Last week the LILJ released its rankings for the Class of 2026 across each position for boys and girls on Long Island as September approaches and college coaches are set to contact many players across this class aiming to recruit. For those that may not have made the rankings, or were “snubbed”, check out below those who were missed in the initial rankings and a little bit about their game.
Boys
Jack Amato (Goalie, Smithtown East)- After a small sample size of varsity playing time for Smithtown East, Amato was racking up the saves this summer for the Suffolk 2026 team at Excelsior Games and is in line to step into the starting role next spring for Smithtown East.
Sean Casey (FOGO, Sayville)- The two year starter for the Golden Flashes totaled 211 face-off wins with a 71% winning percentage this past spring, finishing among the leaders in Suffolk County in total wins and percentage.
Jimmy Gannon (Midfield, Port Washington)- Gannon saw plenty of action for Port Washington primarily as a short-stick defensive midfielder where he made plenty of plays whether he was scrapping for ground balls, altering shots, or clearing the ball.
Alex Kantrowitz (Midfield, Plainview Old Bethpage)- Kantrowitz’s game consists of speed, athleticism and he has a cannon of a shot, which was all on display this summer for the Nassau 2026 team at Excelsior Games, and in the high school season where he had a total of 33 goals and 20 assists for 53 points for Plainview Old Bethpage.
Dominic Laviano (Midfield, Sachem East)- The quick and shifty midfielder created plenty of scoring opportunities for himself, leading Sachem East’s underclassmen in scoring with 31 points during the high school season.
Matthew Ofsie (Defense, Chaminade)- Not only was Ofsie making a living in creating turnovers on the defensive side of the field for the Flyers JV, but he also has the ability to find the back of the net if given an opportunity to get off a shot.
JJ Ramsay (Midfield, St. Dominic)- The lefty midfielder brings a powerful shot that’s tough to contain when he’s on the run. He has great size at 6’4″ and is in line for a breakout 2025 season with the Bayhawks.
Dylan Scheer (Midfield, Manhasset)- Scheer has plenty of speed in his game and was one of Manhasset’s underclassmen who saw the field last spring as a feisty and instinctive short-stick defensive midfielder.
Liam Trainor (Defense, Chaminade)- As a close defenseman Trainor was a clearing machine on JV for the Flyers this past season and is a pure disrupter with his on-ball defense whether it’s forcing opponents into bad shots, or knocking balls loose and coming up with turnovers.
Chris Tripoli (Midfield, Plainview Old Bethpage)- Whether it’s scoring, dishing, or between the lines, Tripoli did it all for Plainview Old Bethpage, having a breakout sophomore season with 35 goals, 21 assists for 56 points to lead the team, along with 40 ground balls.
DJ Xavier (Goalie, Rocky Point)- Already a seasoned vet on varsity, Xavier the three year starter for Rocky Point had is best season yet, tallying nearly 180 saves and has posted double digit saves with a save percentage above 50% against some of Long Island’s top high school programs.
Girls
Abby Clarkson (Goalie, MacArthur)- As the starting goalie for the Generals Clarkson has shown to be a steady presence in the cage as she racked up saves, totaling over 150 while making saves at a rate of higher than 50%.
Grace Gordon (Midfield, Huntington)- Gordon provides an offensive punch as she was good for 37 points last spring with 21 goals and 16 assists for the Blue Devils and is an impact player on the circle tracking down possessions.
Kali Humann (Attack, Massapequa)- A strong finisher around the crease, Humann fills up the scoring column as a starter for LI Jesters Black, but is also relentless on the ride to create turnovers giving the ball back to the offense.
Valentina Puccio (Midfield, Kellenberg)- For the Firebirds, Puccio is an automatic catch and shoot sniper, making her a dangerous offensive threat off-ball and in transition, while impacting the game on both sides of the ball as a two-way middie.
Kiera Ruoff (Attack, Garden City)- When out in the open field Ruoff can find the back of the net at ease and plays the game the right way as an unselfish player which was on display this summer at the Excelsior Games for the Nassau 2026 Navy team.
Alyssa Tappin (Goalie, Sachem North)- Tappin will be entering year three on varsity, and is in line to be the starting keeper after making the most of her playing time sophomore year with 65 saves while splitting the goalie duties for Sachem North.
Mattea Vino (Attack, Sachem North)- Vino was a key contributor as one of the few underclassmen on varsity team last spring, with over 20 points on the season, and for Legacy Blue is a real scoring threat particularly off-ball. Vino projects to have an extremely productive junior season for Sachem North.
