win their first state championship. Rocky Point lost its only game of the year to Class A finalist Syosset in the season's third game, then won 19 straight en route to the state crown. A potent offense was paced by Johns Hopkins-bound brothers Matt and Tom Palasek, who combined for six goals and seven assists in the championship game. Justin Annunziato (Syracuse) anchored a tenacious defense.
8. West Islip (N.Y.)
The two-time defending state champions appeared to be headed back to the final four after avenging their only regular-season loss with a one-goal win over Ward Melville in the Suffolk County final. But the Lions (19-2) were upended by Syosset in the Long Island championship, ending their chase for a third straight title. A high-powered offense, led by sophomore Nicky Galasso, averaged nearly 14 goals per game through the first 19 contests, but managed just 10 total goals in the final two games.
9. Loyola-Blakefield (Md.)
A roller-coaster season for the Dons ended on the upswing as they captured their second straight MIAA championship by upsetting undefeated Gilman in the title game, 12-11. Loyola (13-4) rebounded from early-season losses against Haverford (Pa.) School and Colorado's Cherry Creek by winning 10 of its final 12 while playing the nation's second most difficult schedule, according to LaxPower. All-Metro first-team attackmen Joe Cummings (Maryland) and Steele Stanwick (Virginia) combined for 76 goals and 44 assists.
10. Calvert Hall (Md.)
If not for a pair of one-goal losses to Loyola, including a double-overtime setback in the conference semifinals, the Cardinals (15-3) may have been this year's MIAA champions. They certainly had enough talent. A trio of All-Metro performers were instrumental for coach Brian Kelly. Senior Sean Maguire (Towson) and junior Patrick Fanshaw each finished with over 50 goals, while junior defenseman Chris Lightner was a dominating leader on defense.
11. Canandaigua (N.Y.)
With its undefeated season on the line in the state semifinals, Canandaigua (23-1) went toe-to-toe with the state's superpower, West Genesee, before losing an 11-10 heartbreaker. That loss was the first time all season an opponent reached double-digit goals against the Braves. Goalie Scott Bement and senior Ben Knapton, both committed to Hartford, were anchors on the heralded defensive unit.
12. Malvern Prep (Pa.)
Some believed that the Friars (21-3) entered the season with question marks on defense, but that notion proved to be anything but accurate. A stingy defense complimented an explosive offense as Malvern claimed another Inter-Academic League title while also enjoying a 13-game winning streak at one point. Virtually the only hurdle John McEvoy's team couldn't clear was LaSalle, which twice beat the Friars by one goal, including in the EPSLA championship game.
13. Landon (Md.)
It took the Bears (18-4) a little time to get going as they started 3-3 against a tough schedule, but once they did they were hard to stop. Led by The Washington Post's Player of the Year Mike Grossman (Princeton), Landon won 15 of its final 16 games and its first outright Interstate Athletic Conference championship since 2004. Like his team, senior goalie C.T. Fisher (Georgetown) also got better as the season progressed, stopping over 70 percent of shots faced, including 11 of 12 in the IAC final.
14. Deerfield (Mass.)
It's gotten to the point where the Big Green (15-1) simply reload. Deerfield lost 13 college-bound seniors from last year's undefeated team, and still rolled to a second straight Western New England Lacrosse League Division I championship. With a 130-12 record in this decade, coach Chip Davis appears to be constantly restocking his cupboard. At least 10 more players from this year's squad are heading to college programs, with three-sport standout Chip Daugherty highlighting a trio going to Cornell.
15. Kent Denver (Colo.)
The Sun Devils (15-0) returned to the top of the mountain by capping an undefeated season with their first state championship since 2004. Kent avenged last year's championship game loss against Fort Collins by handling the Vipers 15-6 in this year's final. Kent also proved its worth out of state by handing California's St. Ignatius Prep its only loss in two years.
16. Mount Sinai (N.Y.)
It was a magical season under the leadership of Hall of Fame coach Joe Cuozzo. The Mustangs (18-3) captured their first county title, first Long Island crown and first state championship in 2008, winning the Class C title in Cuozzo's second year at the helm. Cuozzo previously had won seven state championships during his 38-year tenure at Ward Melville. A stingy defense led by Mike Sweeney (Yale) and Connor Fitzgerald (Delaware) allowed more than six goals just once all season.
