Long Island Lacrosse

No, not in football.

On Saturday, April 4, the Hofstra men’s lacrosse team will play Delaware at the Meadowlands as part of a three-game event called the Big City Classic.

The Pride will face the Fightin’ Blue Hens at 5 p.m., closing out a tripleheader that features Virginia-North Carolina at noon and Syracuse-Princeton at 2:30 p.m.

This is the first lacrosse event, to my knowledge, that will attempt to draw people from the New York metropolitan area to such a high-profile venue. It will be interesting to see how many fans from around the area show up. Similar doubleheader events have been held with success at the Baltimore Ravens’ stadium in Baltimore during the past two years.

The teams competing in this one are no slouches and, of course, include multiple players from Long Island. Syracuse is the defending national champion. Virginia made the final four last year. North Carolina is an ACC program on the up-and-up, and Princeton is always solid.

Delaware reached the national semis in 2007, and Hofstra made the NCAAs last year, getting bounced by Johns Hopkins in the first round.

All six programs have agreed to a two-year commitment to the event, according to its organizer, Inside Lacrosse.

UPDATE (11/12): Here's the rest of the Hofstra schedule...

2/21 UMass – 1 p.m.
2/28 @ Brown – Noon
3/7 @ Johns Hopkins – Noon
3/14 Princeton – 1 p.m.
3/21 @ Sacred Heart – 1 p.m.
3/24 @ U.S. Military Academy – 7 p.m.
3/28 Robert Morris – Noon
4/4 Delaware (at Giants Stadium) – 5 p.m.
4/8 Drexel – 7 p.m.
4/11 @ Towson – 1 p.m.
4/18 North Carolina – 7 p.m.
4/21 Stony Brook – 7 p.m.
4/25 Villanova – 7 p.m.

-- COREY McLAUGHLIN

BY COREY McLAUGHLIN

West Islip junior attackman Nick Galasso has verbally committed to play for the University of North Carolina, becoming the latest member of a highly touted recruiting class for new Tar Heels coach Joe Breschi.

Galasso committed to UNC on Friday, West Islip head coach Scott Craig said today. Galasso made visits to North Carolina, Maryland, Rutgers and Hofstra and had a visit scheduled to Syracuse but cancelled the trip to the home of the defending national champions after settling on the Tar Heels.

Galasso is a tremendous offensive talent and the No.1-ranked junior recruit in the nation according to Inside Lacrosse Magazine. He scored 60 goals and had 57 assists last season as a sophomore and had 57 goals and 50 assists as a freshman. He's also played on two Long Island Empire teams.

“He loved it as soon as he got off the plane. They really treated him great,” Craig said of Galasso’s trip to North Carolina. “Also, we have a couple guys down there already. Nicky liked the idea that if he were going to go away, it would be easier for him to go to a place where there were already people he knew and was friendly with.”

Ian Braddish, a West Islip senior midfielder, is headed to North Carolina after this season. Two other WI products, Kevin Federico and Ryan Flanagan, are already in Chapel Hill.

Breschi, a former UNC defenseman and assistant coach, was hired as head coach in July after 11 seasons as head coach at Ohio State. He's made a quick impact on the recruiting scene in the new surroundings. Along with Galasso’s commitment, Inside Lacrosse has reported that UNC recently received verbals from junior midfielders Will Campbell (Worthington Kilbourne, Ohio), Mark McNeill (St. Mary’s, Md.), and Duncan Hutchins (Gilman School, Md.), IL’s No. 6, 7 and 15th-ranked juniors, respectively.

The N-Zone and Sportswebnet.com will broadcast Long Island's final boys lacrosse game from the Empire State Games. To watch the game in its entirety, visit newsday.com/nzone after 12 noon on Tuesday, July 29.

BY JOSEPH STASZEWSKI

Brennan and Smith Shine in North Victory

Garden City's Erin Brennan scored four times, including the winner with 1:15 left, and added an assist as the North Girls team beat the South 13-12 in the Under-Armour All-America girls lacrosse game at Towson University on July 12. West Babylon's Shannon Smith scored her four goal to tie the score at 12 with 2:14 remaining. St. Anthony's Jessica Russo added two goals.

Chanenchuk Leads North in Tight Win

St. Anthony's Mike Chanenchuk scored three goals to help the North team top the South 13-12 on in the Under-Armour All-America boys lacrosse game. Garden City's Francis McDonough had a goal and an assist. Syosset's Jeff Cohen added a goal and Rocky Point's Tom Palasek had an assist.

COQUITLAM, B.C -- Craig Dowd (East Northport, N.Y./Northport/Georgetown) scored three goals and added two assists, goalkeeper Adam Ghitelman (Syosset, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor/Virginia) made 19 saves to lead the U.S. under-19 men's lacrosse team to a 19-12 victory over Canada in the gold medal match of the 2008 International Lacrosse Federation (ILF) World Championships at Percy Perry Stadium on July 12.

