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No. 19 Ranked Eastport South Manor Sharks Team Preview
Climbing up the ladder in the top 24 preseason rankings we get to number 19 which is the ESM Sharks. The Sharks led by Head Coach Becky Thorn consistently find themselves in the playoffs and last season that trend continued, but they were defeated by Smithtown West in the Class B Semifinals. This season the Sharks return much of their core as they look to get back to the playoffs and complete what could be considered unfinished business. ESM got after it this off-season by taking part in the LILJ HSWL where they were champions of the A bracket.
No. 20 Ranked Syosset Braves Team Preview
Entering the top 20 in the LILJ top 24 preseason rankings are the Syosset Braves. Led by Head Coach John Calabria the Braves are consistently in the final four of Nassau County Class A, and 2023 was no different as they were in the semifinals where they were defeated by Farmingdale. This season the Braves are one of the nine teams playing in the new boys power conference, and have a team that they hope can take the program to a county final and possibly a Long Island Championship. Syosset was part of the LILJ HSWL for the second straight season as they get ready for what they hope is a successful spring season.
No. 20 Ranked South Side Cyclones Team Preview
Coming in at number 20 in the LILJ top 24 preseason rankings are the South Side Cyclones. Playing in Nassau Class C and in the Power Conference, South Side appeared in the playoffs in 2023 where they won two playoff games and took the number one seeded North Shore Vikings to the brink in the semifinals where they were defeated by one goal in triple overtime. After a great playoff run last season, South Side returns nearly their entire team this year and got to hit the ground running to prepare for the season by taking part in the LILJ HSWL.
No. 21 Ranked Smithtown West Bulls Team Preview
As we get to number 21 in the LILJ top 24 preseason rankings, it’s the Smithtown West Bulls of Suffolk Class B. In 2023 they went just 5-10 in the regular season, but still qualified for the playoffs where they were defeated by East Islip in the opening round. This year they have a new head coach in charge of the program as Matt Schultz enters his first season at the helm, and this winter the Bulls played in the HSWL to get ready for the upcoming season.
No. 21 Ranked Mount Sinai Mustangs Team Preview
Landing at number 21 in our top 24 preseason rankings are one of the storied programs on the island the Mount Sinai Mustangs. A program that consistently finds themselves in the playoffs were once again playing deep into May in 2023 after making the playoffs as a six seed and defeating both Westhampton and Sayville each by a goal to get to the county finals where their playoff run came to an end against the eventual state champions from Bayport. The Mustangs are back in 2024 as one of the many teams from Suffolk that make Class C very deep, and they’ll be fighting with a number of teams to try to make it back to the playoffs.
No. 22 Ranked Massapequa Chiefs Team Preview
The Massapequa Chiefs come in at number 22 in the LILJ top 24 preseason rankings. On the South Shore of Nassau County the Chiefs hail from Class A and are one of the nine teams playing in the newly formatted power conference in Nassau boys lacrosse. Last season they were a .500 team in the regular season with an 8-8 record and appeared in the playoffs where they were defeated in the semifinals by Port Washington by the slimmest of margins in what was an 8-7 game. This year Massapequa got the competitive juices going this winter when they played in the LILJ HSWL, and are looking to bring home some hardware this spring.
No. 22 Ranked Comsewogue Warriors Team Preview
At number 22 in the LILJ top 24 preseason rankings are the Comsewogue Warriors of Suffolk Class B. This program led by Head Coach Kasey Mitchell appeared in the playoffs last year where they won a first round matchup against Bellport before being defeated by West Islip in the second round. This year they are a young team after graduating multiple seniors in the class of 2023, but still return eight of their 12 starters. Coach Mitchell expressed that defense will be a focal point this season and that she is looking forward to seeing the progression of her young offensive players.
No. 23 Ranked Longwood Lions Team Preview
At number 23 in the LILJ top 24 preseason rankings in high school boys lacrosse are the Longwood Lions. Last season saw Longwood achieve a lot of things that made 2023 a success, including a 10 win season overall which is the most in the history of the program, and a Suffolk Class A playoff appearance and first round win against Bay Shore which hasn’t happened since 1995. After getting a taste of the playoffs the Lions can now enter this season with the expectations to make the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
No. 23 Ranked Smithtown East Bulls Team Preview
