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12th Ranked Connetquot Thunderbirds Team Preview
Coming in at No. 12 in our top 20 rankings are the Connetquot Thunderbirds who have a lot to be excited about in 2023! They went 9-7 overall and appeared in the Class A playoffs last season as a five seed before being narrowly defeated by Huntington in the quarter finals. This year they will be fighting in a wide open conference for both a County and Long Island Championship and have the bulk of their team returning to do so.
13th Ranked Comsewogue Warriors Team Preview
Continuing with our top 20 rankings ahead of next week’s season openers for Long Island high school lacrosse, we get to 13th ranked Comsewogue of Suffolk Class B. The Warriors have a rich history as they have made the playoffs for 33 consecutive years. Leading the way is longtime Head Coach Pete Mitchell who has guided them to back-to-back appearances in the Long Island Championship. Coach Mitchell describes his 2023 team as a hard working group with a lot of competition that has big game experience.
14th Ranked Cold Spring Harbor Seahawks Team Preview
Moving up the rankings we take a look at No. 14 in our preseason top 20 which leads us the Cold Spring Harbor Seahawks. They enter this season as the defending New York State Class D Champions and only lost one game all season. At helm for 24 years is Head Coach Dennis Bonn who has guided this program to a long lasting run of success with 13 county titles, five Long Island championships, and five state championships. This season coach Bonn says his team is deep at both midfield and LSM which will be the strength of their team.
15th Ranked Massapequa Chiefs Team Preview
The Massapequa Chiefs of Nassau Class A enter our boys top 20 preseason rankings at No. 15. They are perennial contenders in their conference and this season will be no different as they look to rebound after last season’s defeat in the semifinals against Syosset. Head Coach Michael Draper enters his second season at the helm, and described the senior class that’s returning as one that can be special. “The senior class has the potential to be special if they take pride in the process, accept individual and team accountability, have continuity in their competitive spirit and build vulnerability-based trust. Athletically and skill-wise, this is one of the most gifted groups I have been around in the nearly three decades I have been involved in lacrosse.”
11th Ranked Northport Lady Tigers Team Preview
One of the most historic programs on the island and in the state of New York the Northport Tigers land at No. 11 in our preseason top 20 rankings. They’ve won the Class A Long Island Championship each year since 2019, and were last season’s runner up in the New York State Championship. They are led by longtime Head Coach Carol Rose who has been at the helm for 34 years. Coach Rose expressed her excitement about getting to coach this 2023 team. We are excited to work with a group of talented young ladies who have great team chemistry and work ethic!! Collectively they are unselfish team players that are all in.”
12th Ranked Long Beach Lady Marines Team Preview
As we climb up the ladder in our preseason top 20 teams we get to the Marines of Long Beach at No. 12. This is a team that was on the doorstep of appearing in the Class B Long Island Championship after being defeated in the waning moments of the county final against Garden City. That feeling is something that Head Coach Rachel Ray says her team has not forgotten. ” Losing in the County finals with 1.7 seconds remaining on the clock has not been forgotten. This group is ready to roll.”
13th Ranked Sacred Heart Spartans Team Preview
Continuing with our preseason top 20 rankings it’s the Sacred Heart Spartans coming in at 13. This perennial parochial contender will once again be battling it out with rival St. Anthony’s for supremacy in Class AA. This year they will have a new voice leading them as Danielle Etrasco enters her first season as head coach taking over for Morgan O’Connor. Although they graduated a core group of players in 2022, they have a number of key returning players that will have them in contention.
14th Ranked Comsewogue Lady Warriors Team Preview
The Comsewogue Warriors come into our top 20 preseason rankings at No. 14. They are contenders to represent Suffolk County in the Class B LIC after a season that saw them win a total of twelve games and earn the first overall seed. Their season however came to an end in the county final against Westhampton, leaving this year’s team wanting more. Assistant Coach Kasey Mitchell expressed her excitement to see what they are capable of accomplishing this season. “I am excited to see what our girls can accomplish this year. We return key players in the midfield and defense, along with our younger kids who are ready for the challenge. In order for us to be successful this year our younger girls need to step up and fill the voids that were left by the graduating seniors from last year.”
15th Ranked Shoreham Wading River Lady Wildcats Team Preview