Nick Elsmo (Edgewater, Md./Severn/Virginia) and Dean Gibbons (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City/Harvard) added three goals apiece. The U.S., a six-time gold medalist, is now 36-0 all-time in ILF U-19 play dating back to the championships' inception in 1988.

Canada closed within 10-8 at the 16:57 mark in the second half, but the the U.S. responded with three straight goals in the next three minutes by Ryan Young (Manhasset, N.Y./Manhasset/Maryland), Elsmo and Gibbons to take a 13-8 lead.

Rhamel Bratton (Huntington, N.Y./Huntington/Virginia) scored to put Team USA up 14-10

U.S. Goals
Dean Gibbons 3, Nick Elsmo 3, Craig Dowd 3, Anthony Mendes 2, Tim
Donovan 2, Rhamel Bratton 2, Ryan Young 1, Matthew Dolente 1, Andrew
Feinberg 1, Josh Amidon 1

U.S. Assists
Dowd 2, Young 2, Mendes 1, Donovan 1

These 20 players will travel and compete at the Empire State Game from July 23-27 in Binghamton. The team is dominated by players from West Islip and Manhasset. How much does this tell you about both team's chances next season?

Alexander, Dominique Baldwin
Bellairs, Rob Plainedge
Braddish, Ian West islip
Cappellini, Bradley Manhasset
Duvnjak, John Manhasset
English, Connor Manhasset
Froccaro, Jeff Port Washington
Galasso, Nicky West Islip
Hodgson, Andrew West Islip
Manny, William St. Anthony's
McCormack, Michael West Islip
Meyer, Maxx Half Hollow Hills East
Molinari, Jeff Manhasset
Murphy, Steven Ward Melville
O'Reilly, Nick South Side
Ostrander, Anthony Farmingdale
O'Toole, Brian Long Beach
Palasek, Matthew Rocky Point
Schreiber, Thomas East Meadow
Zaremba, Ryan West Islip

Four Long Island girls teams made the ranks:

1 - John Carroll School
2 - Sts. Stephen's & Agnes
3 - Severa Park
4 - West Genesee
5 - Moorestown
6 - McDonogu School
7 - Garden City
8 - Radnor
9 - Farmingdale
10 - Shawnee
11 - Brighton, NY
12 - Northport
13 - Severn School
14 - Shoreham Wading River
15 - Westwood, MA
16 - Notre Dame Prep, MD
17 - New Trier
18 - Broadneck
19 - Springfield (DelCo)
20 - Archbishop Spalding

The 2008 squad:

Attack:
Danielle Etrasco - Massapequa
Nicole Moran - Lindenhurst
Janine Hillier - Farmingdale
Erin Fitzgerald - Mt. Sinai
Caroline McTiernan - Garden City
Gabi Wiegand - Bay Shore
Devon Rhodes - Northport
Alyssa Murray - West Babylon
Jackie Ardolino - Floyd

Midfield:
Monica DeMairo - Massapequa
Kara Mugo - Rocky Point
Jenny Granger - Ward Melville
Shannon Gilroy - Northport
Amanda Macaluso - Hauppauge
Morgan O'Reilly - Sayville
Staphanie Anderson - Shoreham Wading River
Kaitlin Brosco - Shoreham Wading River
Shannon Mangini - Garden City
Jenna Davis - Division

Defense:
Rackel Weiderkehr - Shoreham Wading River
Brittany Delea - Shoreham Wading River
Shannon Difliese - Garden City
Katie Ciaci - Northport
Chelsea Intrabartola - Commack
Adrianna Amendola - Eastport-South Manor
Becky Hanley - Northport
Aimee Capps - Rocky Point
Tara Coyle - Farmingdale

Goalies:
Lauren Maksym - Farmingdale
Sallie Beth Finnegan - West Islip
Lily Kalata - Smithtown East

Here are your Long Island All-Americans (Girls) first team

Senior Erin Brennan, Midfield, Garden City - attending U-Penn
Junior Katie Ciaci, Defense, Northport
Senior Dayna Defliese, Midfield/Defense, Garden City - attending U-Mass
Junior Monica Demairo, Midfield, Massapequa
Senior Caitlin Fifiled, Midfield/Attack, North Babylon - attending Richmond
Junior Erin Fitzgerald, Attack, Mt. Sinai
Junior Jenny Granger, Midfield, Ward Melville
Senior Alysa Kildare, Midfield/Defense, Farmingdale - attending Johns Hopkins
Senior Becky Lynch, Midfield, Garden City - attending UNC
Junior Lauren Maksum, Goalkeeper, Farmingdale
Junior Devon Rhodes, Midfield/Attack, Northport
Senior Candace Rossi, Attack, Farmingdale - attending Johns Hopkins
Senior Jessica Russo, Midfield/Attack, St. Anthonys - attending Northwestern
Senior Shannon Smith, Attack, West Babylon - attending Northwestern
Senior Lacy Vigmostad, Midfield/Defense, Northport - attending Northwestern
Senior Brittany Wilton, Midfield, Garden City - attending Boston College

