2025 End of Season Review
2025 saw changes in the league structure in Nassau County, designed by the coaches to increase equality of competition and decrease the blowouts that had been occurring in previous seasons. The power league structure that had started in 2024 was continued in 2025, with several teams added to the original group of nine from the year before. In addition, the remaining teams were also grouped by ability into two leagues. At the end of the regular season, Garden City emerged as the top team in League I, the "power league." In League II, Long Beach finished undefeated at 8-0, and in League III, Friends Academy was the top dog at 14-0 against league opponents.
All the teams returned back to the NYS classifications for the Nassau County (Section VIII) playoff tournament. Massapequa emerged as the top team in Class A, winning their first championship since 2019. Garden City was the winner in Class B, regaining the title they had won from 2021-23. Wantagh (Class C) and Cold Spring Harbor (Class D) were repeat champions. For the Seahawks, it was their fourth straight championship in the Class D grouping. With the exception of Massapequa all Nassau teams won Long Island championships as well. The Chiefs ran into a buzzsaw in Half Hallow Hills, widely considered the top public school team in the nation. They almost pulled off the upset, falling in the closing seconds, 15-14. Nassau has now won 15 of the 20 Long Island championships in the post-pandemic era (since 2021).
Garden City continued their dominant season in the state playoffs, dominating Canandaigua (Section V) in the championship at Hobart, 14-5. It was the 9th NYS title for the Trojans who gave up less than 5.5 goals per game in their seven game playoff run. In addition, head coach Steve Finnell won his 300th game at the helm of the perrenial power, being the second fastest coach to 300 wins in Nassau history. 
With wins in Class B, Nassau kept their streak of at least one NYS championship intact, a stretch of 15 championship seasons that dates back to 2009. No other section in NYS has had such a streak of championship success. Schools that have helped keep the streak going include Cold Spring Harbor, Farmingdale, Garden City, Massapequa, Manhasset, and South Side. To see all the state champions from Nassau go here: NYS Champions

At the end of the year, the Nassau County coaches selected the post-season award winners including their All-County, Honorable-Mention All-County and All-Conference players.
To see the All-County and HM All-County players, click here: All-County and HM All-County. The coaches selected nine US Lacrosse All-Americans, led by Garden City with three selections: senior twins
Blake and Luke Cascadden and junior Charlie Koester. The remaining six selections, all seniors, were Harrrison Behan from Port Washington, Will Cawley (Syosset), Michael Jannotte (Massapequa), Manhasset's Daniel Kolin, Cullen Lynch from South Side, and Wantagh's Dylan Martini.

The Academic All-Americans selected were Michael Berkery and Dan Medjid from Garden City, Lochlan FitzPatrick from Manhasset, Wantagh's John Gendel, Cole Newman from Cold Spring Harbor, Lynbrook's Chris Paladino, and Jericho's Josh Rubin. Blake Cascadden and Michael Jannotte, two of the nine All-Americans chosen, also received the academic honor as well. 

As for the individual awards given out by the NCLCA, Garden City's Luke Cascadden was given the John Krumenacker Award as the top player in Nassau.
Cascadden was also named the top specialist for his faceoff prowess. His brother Blake was chosen as the top LSM and teammate Charlie Koester was named the top attackman (Bill Ritch Award). Dylan Martini was the John Driscoll Award winner as the top midfielder, and Harrison Behan was the chosen as the top defender (Howdy Meyers Award). The Goalie of the Year Award went to Michael Jannotte.
The Tom Flately Award, given to the top football/lacrosse player as voted on by a select committee, was given to Martini. He had previously won the Thorp Award in the fall, given to the top Nassau player on the gridiron. The Alan Lowe Nassau Coach of the Year was given to Wantagh's James Polo, whose Warrior squad advanced to the NYS quarterfinals and were the LI champs for the first time since 2001. Finally, the Jim Amen, Jr. Man of the Year Award went to Hofstra's Ryan Watson, who has been so instrumental in helping the NCLCA host events for several years at Shuart Stadium. 
Statistically speaking, Friends Academy had the most profilic offense in Nassau this season, averaging just under 13 goals a game, while Garden City scored the most goals with 276. New Hyde Park led all teams defensively with 65 goals allowed, giving up slightly more than four goals per game. Senior attackman Troy Madden from Herricks was the top individual scorer in the county with 107 points and 62 assists.
Senior attackman Daniel Perlman scored the most goals in Nassau with 78 and finished his career with 239, one of the highest totals in county history. Garden City's Luke Cascadden had the most faceoff wins (321) and ground balls (200). Sophomore CJ Siegler from Bellmore JFK had the highest faceoff winning percentage with 86% (197 of 230). Senior Daniel Lankri from Hewlett led in saves with 293 and junior Brian Scheidt from Great Neck North had the highest save percentage with 73.5%. Finally, senior defender Joe Mainente (Island Trees) had the most caused turnovers with 89.
FULL STORY















defense has found its stride and shut out Mepham for three quarters last week. A low scoring game seems to favor Carey. 




Manhasset lost in the B championship a year ago to South Side and has won at least one playoff a year since 1990. 

