The final installment in our series this week preview lacrosse in Nassau County this spring is for Class C. This group of fourteen teams will be battling for eight playoffs berths. Last year, Wantagh was the Class C champion, defeating Island Trees in the final at Hofstra by the count of 13 to 4. This spring the Warriors look to run it back with a strong group of juniors who played key roles a year ago. The 2024 New York State Class B champion, South Side, has moved into Class C this season and will be in the mix for the crown as well, but they did incur substantial losses from their championship squad. Fans should also keep an eye on Bethpage, who seems to have their strongest team in a few years. 

THE CHAMP
Wantagh (16-4) won their second Nassau championship in school history last year and their first since 2001. The Warriors have a strong junior class and return nearly 80% of their scoring for coach James Polo. Senior Dylan Martini is a versatile player and one of the best offensive talents on Long Island. The Army commit totaled 76 points last year and earned All-County honors.  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.

CAN THEY DO IT AGAIN?
South Side (21-1) had the storybook season in 2024, winning the New York State Class B championship over Victor, 12-11. The trophy is in the showcase and the 27 seniors that led the way last year are gone but the mission is the same in Rockville Centre.  If the Cyclones can repeat in Class C, it would be first time a team has won championships in two different classes in consecutive years since Lynbrook did it in 1999 and 2000.

"I'm really excited to see what the returning guys have in store for us this season", said coach Steve DiPietro. "We have limited players that saw time last year in our run, but they all saw what it took to get to the mountain top. Cullen Lynch, Michael Benfante and Brayden Gamberg will lead the way having saw the most time last season.  The Power League and our Non-League Schedule will bring about a lot of growth and learn a lot about ourselves and we are looking forward to that process. We will see what type of grit we bring to the table this year and who steps out of the shadows to be leaders and grinders to put us back in the championship conversation in May which is always the goal." 

The Cyclones will be led by Lynch, a talented offensive player who blossomed last spring, scoring 53 goals. An Iona commit, Lynch will be much more of a marked man this spring however with the graduation of All-American attackman Michael Aiello. Two way midfielder Benfante is a senior who logged a ton of minutes last spring. He will team with Gamberg to help a program that is traditionally strong on defense to be right back in the championship conversation again. 

THREE'S COMPANY
Three teams that will be fighting to make their way into the Class C semifinals this spring will be Bethpage, Seaford, and Plainedge. All three teams will compete in League 1 which get them ready for the Class C tournament.

The Golden Eagles (12-6) have nearly 80% of their scoring back for third-year head coach Patrick Gorman. Leo Cataldo, Ryan Tesler, and Andrew Reinhardt should provide solid senior leadership. Cataldo, a faceoff midfielder and Siena commit should get the ball plenty for Reinhardt an attackman who had 52 points last year. 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. 

Seaford (13-5) returns star midfielder Brian Falk, a junior committed to Army. Falk had 39 points last year and will have classmate Peter Barone on attack. Senior George Casha (Adelphi) and sophomore Paul DiBlasi are two defensemen that  will try to make up for the loss of do-it-all LSM Jake Anzelone, who is now at Navy. A large senior class could propel the Vikings and coach Brian Horner back into the semifinals for the second year in a row. 

Plainedge (10-8) has a difference maker at each end of the field in seniors Matt Chadwick and Owen Donnellan for coach Dan Achatz.  Chadwick, an LSM committed to Marist, was a monster last spring with 8 pts, 66 gbs, 45 caused turnovers. Donnellan will attend Stony Brook and will look to improve on his 67 point season as a junior. Like Bethpage, the Red Devils return a good portion of their offensive production so a semifinal run is a distinct possibility. 

 A RETURN TO THE TOP?
Lynbrook is one of the more storied programs in Nassau history, with six Nassau, 2 New York State championships and 28 All-Americans. The Owls were in the semifinals in 2023 and last in the championship game in 2017, where they ran into a buzzsaw in Cold Spring Harbor. Lynbrook will be one of top teams in League 2, featuring senior midfielder Jack LaBarbera, a Cortland commit. "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. 

FIVE MORE TEAMS TO COMPETE IN LEAGUE 2
Floral Park (13-4) returns 70% of their scoring from a year ago, led by senior Steven Baranoski. A Cortland commit, Baranoski scored 56 goals last year and will team with Owen Sanchez (Merrimack), a talented offensive player who has missed considerable time the last two years due to injuries. 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. 

Island Trees had their best season in school history in 2024. The Bulldogs went 12-7 and appeared in their first championship game in school history. The first All-American in school history, Kian McCoy (Stony Brook), has graduated along with 12 other seniors who accounted for 70% of the offensive production in 2024. Coach Brendan Keesee will rely upon a trio of seniors who had major roles a year ago. Joe Filocamo (LIU commit) one of the best two-way midfielders on Long Island, will lead the offense. Joe Mainente will team with returning netminder Anthony Saragossi (449 career saves) on the defensive side of the ball. 

North Shore (10-6) could surprise some this spring, led by senior midfielder Luca Korte (26-16-42 in 2024) and junior attackman Angelo Anobile, an early Salisbury commit who totaled 42 points a year ago. Having goalie Griffin Pinter back should help second-year coach John Savage sleep better at night. 

Mineola (10-7) has a tall task ahead replacing more than 75% of their scoring from a year ago, including star attackman Jack McCormack (237 career points). Sophomore LSM Sean Lunning will be bright spot for coach Jim Durso. 

Wheatley-Carle Place (9-9) may have a tough time making the Class C playoffs for the third time in five years under coach Paul Selhorn after the graduation of over half heir scoring from 2024. Junior defenseman Aidan Butt returns as does senior midfielder Max Cordova (18 goals in 2024). 

A TRIO OF LEAGUE 3 SQUADS IN 2025
Malverne-East Rockaway (5-11) could be one of the better squads in League 3 for coach Andrew Biscardi. Returning junior attackman Matthew Delligatti who had 57 points in 2024, will be the top offensive threats for MER and one of the best in the league. 

Clarke (2-14) has senior defenseman Rocco Carino, headed to Johnson & Wales, back in the fold this season for coach Joseph Hasbrouck. "We had some unexpected sophomores really contribute last year in some key spots on our offense" said Hasbrouck. "We are looking for further development of these players on the offensive end to support some returning upperclassmen on defense and in goal. An athletic team in the middle of the field, skill development will be key along the way."

Lawrence (0-13) should benefit from playing in League 3 this season as coach Christopher DiMarzo will look to build numbers in the program and game experience.