Sunday November 19th marks the annual Big 16 High School Invitational at Cantiague Park in Hicksville, presented by Igloo. This high level tournament includes 16 varsity teams from across Nassau and Suffolk County as well as one team from Westchester. The 16 teams are broken up into groups of four with each playing against each other in their group in 40 minute games. Throughout the day there will be a number of college coaches in attendance for recruiting across a total of 33 different programs between divisions one, two, and three. Let’s preview the 16 teams competing this Sunday!
On Saturday September 16th Cold Spring Harbor High School hosted the High Velocity Showdown featuring Shore 2 Shore and the Regulators in a matchup between two high level 2025 Long Island club programs and it did not disappoint. This showcase game was presented by the LILJ and was broadcasted live courtesy of LI Sports Network with the film available on the LILJ YouTube channel to be viewed by college coaches for recruiting. This contest was played in four 12 minute quarters with running time, but incorporated the element of the 80 second shot clock, getting players accustomed to what it will be like when they take their game to the collegiate level.
The 2023 high school graduating class are now in the beginning of the next chapter in their lacrosse careers, taking their game to that next level at various collegiate programs across the country. Many of them spent a lot of time throughout their high school playing days as “the guy” or a primary focal point in their team’s success. Now, that will change for most as freshmen in college often times have to wait until their time comes, playing behind upperclassmen. However, sometimes there are those that don’t have to spend much time waiting and can step onto the field right away and be a difference maker in that first year. Whether that’s because of a large graduating class the previous year positionally, a new coaching staff, injuries, or they just have a high level of talent that gets them on the field immediately, it’s without question that Long Island has some now college freshmen in men’s lacrosse that could quite possibly make some noise in their first year at the collegiate level.
As the Class of 2023 embarks on the next chapter in their lacrosse careers at the collegiate level, the reality is that it often takes time as a freshman before getting your number called consistently seeing the field. While many won’t immediately see the field in year one, there are definitely candidates that may not have to wait their turn and could step on the field right away and make an impact for their program whether that be because of a large graduating class, players transferring, or possibly because of injuries or a new coaching staff. Regardless of how may it happen, Long Island definitely has players from the 2023 class that are talented enough to crack their college lineup right away. Here are some of the recent graduates on the women’s side that the LILJ believes could be making headlines in their freshman campaign!
On July 17-19 the inaugural Excelsior Games were held on the campus of SUNY Albany where the top high school players from rising freshmen to rising seniors represented their region and competed against each other for the chance to make the claim as the best region in New York and take home gold, silver, and bronze medals. The six regions across New York are Adirondack, Central, Hudson Valley, Nassau, Suffolk, and Western, as well as a boys All-Long Island region with combination of players from Nassau and Suffolk County. The uniqueness about the Excelsior Games is that unlike any other recruiting event or showcase, this brings together both boys and girls together playing on the same circuit at the same time. This high level event also serves as a recruiting event for rising juniors and rising seniors which brought a multitude of college coaches from Division I programs across in attendance to recruit.