They have a great scoring combo in senior Cullen Lynch (left, 37g-19a-56pts) and sophomore Luke Mullen (above, 49g-19a-68pts). Sophomore faceoff man Alec Notaro (58%) steadily improved all season long.
The Vikings enter the playoffs on a four game losing streak and have been in the playoffs every year since 2013. 


Senior attackman Dean Kott (right) leads the team with 30 goals and 25 assists. Junior LSM/D Mike Galgano has 3 points, 46 caused turnovers, and 69 ground balls.
The Vikings are one of the top defensive teams on Long Island, allowing 4.8 goals per game and are led by sophomore goaltender Max Eynon (164 saves, 72% save percentage) and senior defender Harrison Behan (left). Senior attackman Liam McCarvill has been outstanding, scoring 41 goals this spring. Port Washington won the Class A title in 2022 and have been in the playoffs every year since 1979.
The Hawks last won a playoff game in 2006 but had an outstanding year in League 2, defeating six playoff teams in the process. They are led by juniors Alex Kantrowitz (53 goals, 82 points), Chris Tripoli (right, 67 points), Brett Lipins (213 faceoff wins, 10 goals), and Jake Ilardo (231 saves, 67% save percentage). 
Sophomore Connor O'Rourke (23g-20a) and seniors Owen Heller (right, 22g-18a) and Alessandro Walaitis (31g-11a) are the offensive stars for the Pirates.
The Generals have been playoff participants each year since 2017.
Sullivan Knox had four goals for Oyster Bay...Justin Montez had three goals for Clarke...Noah Garner had four goals for East Meadow...Johnathan Hayes (4g-2a), Ryan Farrell (2g-3a), and Brody Riedel (3g-2a) were the high scorers for Long Beach...James Gorman had four goals for Floral Park...Matt McCarthy scored four goals and added two assists and Gavin McGlaughlin scored four goals with one assist for Mineola...Edwin Serpas had three goals and four assists and Max Levinson had six goals for Great 




The Dalers improve to 4-3 on the season, while South Side falls to 5-2. Cuinn Sunde (2 goals) scored the winning goal on a pass from Kevin Renneisen in the third quarter and Sean Schumeyer tacked on an insurance goal in the fourth for the Dalers. Matt Hughes (right) made 15 saves to lead a Farmingdale defense that limited the Cyclones to one second half goal. Junior midfielder Tyler Sumrani scored two goals for South Side.







Several juniors will be primetime players again this spring for Wantagh, including Devin Paccione on attack and Connor Loughman and Joe Nicholson at the midfield. Paccione was one of the high scorers in Nassau last year with 104 points and is commited to Villanova. Another Villanova commit is Joe Nicholson who scored 35 goals a year ago. Loughman, an Albany commit, had 35 points in 2024. One more player to watch is also named Martini- Luke, an attackman who had 55 goals last season as an 8th-grader! If Coach Polo can replace faceoff wiz Will Greaves (now at Adelphi won 72% faceoffs, 329 wins 201 gbs in 2024) the Warriors will be tough to stop this season.
Defender Tesler (Stevenson commit) and junior LSM Luke Waxer (Bryant commit, 84 gbs in 2024) will form one of the best 1-2 defensive combos in Nassau. Junior Chase Soliday had 36 points a year ago and could be the X factor for Bethpage this year. 
"Our boys have put in countless hours of off-season work and are fired up for March 17th! They will represent Lynbrook well by playing the game fast and tough. We will rely on our seniors for leadership and raising our level of play" said coach Bill Luzzi.
With defenders Daniel Baranoski (Oneonta) and Kevin Fusci (Clarkson) back along with 11 other seniors, coach Matt Polovny should finish in the top eight again this spring for the second straight year. 
Senior leadership will be provided by goaltender Michael Jannotte, a Stevens commit who made 201 saves a year ago, and midfielder Joey Diesso, who is headed to Adelphi. Junior attackman Tyler Byrnes, commited to UMass is back as well for a team that gave Farmingdale a battle before falling in the Nassau title game a year ago.
Graduation hit the offensive end hard, but with junior JJ Damo (LIU commit, 227 faceoff wins in 2024) back at the faceoff X, Farmingdale should have the ball plenty. Look for junior three-sport star Josh Kama to become a household name this spring. "We're in a great spot in terms of returning a lot of experience and players understanding what it takes to be champions" said Dunne. "However, each year is different, and players will have to fill the voids left by the graduation of some talented seniors. I believe we have guys who bought into putting in the work needed to step up the challenge and continue our culture of working hard and getting the details right."
The Michigan commit is the most accomplished returning offensive player in Class A and will team with senior Nick Turner (Geneseo commit) to power the Syosset offense. The continued development of a strong junior class could be the X factor this season for the Braves who look to win their first Nassau championship since 2021.
Coach Mike Chin
Like Oceanside, this group could be building for an even better 2026.
Senior Jackson Reger return in the cage for East Meadow, having made 165 saves last year and will lead a senior-heavy defensive group for coach Joe Cataldo.






