High school lacrosse fans in the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut tristate regions may be the first ones to set their clocks ahead this weekend when Daylight Savings Time starts at 2 a.m. on Sunday.
After all, with some of the big early season matchups set for the opening weeks of the season, who can blame them?
Because Connecticut teams don’t start their seasons until the first week in April and New Jersey squads till very late in March, most of the big “early bird” games are in New York.
Here’s a quick overview of what awaits. Be sure to weigh in with your thoughts and early predictions. And if we left out a game you’re looking forward to, let us know.
* Garden City at Syosset (March 19): The traditional featured lid-lifter for LI lax, this year’s game has even more juice than usual as GC is coming off a state championship and Syosset a trip to the LIC.
* Kellenberg at St. Anthony’s (March 20): St. A’s officially starts its quest for a possible fifth straight CHSAA title.
* Massapequa at Chaminade (March 21): Chaminade is ranked No. 2 nationally in the preseason Under Armour/Inside Lacrosse national power rankings. Massapequa has a strong shot at returning to the Section 8 Class A title game.
* Smithtown West at Syosset (March 22): A battle of two of the nation’s premier programs.
* Rocky Point at Smithtown East (March 22): You will be hearing more and more about Smithtown East as the preseason. This season-opening clash against a solid RP squad should provide an indicator as to how strong SE can be.
* Garden City vs. Loyola-Blakefield (March 23): This is an 11 a.m. game, but it’s a prime-time matchup to start off a busy day of action of the Konica Minolta Face-Off Classic at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. After this one, Colgate faces Navy in Game 1 at 2 p.m., followed by a 4:30 p.m. clash between Virginia and Johns Hopkins..
* Jamesville-Dewitt at Whitesboro (March 23): JD, which was denied what would have been a third straight trip to the Class B state final last year, plays its opener.
* Ward Melville at Riverhead (March 25): WM, which is considered a strong challenger to West Islip in Section 11 Class A, gets its season started.
* West Islip at Connetquot (March 25): WI plays its first game since going 21-1 and beating Ithaca 12-7 in last year’s Class A state title game.
* Ithaca at Vestal (March 27): State finalist Ithaca opens its season after finishing 18-2 last year.
* Columbine vs. Yorktown at West Point (March 27): The first of back-to-back battles vs. New York state powers for the visitors from Colorado starts with this 11 a.m. game.
* Columbine at John Jay (March 28): Columbine is back at it in this 6 p.m. game at JJHS.
* Yorktown at John Jay (March 30): The unofficial “game of the year” in the Section 1 regular season, this 7 p.m. showdown also a rematch of last year’s classic overtime sectional final, won by Yorktown. This is the second game of a doubleheader, with the John Jay and Yorktown girls teams playing at 5 p.m.
* Chaminade at West Islip (March 30): This high noon clash features two of the premier programs in the nation.
* La Salle at Garden City (March 30): This huge day for colossal clashes features the Pennsylvania power visiting the Trojans in a game between two teams ranked in the preseason Top 10 nationally.
In girls games of note in addition to Yorktown-John Jay, St. Anthony’s hosts Farmingdale in a March 23 mega matchup. Defending Class C state champ Shoreham-Wading River gets things started March 25 at Kings Point. Northport hosts Sachem North on March 27.
Our latest poll question asks which March matchup you’re looking forward to the most. To vote, go to the right panel of this page. Then, scroll past the “New Comments” and “Popular” tabs and click on “Poll.” You will then see the poll questions and can cast your vote from the multiples choices, or, write in your choice if it’s not one of the choices.
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Posted In: CHSAA lacrosse, Gameday, Long Island lacrosse, Section 1, Section 11, Section 2, Section 8, Section 9
South Side v. Cold Spring Harbor should be a great test for both teams in an out-of conference match up.
Definitely another one to watch. It will be Wednesday, March 20 at 4:30 p.m. at South Side (Skelos Field).
I got Town over Jay in the boys game and the girls game. Huskers sweep.
Town 10, JJ 6
Yorktown – 16
JJ- 7
Town has way too much fire power for JJ to contain.
A very sportsmanlike prediction murphys1044. Jay and Town played twice last year, 8-6 and 9-8 victories by Town. Jay has an excellent D and is stronger on O than last year. Town brings back a lot as well and will have fire power. Not sure about a 16-7 victory though, although I guess anything is possible. It’s my duty so here: Jay 10 Yorktown 8 . I would have had Jay winning in O.T. but you favored Town by 9.
I don’t think murphys1044 is actually a Yorktown fan despite his handle. We in Town all know the John Jay game will be a battle as always. May the best team win on March 30th.
Just a shame that it again is at the start of the season. IMHO, this game deserves to be in late April or May, not in March.
Yeah as both teams will be reacing toward their stride later in the season.
Lambert will make some big plays to keep it close. Yorktown has more depth and experience in goal.
Town 10, Johm Jay 6
Ytown 11, JJ 5
JJ 8, Ytown 7
Think I’m gonna head out to West Islip Chaminade game at noon and make it back to Westchester for Yorktown at John Jay at 7.
Town is favored but JJ has some depth this year at Midfield and Defense… New Middie in Bowen Clymer should be starting at Middie or 2nd line, should be a great game!!