17. Georgetown Prep (Md.)
Other than back-to-back losses in March against Gilman and Garden City and an overtime loss to St. Stephen's and St. Agnes in the league semifinal, there was a lot to celebrate for the Little Hoyas (18-3). Prep finished 4-0 in its annual Jesuit Classic, defeated New Jersey's Delbarton in midseason, and survived a four-overtime classic against arch-rival Landon. Junior Brian Casey emerged as an offensive stalwart, while Mike Flanagan (Princeton) and Jake Brems (Notre Dame) were among the defensive leaders.
18. Lawrenceville (N.J.)
Another year, another championship. Paced by a high-scoring offense, the Big Red (17-2) claimed their seventh straight New Jersey prep title. The only losses came against two of Pennsylvania's best -- LaSalle and Malvern Prep. Seniors Bobby Smith (Notre Dame) and goalie Jared Madison (Colgate) anchored the defense, while Matt Restaino (Cornell) and Anthony Adler (Pennsylvania) paced the offense.
19. Brother Rice (Mich.)
The Warriors (23-0) have won 45 of 46 games in the last two years and have established themselves as the best in the Midwest. BR breezed to its 15th state championship this past spring, with its only real challenge coming in a 14-13 victory against Ohio's Upper Arlington in April. Midfielder Joe Fontanesi (Maryland) and defenseman Andrew Cote (Johns Hopkins) are among those who will be playing in college next season.
20. Upper Arlington (Ohio)
This program is now a "must see" for all college recruiters, as the Golden Bears (19-3) won their fifth straight Ohio championship and 11th in 17 years. Led by seniors Grant Oliver (Maryland) and Jon Vande Werken (Denver), defense paved the way to the title once again as UA held seven of its final 11 opponents to six goals or less. At least three others also will play at Division I programs next season.
21. Carthage (N.Y.)
There's lots of tradition in this program, even if the elusive state championship remained just out of reach once again. Carthage (21-3) finished as the state runner-up for the third time under coach Kirk Ventiquattro, falling to Rocky Point in the Class B final. The Comets may have simply run out of steam as weather delays forced them to play three playoff games in four days down the stretch. That included a thrilling 17-16 state semifinal win in which they scored twice in the final 15 seconds.
22. St. Andrew's (Fla.)
Northern teams that venture south for spring break know just how good the Scots (22-1) are every year. In addition to dominating in-state opponents and winning their sixth straight state championship, St. Andrew's registered wins against visiting St. Mark's (Texas) and Boys' Latin (Md). The only loss came by two goals against McDonogh (Md.). Wyatt Melzer (Virginia) and Christian Napolitano (Colgate) headlined a strong defense.
23. Syosset (N.Y.)
The Braves (17-5) made an impressive postseason run to earn their first state final appearance, defeating West Islip in the Long Island championship and Yorktown in the state semifinal. Unfortunately, they couldn't complete the run, losing to West Genesee in the Class A state final, 11-7. Senior attackman Jeff Cohen (Harvard) finished his career as Long Island's all-time scoring leader with 260 goals.
24. St. Ignatius Prep (Calif.)
The Wildcats (19-1) won their third straight California Central championship and maintained their position as the Golden State's premier program. Despite suffering its first loss in two seasons, St. Ignatius has not lost to another in-state team since midway through the 2006 campaign. Midfielder Roy Lang (Cornell) led the offense with 77 goals and was selected as West Side Lacrosse's California Player of the Year.
25. Niskayuna (N.Y.)
This looked to be the year that the Warriors (21-1) might make their second appearance in the state championship game, but a familiar foe put an end to that notion. Niskayuna's winning streak and season came to a close with a 9-6 loss to Yorktown in state quarterfinals. Senior attackman Steve D'Amario (Massachusetts) was a catalyst for the offense throughout the season.
by Paul Ohanian, Lacrosse Magazine Online Staff
1. LaSalle College (Pa.)
The Explorers (31-2) posted eye-opening numbers that were just too hard for us to ignore. In addition to winning more games than any other team in the country this year, LaSalle continued its domination of the Philadelphia Catholic League (PCL) by winning its fifth straight league crown and 14th in the past 16 years.
