The Phantoms enter the 2022 ranked at number 15 in the LILJ preseason rankings. This team would certainly be ranked higher but they are dealing with multiple injuries which is why they are in the 15th spot going into the season. With a fully healthy team they would certainly be poised to make a deep run and contend for the county title as well as the LIC. Last season Coach Doug Meehan led them to a 12-4 record in Suffolk’s Conference C. They made it to the county championship game after upsetting Shoreham in the semis, but fell to Mt. Sinai in the finals who went on to win the LIC. Coach Meehan discussed how they are going to have to adjust with the injuries that they have.
” Young and inexperienced guys are going to be asked to steer the ship until key veterans return from injury. They may be young but they are talented, fearless and eager to introduce themselves. Roles on the offensive end will be formed early on but the defense looks like a solid unit.”
The overall roster has plenty of players who are returning this season. Matt Nilan (Towson) and Eric Grahn (Siena) share the goalie responsibilities and are coming back as “an elite duo in the cage” according to coach Meehan. They will also be getting back Jameson Smith (Johns Hopkins), Ben Morris, Gavin Locascio (UMass), and PJ Shanahan. Both Smith and Locascio are senior midfielders and were responsible for a bulk of the offense last season. Smith finished with 70 points last season which led the team, and Locascio had 29 which was the fourth most. Morris and Shanahan play the attack position and combined for 38 points last season. Junior attackman JJ Aiello (Navy) is one of their players who is out with an injury and the Phantoms are certainly awaiting his return back to the field. Three of their defenders will also be back this season; Sean Druckenmiller, Mikey Luce, and Cole Henke.
Some of the young guns that will likely see a lot of playing time this season are Mack Keyser, Danny Aiello, and Connor Curran. They will be asked to do a lot in the absence of players due to injuries.
Despite most of the roster still intact, a few key players that contributed to last season’s success who have graduated are defenseman Zander Katslas, and attackmen Zach Kroog and Neil Foley.
The Phantoms have their share of marquee games on the schedule this season. Some notable games that take place include at Shoreham on April 8th, home against Mt. Sinai in a rematch of the county final game on April 20th, and home against Comsewogue on May 12th.
One thing to look out for this year is if the Phantom’s defense can replicate the success from last season. Out of their 16 games they held opponents under 10 goals in 14 of them and won five times when scoring less than 10 goals.
