Today we preview the B classification in Nassau. Class B consists of 19 total schools that will compete for 10 playoff berths. The top five B schools- Garden City, Manhasset, Carey, Calhoun, and Roslyn- will play in League 1, while eight will play in League 2 and another five will be in League 3. Last year`s B champion, South Side, had a magical ride culminating in a NYS championship. This year the Cyclones have moved down to Class C, so we will have a new champion in 2025. 

The Usual Suspects
Any discussion of Class B in Nassau must begin with Garden City and Manhasset. The perennial powers are two of the top public school programs in the United States and have won a combined 10 NYS Class B championships.

Garden City (15-3 in 2024) finished last season in an unfamiliar position, losing in the semifinals to the rival Indians. The Trojans are widely considered the class of Nassau in 2025 and were ranked #25 in the US Lacrosse pre-season poll, the highest ranking of any team in Section VIII. Senior faceoff ace Luke Cascadden, committed to Navy, and his brother Blake a midfielder committed to Cornell, are top players for coach Steve Finnell, who enters 2025 with 285 career wins. Add in midfielders Charlie Koester, a junior Lehigh commit and senior Owen Wuchte, headed to Bucknell, and Garden City appears to be very strong in the middle of the field. Wuchte, is a four year starter and two-time All-County player, is one of the very best at the SSDM position on Long Island.

Manhasset (12-7), who lost in the 2024 Nassau B championship to South Side, returns key seniors in attackman Danny Kolin and defenseman Kyp Zacharia. Kolin, headed to Navy, and Zacharia, a Lehigh commit, will be important pieces for Coach Keith Cromwell early in the season. "We are very excited for the 2025 season to be upon us" Cromwell said.   "Our off season and early preseason will allow us to analyze our depth especially on the defensive side of the ball.   Offensively, Kolin, a four year varsity member, will lead us. Many juniors and sophomores will compete for increased roles as they gained valuable experience last season." 
Both squads play a demanding non-league slate on top of their League 1 contests and it will be interesting to see how both teams progress over the course of the season, as both teams are full of quality younger players. The teams will meet on Saturday, May 3rd at Garden City in their annual Woodstick Classic game, one of the longest standing scholastic lacrosse rivalries in the United States.

 

The Contenders

Carey (12-6) returns their best squad since 2021 when the Seahawks fell to Garden City in the Class B championship game. Carey was the #5 playoff seed in 2024 and looks to improve on that placement this season for longtime coach Tom Aiello (199 career wins). Rich Metzger, a Marist commit and four year player who has 458 career saves, is one of the best goalies in Nassau and will lead the Carey defense along with senior Billy Koutsoumbaris, who`s headed to Adelphi. Chris Obertis (62 points, Manhattan commit) and Christian Todaro (44 points) are senior attackmen with plenty of game experience for the Seahawks.

Calhoun (15-2) has become one of the most consistent programs in Nassau, with a record of 48-19 over the last four years and three semifinal appearances in that span. Coach Jim Femminella said "...talented sophomore and freshmen classes will push for playing time in 2025, leading to depth on both sides of the field for us. We feel that this depth will help us this spring with the addition of the shot clock and faster pace of play. The main question going into the season is how quickly can an inexperienced defensive unit gel." The Colts return 75% of their scoring, led by seniors Harley Finkelstein (73 points), Braden Garvey (41 points), and junior Nicholas Voll (56 points). Sophomore face-off specialist Michael Nicholson, won won 67% of his draws in 2024, could be a real difference maker this spring.

The most intriguing team this year in Class B is Roslyn (10-6). Led by Josh Berger, a junior attackman who is one of the top uncommited players in Nassau, the Bulldogs return 75% of their scoring from a year ago for coach Jesse Sorensen. Berger will team with senior midfielder Spencer Cymbler and sophomore attackman Gavin Ryback to give Roslyn scoring punch. The player who may swing games in the Bulldogs favor is faceoff man Ethan Goldberg, a junior Bucknell commit who won 78% of his draws last year. Roslyn battled Manhasset last year in the Class B quarterfinals, falling 9-7, and another step into the semifinals could be a possibility this season.

The Next Tier
A familiar playoff participant in Class B is Long Beach (11-7). The Marines lost a good portion of last year`s scoring to graduation, but do return 16 seniors for coach Jason Pearl. Long Beach will play this year in League 2 and will be one the top teams. Top returning players include juniors Aidan Derupo in goal (138 saves in 2024) and Charlie Conway, a midfielder/attackman who had 35 points last year.

