Coming in at No. 6 in our top 20 teams are the Hurricanes of Westhampton Beach. This year they are looking to follow up what was the most successful season in the history of their program where they won the Class B Long Island Championship in a historic six overtime affair. This year they move over to Class C, adding to what was already the deepest conference on the island. They return a total of 19 players and are coached by Mary Bergmann who is in her tenth season at the helm. Coach Bergmann expressed her excitement about her returning team and the challenges that lie ahead. “We are so excited to be back together on the field and make some waves in Class C. As the number two seed overall we don’t have an easy schedule so this year is going to be a lot of fun but it’s also going to be challenging because of how many quality programs are in C this year.”
Continuing the climb towards the top of our top 20 teams ahead of the start to regular season games, we get to No. 7 the Massapequa Chiefs. This season they have to be feeling like this is their year to take home Class A Long Island Championship and potentially a New York State Championship. They’ve appeared in the LIC each of the last two seasons where their season came to end at the hands of Northport. Head Coach Erin Kollar who has been at the helm for four years shared her perspective on her team in 2023. “We have a talented and experienced group coming back this season who are looking to take Massapequa girls lacrosse to new heights.”
The Wantagh Warriors enter at No. 8 in our top 20 rankings. After coming close the last couple of seasons to appearing in the Class C Long Island Championship Game, Wantagh will aim to get over the hump in 2023. This year they will be coached by Lauren Ruppert who enters her first season as the coach of the Warriors coming over from Our Lady of Mercy. Coach Ruppert gave her thoughts about her team as they approach the beginning of the season. “‘Hold the rope’. I look forward to watching these girls make magic on the field, being a team, and playing together. Once they learn to trust every single person on their team, there is nothing they can’t do.”
Coming in at No. 6 in our top 20 rankings are the Mt. Sinai Mustangs as they enter this season after appearing the last two Long Island Championships. Although the 2022 season did not end the way they would have liked, they are aiming to put themselves in a position where they will have a chance to take home the LIC and possibly a state championship this season. They may have graduated a generational talent in Joey Spallina, but they still return a supremely talented cast of players that have an opportunity to write their own script.
Next up in our top 20 teams are the Ward Melville Patriots at No. 7. This is another one of Long Island’s long standing programs with a rich history of success, and this season won’t be any different as they will be right in the thick of things in Suffolk Class A. They aim to rebound after last season’s narrow defeat in the semifinals. Head Coach Jay Negus who has been leading this team since 2013 says that they lost a lot of seniors from last year, and he will be waiting to see which players step up this year.
Checking in at No. 8 in the LILJ top 20 rankings are the Phantoms of Bayport Blue Point. This Suffolk Class C team has made plenty of noise in recent years under Head Coach Doug Meehan who has been at the position for five seasons. This year the Phantoms will be right back in the thick of things as they strive to get over last year’s hump of the semis and contend for a county title, Long Island Championship, and beyond. Coach Meehan shared with the LILJ the things that excite him about the 2023 season. “Stellar goal tending with a two headed monster. Total team offense with threats everywhere. Under the radar defense that is showing an aggressive physicality. Nice compliment of older and younger players. No egos, coachable group, working hard.”
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.
Coming down to the top 10 teams remaining in our top 20 rankings, it’s the South Side Cyclones landing at No.10. This Nassau County contender is back in Class B after spending the 2022 season in Class C where they appeared in the county final. Head Coach Steve DiPietro has been the head man in charge since 2008, and says his team is embracing the high expectations. “Iron sharpens Iron…Tremendous schedule that will get us battle tested for the challenges ahead. Good amount of returning players and embracing high expectations.”
As we are now inside the top 10 of our preseason rankings we get to No. 9 the Mustangs of Mt. Sinai. This year they will look to rebound after a disappointing exit in the Suffolk Class C Quarterfinals last year after suffering some significant injuries to multiple key players. They are back with a healthy team and have a new voice in the locker room with Shayna Pirecca taking over as the head coach. With supreme talent returning for the 2023 season, the Mustangs will look to capitalize on the opportunity they have this year.
As we now jump into the 10 remaining teams in our top 20 ahead of next week’s season openers, we get to No. 10 in our rankings the Rocky Point Eagles. This Suffolk Class C contender will be a serious threat to appear in the LIC in what is the deepest conference on the island. Last year they made a push to the semifinals where they were defeated by Bayport Blue Point, but come back after gaining that playoff experience under their belt. For Head Coach Mike Sanchez and his team the goal is simple. It’s to be playing in the last game of the season.
