Opening up the LILJ top 24 preseason rankings in high school boys lacrosse are the Kingsmen of Kings Park. They’re back in 2024 after a 9-7 regular season in 2023 which was good enough to qualify for the playoffs in Suffolk Class C where their season came to an end in the opening round against Shoreham Wading-River. The roster departed some key players from last year’s team, but still see plenty of returning players that will be looking to take this team right back to the playoffs in 2024.
The attack for Kings Park graduated two of their top three scorers last season in Thomas Hnis and Nick Papa, but welcome back junior Jack Salva (Merrimack) who exploded for 52 points as a sophomore, doing it as both a scorer and distributor as he had 25 goals and 27 assists. This year Salva will be in line for another huge season as his number will be called upon heavily for their offense. Also in the junior class on attack that could be in for an elevated role is Billy Berhalter who tallied eight points last year. Kings Park’s top midfield unit includes juniors Luke Griffin (Maryland), and seniors Tommy Cassar (UMass Lowell), and John Flynn (Fairfield). The Kingsmen offense averaged just a shade under 10 goals per game last year.
The defense returns a number of their defensemen in seniors Sam Myung (Geneseo), Aaron Shapiro (Emory-Riddle), Kevin Greabell (Saint Michael’s), Logan Mariotti (Oneonta), and junior JJ Joyce. Last year’s starter in the net Dom Ziccardi is back for his senior campaign, and also on the roster adding depth to the goalkeeping is senior James Treacy and junior Alex Wittneben. In 2023 their defensive unit allowed 10 goals per game facing very challenging competition across Suffolk Class B/C/D.
This season the Kingsmen will hope that they’ll once again be playing meaningful games deep into the regular season with a chance get back into the playoffs.