Coach Bill Leahy's squad then added both the Eastern Pennsylvania Scholastic Lacrosse Association (EPSLA) championship and the Keystone Cup state title to its 2008 resume. The program has amassed a whopping 138 victories over the past five seasons. And with an incredibly talented junior class back next year, there may be no let-up in sight.
"It's just an exceptionally close group of guys," Leahy said. "How many high school boys do you know that hug each other after practice?"
Leahy's philosophy to place much of the team's leadership in the hands of the players is clearly paying dividends. The coach designates one "president" each year -- in 2008 it was Penn State-bound senior Conrad Ridgway -- and the president then fills out his cabinet with the additional leaders.
"We like to put the ownership on the kids." Leahy said.
He encourages his players to play football in the fall, then transition to a winter full of team-building and conditioning activities that range from weight lifting to yoga to a morning basketball league.
"As much as I love lacrosse, there's nothing more special in high school than a football gameday," Leahy said. "The benefits they get from football -- commitment to teammates, dealing with pressure situations -- carries over to lacrosse."
This season, LaSalle lost its second game, then rolled to 21 straight wins that included victories over McDonogh (Md.), Lawrenceville (N.J.) and Malvern Prep. A second one-goal loss at the beginning of May only slowed the momentum slightly as the Explorers followed with nine more wins while collecting their second EPSLA and Keystone championships.
With a loaded group of returnees, LaSalle enters the 2009 season as the likely favorite to capture next year's inaugural Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) state championship. The new challenge should help Leahy's team -- led by goalie Niko Amato, defenseman Tucker Durkin, midfielder Peter Schwartz and attackman Randy Forster -- maintain its focus.
"We'll have a bull's-eye on our back, but we've already challenged them to repeat as champions," said Leahy.
2. Gilman (Md.)
The Greyhounds (18-1) were arguably the most impressive team in the nation for most of the spring, nearly completing an undefeated run through the difficult Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). Gilman's run ended with a one-goal loss in the league's championship game against Loyola, a team the Greyhounds had beaten by 10 goals one month earlier. The good news for coach Brooks Matthews is that Baltimore Sun All-Metro first-team juniors Marcus Holman (34g, 34a) and Jack Doyle (37g, 25a) return, but Gilman will need to find a new leader on defense to replace senior All-Metro performer Joey Ehrmann.
3. Mountain Lakes (N.J.)
The Lakers (22-1) won New Jersey's Tournament of Champions for the second straight season, with icing on the cake provided by beating arch-rival Delbarton 12-6 in the final. After suffering its only loss of the year against Delbarton in mid-May, coach Tim Flynn's team closed the year with 16 straight wins, including a heart-pounding 15-14 win over Chatham in the New Jersey Group I championship game. Senior Sean Kirwan (Tufts) scored five goals in that game, then he and fellow senior Brian Kasel (Delaware) netted three goals each in the TOC final as the Lakers clinched their seventh overall state title.
4. Darien (Conn.)
The Blue Wave (22-1) captured their fourth straight Connecticut Class M championship and outscored their four playoff opponents by a combined 61-14. Darien's only blemish during the season came by one goal, an 8-7 setback against FCIAC rival Greenwich. The Blue Wave rebounded well with 12 straight lopsided wins to close out the year. In addition to two victories over New Canaan and three against Wilton, Darien recorded impressive wins against New York's Jamesville-Dewitt, Yorktown and Manhasset. This year's senior class, led by goalie Jameson Love and defenseman Tim Clinton -- both headed to Bryant -- finished with a four-year record of 85-5, to go along with their four state titles.
5. West Genesee (N.Y.)
The Wildcats (21-3) may have started slowly, with three losses in April, but they sure closed strong. West Genesee claimed its eighth state championship in the last 15 years and its 15th overall since the state tournament began in 1977, defeating Syosset 11-7 in the final. Injury riddled at midseason, the Wildcats regrouped to win their final 12 games after many had written them off. The moral: never discount legendary coach Mike Messere, who has a 33-year record at the school of 688-45, for a winning percentage of .938. Midfielders Ryan Barber (Syracuse) and Tim Besio (Geneseo) helped lead the Wildcats down the stretch.