Honorable Mention

Senior Stephanie Anderson, Midfield, Shoreham Wading River
Sophomore Caitlin Brosco, Midfield, Shoreham Wading River
Senior Lauren Connors, Defense, Manhasset - attending Denver
Junior Jenna Davis, Midfield, Levittown-Division
Junior Danielle Etrasco, Attack, Massapequa
Senior Lori Fillipone, Goalkeeper, Northport - attending Penn State
Senior Catherine Furman, Defense, Garden City - attending Holy Cross
Junior Becky Hanley, Defense, Northport
Junior Janine Hillier, Attack, Farmingdale
Senior Colleen McCaffrey, Midfield, Mt. Sinai - attending Johns Hopkins
Senior Kaela McGilloway, Midfield, North Shore - attending Brown
Junior Caroline McTiernan, Attack, Garden City
Sophomore Cara Mupo, Attack, Rocky Point
Senior Nina Sarcona, Attack, Northport - attending U-Mass
Senior Whitney Quackenbush, Goalkeeper, Manhasset - attending Yale
Junior Gabbi Wiegand, Midfield, Bay Shore

Laxpower.com just came out with its National Coaches/Computer Ratings -- thanks to the site's George Baldassare for the heads up.

A friend of mine down at the Baltimore Sun covered Gilman this year, says they were sick. Not surprised they sit atop this list. Thought New Jersey's Mountain Lakes would be a little higher up. As for West Islip -- they'll be at the top of this, and every other list next year. Who do they return, nearly everyone?

Thoughts?

1. Gilman MD 18- 1- 0 199.90 100.00 99.90
2. West Genesee NY 21- 3- 0 199.66 99.91 99.75
3. West Islip NY 19- 2- 0 199.20 99.40 99.80
4. LaSalle College HS PA 31- 2- 0 199.02 99.32 99.70
5. Loyola-Blakefield MD 13- 4- 0 198.73 99.28 99.45
6. Ward Melville NY 19- 1- 0 198.61 98.94 99.67
7. Darien CT 22- 1- 0 198.55 99.20 99.35
8. Rocky Point NY 21- 1- 0 198.38 98.72 99.66
9. Calvert Hall MD 15- 3- 0 198.23 98.73 99.50
10. Mountain Lakes NJ 22- 1- 0 198.12 98.78 99.34
11. Malvern Prep PA 21- 3- 0 197.60 98.26 99.34
12. Syosset NY 17- 5- 0 197.56 98.11 99.45
13. Kent Denver CO 15- 0- 0 197.35 98.05 99.30
14. Lawrenceville NJ 17- 2- 0 197.35 97.80 99.55
15. Brother Rice MI 23- 0- 0 196.92 97.82 99.10
16. Chaminade NY 14- 4- 0 196.65 97.40 99.25
17. Garden City NY 15- 5- 0 196.47 97.16 99.32
18. Canandaigua NY 23- 1- 0 196.28 97.23 99.05
19. Georgetown Prep MD 18- 3- 0 196.27 97.21 99.05
20. Mount Sinai NY 18- 3- 0 196.27 97.00 99.27
21. Deerfield MA 15- 1- 0 196.14 96.99 99.15
22. Saint Andrews FL 22- 1- 0 195.88 96.93 98.95
23. John Jay-Cross River NY 18- 6- 0 195.70 96.50 99.20
24. Yorktown NY 20- 4- 0 195.67 96.59 99.08
25. McDonogh MD 16- 6- 0 195.66 96.63 99.03

GOAL
Rob Bellaris (Plainedge)
Bobby Whitmarsh (Smithtown East)
Conor Ferguson (Carey)
Ryan Zaremba (West Islip)

ATTACK
Nick O'Rielly (South Side)
Connor English (Manhasset)
Eddie Loftus (Syosset)
Will Manny (St. Anthony's)
Nick Galasso (West Islip)
Michael Chapman (Mount Sinai)
Matt Palasek (Rocky Point)

DEFENSE
Anthnony Ostrander (Farmingdale)
Bradley Cappelini (Manhasset)
Joe Ednie (Baldwin)
Michael McCormack (West Islip)
Thomas Keith (Syosset)
Maxx Meyer (Half Hollow Hills East)
Kyle Sheridan (Smithtown West)
Brian Winterfelt (Calhoun)
John Duvnjak (Manhasset)

MIDFIELD
Jeff Froccaro (Port Washington)
Jeff Molinari (Manhasset)
Brian O'Toole (Long Beach)
Thomas Schrieber (St. Anthony's)
Dominique Alexander (Baldwin)
Christian Kennedy (Cold Spring Harbor)
Ian Braddish (West Islip)
Andrew Hodgson (West Islip)
Steve Murphy (Floyd)
James Ryan (Ward Melville)