Climbing inside the top 10 of our preseason rankings we highlight the two-time reigning Class A Long Island Champions and 2022 NYS runner-ups the Northport Tigers. After coming so close to winning the 2022 state championship, they will aim to make another run at it this season, but will have to go through some very stiff competition. Third year Head Coach Larry Cerasi says that he’s excited to compete in Suffolk Class A against some of the most talented lacrosse programs in the country.
Offensively there’s going to be a big void to fill in the absence of 2022 graduate Michael Meyer, Tim Kirchner and Jacob Starcke. These three accounted for an abundance of goals last year, combining for a massive 234 points. Without this three-headed monster it will be up to players like Jack Deliberti, Luca Elmah, and Macklin O’Brien to fill the void. Deliberti had a mesmerizing freshman season, scoring 41 goals with 10 assists for 51 points. Those impressive numbers are sure to only increase this upcoming season. The 12.8 goals per game that Northport averaged in 2022 was the second highest in Suffolk County.
For the last few years it’s been the familiar face of Tyler Kuprianchik at the face-off X. With the 2022 graduate currently at Penn State, the reigns have been turned over to sophomore Dylan Baumgarth who is among the top FOGO’s on Long Island in the 2025 class.
At LSM the Tigers have one of the exciting poles out there in senior Army West Point commit Drew Miller. He’s an electrifying talent that has the offensive skills of a short stick with his ability to carry the ball up the field in transition and find the back of the net, and can also do damage in settled situations. Miller struck the net 18 times last season and also added 10 assists for 28 points.
Defensively it looks like the net will be protected by senior Michael Tittman this year, replacing the 2022 graduate Luke Lamendola. Their key returning defensemen include Nicholas Tzimas (Jacksonville), and Jonathan Alferio (High Point) who will be anchors on this side of the ball. They also welcome back Quinn Reynolds, a defensive middie who is always seen doing the dirty work and making plays that go beyond the numbers. One absence among their core group of defensemen is 2022 graduate Jack Breckling. As a team Northport allowed 7.2 goals per game in 2022.
Taking a look at the contending teams that Northport will see this season, it starts with a rematch of last year’s LIC when they travel to Port Washington on March 25th to take on the Vikings. Among other contending teams in Class A on the schedule, they will be playing Half Hollow Hills (4/4), Connetquot (4/22), Massapequa (4/29), Huntington (5/3), and Ward Melville (5/12).
Luca Elmaleh- Bryant commit.
Macklin Obrien – Geneseo