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2024 SEASON PREVIEW PART FOUR: CLASS C AND D
Nassau Class C lacrosse in 2024 has a different look to it with defending state champion Manhasset moving up to Class B. Joining the Indians are a senior-laden South Side team and a Carey squad that looks to be much improved. This shift leaves Wantagh as the top-dog in Class C, with a number of other schools hoping to make it to Hofstra in May and raise the championship trophy.
The Warriors return Army-bound midfielder Jake Martini, Tom Conway (Air Force), Will Greaves (Adelphi), and Tom Carlo (Ithaca), all seniors. Senior goaltender Kyle Conklin also returns, along with two budding stars in junior Dylan Martini and sophomore Devin Paccione (23-23-46 in '23). Island Trees looks to have it's strongest squad in years with returning players at every position. Kian McCoy (Stony Brook) and John Echezuria (NJIT) are proven scorers who combined for 116 points last season. Two-way junior midfielder Joe Filicamo (LIU) along with his older brother, Mercy-bound Nick, will provide strength on the defensive end and support goalie Anthony Saragossi, who is highly athletic and primed for a breakout season.
Seaford has one of the top returning players on Long Island in defenseman Jake Anzelone, a highly athletic Navy commit who had 36 points and 138 ground balls last year. Tim Navin (Wingate) will lead the Vikings offensively and look for midfielders Brian Falk and Daniel Barone to have big seasons. Bethpage has a great stopper in senior goalie Jake Kelly (225 saves in '23) and solid defensemen in Mike Lazaridis and Luke Waxer, but needs to replace a bunch of their scoring punch from last year. Locust Valley is one of the teams looking to make the biggest improvement this season. Midfielder Owen Hickey (Iona) will lead a squad that returns almost all of its scoring from a year ago and will fun to watch.
Plainedge will look to rebuild their offense with junior Owen Donnellan leading the way. Finding a replacement from goalie Chris Santacroce (496 career saves) will be a priority for coach Joe Ancona (300+ career wins).
Lynbrook will lean on seniors Caiden Lung (MIT) and Michael Hendrickson this season, and North Shore will feature senior attackman Matthew D'Aversa (71 pts in '23), a St. John's commit. The Vikings have a new head coach in John Savage, formally the boss at Nassau Community College. Steve Baranoski returns for Floral Park and will look to form a 1-2 punch with Owen Sanchez (Merrimack). Wheatley-Carle Place has goalie James Demakopoulos (210 saves in '23) and midfielder Blake Lyons back, while Mineola returns St. John's bound Jack McCormack, who totaled 81 points last year.
Gerard Cunningham is the new head coach at Bellmore JFK, and he will need to replace goalie Ben Greco (252 saves last year). Hewlett brings back their stopper in junior Daniel Lankri, while Malverne-East Rockaway will lean on returning high scorer Matthew Delligatti, a sophomore. Lucas Barsuaskas (Lincoln Memorial) returns at Clarke after scoing 70 points last year. Lawrence will need to find both saves and scoring, as both Amari Elliot (262 saves) and Kody Kirchner (82 points) have graduated.
In Class D, Cold Spring Harbor is the two-time defending state champions and looks to three-peat behind junior midfielder Alex Bauer, a do-it-all type of player who is committed to Michigan. Helping him will be Sam Bruno, Ryan McGloin (Middlebury) and Gunnar Anderson (Quinnipac), midfielders who were contributors a year. Defender Tim Pisano will be a key to a team that always plays outstanding defense for long-time head coach Dennis Bonn (340 career wins). There are three additional Class D teams this season, Oyster Bay, Friends Academy, and West Hempstead. All these squads appear to be a longshot to dethrone the Seahawks. The Baymen will feature the duo of Jake Macri and Jagger Romano, who totaled a combined 113 points in 2023. Friends Academy has an outstanding defenseman in Florence Campbell (Dartmouth) and attackman Cooper Schultz (66 points in '23). West Hempstead's Gavin Lee is their returning high-scorer but a replacement for Dan Clark's 283 saves won't be easy.
The Warriors return Army-bound midfielder Jake Martini, Tom Conway (Air Force), Will Greaves (Adelphi), and Tom Carlo (Ithaca), all seniors. Senior goaltender Kyle Conklin also returns, along with two budding stars in junior Dylan Martini and sophomore Devin Paccione (23-23-46 in '23). Island Trees looks to have it's strongest squad in years with returning players at every position. Kian McCoy (Stony Brook) and John Echezuria (NJIT) are proven scorers who combined for 116 points last season. Two-way junior midfielder Joe Filicamo (LIU) along with his older brother, Mercy-bound Nick, will provide strength on the defensive end and support goalie Anthony Saragossi, who is highly athletic and primed for a breakout season.
Seaford has one of the top returning players on Long Island in defenseman Jake Anzelone, a highly athletic Navy commit who had 36 points and 138 ground balls last year. Tim Navin (Wingate) will lead the Vikings offensively and look for midfielders Brian Falk and Daniel Barone to have big seasons. Bethpage has a great stopper in senior goalie Jake Kelly (225 saves in '23) and solid defensemen in Mike Lazaridis and Luke Waxer, but needs to replace a bunch of their scoring punch from last year. Locust Valley is one of the teams looking to make the biggest improvement this season. Midfielder Owen Hickey (Iona) will lead a squad that returns almost all of its scoring from a year ago and will fun to watch.
Plainedge will look to rebuild their offense with junior Owen Donnellan leading the way. Finding a replacement from goalie Chris Santacroce (496 career saves) will be a priority for coach Joe Ancona (300+ career wins).
Lynbrook will lean on seniors Caiden Lung (MIT) and Michael Hendrickson this season, and North Shore will feature senior attackman Matthew D'Aversa (71 pts in '23), a St. John's commit. The Vikings have a new head coach in John Savage, formally the boss at Nassau Community College. Steve Baranoski returns for Floral Park and will look to form a 1-2 punch with Owen Sanchez (Merrimack). Wheatley-Carle Place has goalie James Demakopoulos (210 saves in '23) and midfielder Blake Lyons back, while Mineola returns St. John's bound Jack McCormack, who totaled 81 points last year.
Gerard Cunningham is the new head coach at Bellmore JFK, and he will need to replace goalie Ben Greco (252 saves last year). Hewlett brings back their stopper in junior Daniel Lankri, while Malverne-East Rockaway will lean on returning high scorer Matthew Delligatti, a sophomore. Lucas Barsuaskas (Lincoln Memorial) returns at Clarke after scoing 70 points last year. Lawrence will need to find both saves and scoring, as both Amari Elliot (262 saves) and Kody Kirchner (82 points) have graduated.
In Class D, Cold Spring Harbor is the two-time defending state champions and looks to three-peat behind junior midfielder Alex Bauer, a do-it-all type of player who is committed to Michigan. Helping him will be Sam Bruno, Ryan McGloin (Middlebury) and Gunnar Anderson (Quinnipac), midfielders who were contributors a year. Defender Tim Pisano will be a key to a team that always plays outstanding defense for long-time head coach Dennis Bonn (340 career wins). There are three additional Class D teams this season, Oyster Bay, Friends Academy, and West Hempstead. All these squads appear to be a longshot to dethrone the Seahawks. The Baymen will feature the duo of Jake Macri and Jagger Romano, who totaled a combined 113 points in 2023. Friends Academy has an outstanding defenseman in Florence Campbell (Dartmouth) and attackman Cooper Schultz (66 points in '23). West Hempstead's Gavin Lee is their returning high-scorer but a replacement for Dan Clark's 283 saves won't be easy.