6. Ward Melville (N.Y.)
The Patriots (19-1) were the last unbeaten team on Long Island this year, but still fell just short in their quest for a spot in the state's final four. After beating West Islip in the regular season, Ward Melville lost to its Suffolk rival, 4-3, in the county championship game. Led by goalie Steven Rastivo (Penn State) and senior Matt Spagnoli (Bucknell), defense carried the Patriots for much of the season as they held 16 of 20 opponents to five goals or less. Midfielder Zach Pall (Quinnipiac) led the offense with 51 goals and won more than 75 percent of faceoffs.
7. Rocky Point (N.Y.)
The Eagles (21-1) defeated Carthage, 17-6, in the Class B final to win their first state championship. Rocky Point lost its only game of the year to Class A finalist Syosset in the season's third game, then won 19 straight en route to the state crown. A potent offense was paced by Johns Hopkins-bound brothers Matt and Tom Palasek, who combined for six goals and seven assists in the championship game. Justin Annunziato (Syracuse) anchored a tenacious defense.
8. West Islip (N.Y.)
The two-time defending state champions appeared to be headed back to the final four after avenging their only regular-season loss with a one-goal win over Ward Melville in the Suffolk County final. But the Lions (19-2) were upended by Syosset in the Long Island championship, ending their chase for a third straight title. A high-powered offense, led by sophomore Nicky Galasso, averaged nearly 14 goals per game through the first 19 contests, but managed just 10 total goals in the final two games.
9. Loyola-Blakefield (Md.)
A roller-coaster season for the Dons ended on the upswing as they captured their second straight MIAA championship by upsetting undefeated Gilman in the title game, 12-11. Loyola (13-4) rebounded from early-season losses against Haverford (Pa.) School and Colorado's Cherry Creek by winning 10 of its final 12 while playing the nation's second most difficult schedule, according to LaxPower. All-Metro first-team attackmen Joe Cummings (Maryland) and Steele Stanwick (Virginia) combined for 76 goals and 44 assists.
10. Calvert Hall (Md.)
If not for a pair of one-goal losses to Loyola, including a double-overtime setback in the conference semifinals, the Cardinals (15-3) may have been this year's MIAA champions. They certainly had enough talent. A trio of All-Metro performers were instrumental for coach Brian Kelly. Senior Sean Maguire (Towson) and junior Patrick Fanshaw each finished with over 50 goals, while junior defenseman Chris Lightner was a dominating leader on defense.
11. Canandaigua (N.Y.)
With its undefeated season on the line in the state semifinals, Canandaigua (23-1) went toe-to-toe with the state's superpower, West Genesee, before losing an 11-10 heartbreaker. That loss was the first time all season an opponent reached double-digit goals against the Braves. Goalie Scott Bement and senior Ben Knapton, both committed to Hartford, were anchors on the heralded defensive unit.
12. Malvern Prep (Pa.)
Some believed that the Friars (21-3) entered the season with question marks on defense, but that notion proved to be anything but accurate. A stingy defense complimented an explosive offense as Malvern claimed another Inter-Academic League title while also enjoying a 13-game winning streak at one point. Virtually the only hurdle John McEvoy's team couldn't clear was LaSalle, which twice beat the Friars by one goal, including in the EPSLA championship game.
13. Landon (Md.)
It took the Bears (18-4) a little time to get going as they started 3-3 against a tough schedule, but once they did they were hard to stop. Led by The Washington Post's Player of the Year Mike Grossman (Princeton), Landon won 15 of its final 16 games and its first outright Interstate Athletic Conference championship since 2004. Like his team, senior goalie C.T. Fisher (Georgetown) also got better as the season progressed, stopping over 70 percent of shots faced, including 11 of 12 in the IAC final.
14. Deerfield (Mass.)
It's gotten to the point where the Big Green (15-1) simply reload. Deerfield lost 13 college-bound seniors from last year's undefeated team, and still rolled to a second straight Western New England Lacrosse League Division I championship. With a 130-12 record in this decade, coach Chip Davis appears to be constantly restocking his cupboard. At least 10 more players from this year's squad are heading to college programs, with three-sport standout Chip Daugherty highlighting a trio going to Cornell.
15. Kent Denver (Colo.)
The Sun Devils (15-0) returned to the top of the mountain by capping an undefeated season with their first state championship since 2004. Kent avenged last year's championship game loss against Fort Collins by handling the Vipers 15-6 in this year's final. Kent also proved its worth out of state by handing California's St. Ignatius Prep its only loss in two years.