Like the Marines, Mepham (11-6) will be a top League 2 squad. The Pirates were the #7 seed last year for first-year coach Ryan Walsh and should improve on that this spring. Senior Owen Heller, UMass commit who can play both midfield and attack, will be the top scoring threat along with senior Alessandro Walaitis (47-7-54). Heller has 208 career points and has been a regular performer since 8th grade. Mepham also has two excellent juniors in defenseman Jack Weber (Penn State) and Braedon Kehoe (Iona), a faceoff midfielder who won 69% of his draws a year ago.

MacArthur (9-8) is another regular playoff qualifier hoping to improve in 2025. "We are looking forward to the upcoming season" said coach John Nessler. "While we have a few senior contributors, the team will consist of many underclassmen looking to assume important roles. After a year that ended in a first round loss, the Generals look to rebound and find their way deeper into the playoffs this year." Midfielder Gavin Thompson, a Flagler commit who totaled 34 points last year is one of the seniors who should lead the way for the Generals in League 2 play.

Hewlett (8-8) has moved back to Class B after spending the last four years in Class C. The Bulldogs were the #9 playoff seed in C last year and will be in League 2 for the regular season. Daniel Lankri, an Honorable Mention All-County goalie last year, is the top returner for coach Dale Pescitelli. Lankri has 492 career saves and is a four year varsity player.

Jericho (10-6) looks for a return to the playoffs this year after missing out in 2024. "Although our team ended the season on a high note" said coach Brandon Mulholland "we came short of our goal of making it into the playoff bracket in Class B in 2024. That shortcoming has left a bad taste in our mouth and motivated us to hit the ground running at the start of this season and get to work." The Jayhawks have the top returning scorer in Nassau in senior attackman Josh Rubin who totaled 100 points last season by way of 56 goals and 44 assists. With over 80% of their scoring returning, Jericho will be a team to watch in League 2 this spring.

The Field

Division (7-9), Sewanhaka (6-10) and Great Neck South (6-9) will all play in League 2 this spring. Division coach Rob Storrie said "The future of Division lacrosse looks promising. Despite losing a large class last year (13), we have a few returning seniors who will step up to fill major roles, as well as a large group of juniors and underclassmen who are hungry to make a name for themselves as they vie for a role on this team. Returning captains, Timothy Stanley and Cristian Barone, are looking to make an impact this year and play like they have nothing to lose in their League 2 standing." Midfielder Stanley totaled 37 points and Barone finished with 157 stops in goal a year ago.

Sewanhaka will lean on returning defender Hallelujah Agesin, who had 110 ground balls and 43 takeaways in 2024. A strong senior class could help the Indians and coach Connor Horl improve on last year`s win total. Great Neck South has two strong senior midfielders in Edwin Serpas (38-15-53) and Michael Azatyan and returns almost all of their scoring, but coach Mike Passuello needs to find a replacement for graduated netminder Robin Varughese, who totaled over 250 saves the last two years.

Baldwin (7-8), a Class A staple for decades, has been in Class B the last two years and will play in League 3. The Bruins will be led by senior captain Preston Kirchner, according to coach Tim Clancy. "Our team graduated a lot of seniors (last year).  We have a core group of solid players returning" said Clancy. "Our JV team is coming off of a ten win season, so we have young and hungry group coming up to varsity looking to make an impact."

Great Neck North (5-9) might have the best player in League 3 in Daniel Perlman, a senior attackman headed to Franklin and Marshall. He enters 2025 with 193 career points and was All-Conference in 2024 as was junior goalie Brian Schiedt (212 saves in 2024).

New Hyde Park (6-10) will also be in League 3 after making the playoffs a year ago as the #10 seed. Coach Mike Milio will have to find a replacement for 2024 graduate Aidan Garvey, who took his 219 career points to Adelphi. The play of senior midfielder Nick Garofalo should help.

Bellmore Kennedy graduated 15 seniors from a team that finished 6-10 last year. Coach Gerard Cunningham will lean heavily on senior midfielder Zack Greenseid who totaled 37 points last year.

Glen Cove (6-10) last qualified for the playoffs in 2022. They will play this spring in League 3 for coach Steve Tripp. He will be trying to replace 2024 grauate Matteo Cameron, who made 629 saves in his career in goal for the Big Red.

Elmont (1-14) will try to improve despite the loss of eleven seniors and only returning 32% of their scoring. Playing in League 3 will help these efforts as will the play of senior goalie Michael Garvin who totaled 50 saves last year in limited action.