16. Mount Sinai (N.Y.)
It was a magical season under the leadership of Hall of Fame coach Joe Cuozzo. The Mustangs (18-3) captured their first county title, first Long Island crown and first state championship in 2008, winning the Class C title in Cuozzo's second year at the helm. Cuozzo previously had won seven state championships during his 38-year tenure at Ward Melville. A stingy defense led by Mike Sweeney (Yale) and Connor Fitzgerald (Delaware) allowed more than six goals just once all season.
17. Georgetown Prep (Md.)
Other than back-to-back losses in March against Gilman and Garden City and an overtime loss to St. Stephen's and St. Agnes in the league semifinal, there was a lot to celebrate for the Little Hoyas (18-3). Prep finished 4-0 in its annual Jesuit Classic, defeated New Jersey's Delbarton in midseason, and survived a four-overtime classic against arch-rival Landon. Junior Brian Casey emerged as an offensive stalwart, while Mike Flanagan (Princeton) and Jake Brems (Notre Dame) were among the defensive leaders.
18. Lawrenceville (N.J.)
Another year, another championship. Paced by a high-scoring offense, the Big Red (17-2) claimed their seventh straight New Jersey prep title. The only losses came against two of Pennsylvania's best -- LaSalle and Malvern Prep. Seniors Bobby Smith (Notre Dame) and goalie Jared Madison (Colgate) anchored the defense, while Matt Restaino (Cornell) and Anthony Adler (Pennsylvania) paced the offense.
19. Brother Rice (Mich.)
The Warriors (23-0) have won 45 of 46 games in the last two years and have established themselves as the best in the Midwest. BR breezed to its 15th state championship this past spring, with its only real challenge coming in a 14-13 victory against Ohio's Upper Arlington in April. Midfielder Joe Fontanesi (Maryland) and defenseman Andrew Cote (Johns Hopkins) are among those who will be playing in college next season.
20. Upper Arlington (Ohio)
This program is now a "must see" for all college recruiters, as the Golden Bears (19-3) won their fifth straight Ohio championship and 11th in 17 years. Led by seniors Grant Oliver (Maryland) and Jon Vande Werken (Denver), defense paved the way to the title once again as UA held seven of its final 11 opponents to six goals or less. At least three others also will play at Division I programs next season.
21. Carthage (N.Y.)
There's lots of tradition in this program, even if the elusive state championship remained just out of reach once again. Carthage (21-3) finished as the state runner-up for the third time under coach Kirk Ventiquattro, falling to Rocky Point in the Class B final. The Comets may have simply run out of steam as weather delays forced them to play three playoff games in four days down the stretch. That included a thrilling 17-16 state semifinal win in which they scored twice in the final 15 seconds.
22. St. Andrew's (Fla.)
Northern teams that venture south for spring break know just how good the Scots (22-1) are every year. In addition to dominating in-state opponents and winning their sixth straight state championship, St. Andrew's registered wins against visiting St. Mark's (Texas) and Boys' Latin (Md). The only loss came by two goals against McDonogh (Md.). Wyatt Melzer (Virginia) and Christian Napolitano (Colgate) headlined a strong defense.
23. Syosset (N.Y.)
The Braves (17-5) made an impressive postseason run to earn their first state final appearance, defeating West Islip in the Long Island championship and Yorktown in the state semifinal. Unfortunately, they couldn't complete the run, losing to West Genesee in the Class A state final, 11-7. Senior attackman Jeff Cohen (Harvard) finished his career as Long Island's all-time scoring leader with 260 goals.
24. St. Ignatius Prep (Calif.)
The Wildcats (19-1) won their third straight California Central championship and maintained their position as the Golden State's premier program. Despite suffering its first loss in two seasons, St. Ignatius has not lost to another in-state team since midway through the 2006 campaign. Midfielder Roy Lang (Cornell) led the offense with 77 goals and was selected as West Side Lacrosse's California Player of the Year.
25. Niskayuna (N.Y.)
This looked to be the year that the Warriors (21-1) might make their second appearance in the state championship game, but a familiar foe put an end to that notion. Niskayuna's winning streak and season came to a close with a 9-6 loss to Yorktown in state quarterfinals. Senior attackman Steve D'Amario (Massachusetts) was a catalyst for the offense throughout the season.
Comments
