All righty, gang. First off, it’s good to be back with you folks. Fortunately, we weren’t apart for long, but I definitely missed you all nevertheless.

We will be bringing you up to date daily — throughout the day — with the latest news and developments in the lax world — college, high school, youth — as well as the latest recruiting updates.

When it comes to high schools, we will of course be focusing on Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess. And now, Fairfield, Nassau and Suffolk as well.

It’s a big area with many schools, but as we all know, when it comes to varsity lax, it’s really one community.

The word “community” often comes up when you talk about lax. Anyone involved in the game knows why. After all, I can honestly say there is no sport that has the community feel to it like lacrosse does.

I’ve enjoyed being part of that community. And now, I’m looking forward to contributing to a pretty cool site that has just added new, exciting and useful content for everyone involved in the game — players, fans and coaches.

So now, let’s get it started. Today, we will be taking a look at preseason varsity players to watch in Westchester, Putnam, Rockland and Dutchess.

Next, we will check out Nassau and Suffolk before wrapping things up with Fairfield.

Be sure to weigh in with your thoughts on those selected — and those who you think should have been.

Westchester/Putnam/Rockland/Dutchess

• Michael Bonitatibus, Yorktown: Where have all the years gone? After becoming the first freshman to start in goal for the ‘Huskers since John Martino 1967 in 2006, the Loyola-bound Bonitatibus is now a senior.

• John Brandofino, Mahopac: The three-year varsity standout is one of the area’s most potent scorers.

• Connor Brown, Fordham Prep: A versatile player, the Colgate-bound Brown is one of the area’s top athletes on the lax field.

• Jack Doherty, Lakeland/Panas: The Binghamton-bound lefty attackman was an all-America selection last year.

• John Felix, Scarsdale: The Marist-bound Felix has emerged as one of the top all-around players in the area.

• John Fennessy, Yorktown: Routinely assigned to defend the opposing team’s top offensive threat, the physical hard-hitter came through time and again, including Yorktown’s regular-season win over John Jay that snapped a three-game losing streak against the Indians.

• Ethan Fox, Yorktown: A veteran ‘Husker, the Marist-bound Fox brings experience, savvy and poise to the area’s top defensive unit.

• J.P. Garry, Rye Country Day: The attackman/midfielder is a well-rounded skilled player who should excel at the next level at Dartmouth.

• Myles Gillespie, Iona Prep: The attackman, who had 75 goals and 110 points last season, helped the Gaels enjoy a groundbreaking 22-4 season in which they picked up wins against traditional Section 1 powers Lakeland/Panas and Somers.

• Gus Guido, Iona Prep: One of four Gaels in this spring’s senior class bound for Division I schools, the Yonkers resident is headed to Hartford.

• Luke Haggerty, Clarkstown South: A member of the Hudson Valley ESG team, Haggerty is an experienced and at times exceptional stopper.

• Kevin Interlicchio, Yorktown: A poised and polished lefty, Interlicchio has been an impact player for the ’Huskers since the first game of his varsity career as a freshman in 2007. After a strong showing at the summer showcase run by Yorktown grads Paul Carcaterra and Joe Ceglia at Western Connecticut State last summer, the junior attackman became a target recruit of many of the nation’s top programs before settling on Hopkins, where he will join best friend, teammate and next-door neighbor Ranagan.

• Donald Keough, Rye: A polished presence on defense, Keough is an athletic and aggressive presence at all times he is near the ball.

• Joe Marasco, Somers: Combine tremendous stick skills, a booming left-handed cannon with great speed and strength, and what do you get? The No. 8-ranked senior in the nation by Inside Lacrosse. The Syracuse-bound Marasco, an all-American who originally committed to Ohio State, may also be the area’s most exciting player to watch.

• Cole McCormack, Rye: There is no glitz or glamour to McCormack’s game — and that may be the best part about it. He’s a ground-ball machine who may be the premier faceoff man in the region.

• Chris Moffa, Fordham Prep: A strong stopper, Moffa also adds experience and resiliency.

• Patrick O’Callaghan, Rye: A three-sport standout for the Garnets, the Middlebury-bound O’Callaghan is a versatile midfielder.

• Michael O’Hagan, Iona Prep: The athletic midfielder was a big recruit for first-year Marist coach and Yorktown native Scott Nelson.

• Tyler Perrelle, Mahopac: A three-sport standout who also excelled in football and hockey, Perrelle is preparing for the final season of a standout varsity career. The attackman, who has strong stick skills, is bound for Binghamton.

• Erik Pfiffner, Somers: A rangy, athletic midfielder with prototypical Division I size, the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Pfiffner, a junior who has committed to Colgate, should have a huge season if he can avoid the nagging injuries that have hampered him in the past, including a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason that he has now fully recovered from.

• Jameson Pickel, John Jay: After being moved to defense from midfield, Pickel not only earned a starting spot, but wound up drawing interest from and eventually committing to Johns Hopkins as one of the Blue Jays’ junior recruits. He is a fundamentally sound player adept at scooping up ground balls, similar to the only other player in school history to play for the Blue Jays: 2005 graduate Matt Bocklet.

• John Ranagan, Yorktown: The Hopkins-bound midfielder’s style of play may best resemble a bull in a China shop. There is simply no other player in the area who is equipped with his size, stamina and reckless abandon. He is ranked 25th nationally among seniors by Inside Lacrosse.

• Rob Santangelo, Rye: With a hard-nosed and aggressive style of play, Santangelo’s style of play is reminiscent more of a midfielder or defenseman more than an attackman.

• Scott Sorillo, Suffern: This senior standout is one of the area’s top takeaway defenders.

• Will Stewart, John Jay: The senior, who was a member of the Empire State Games this season, will lead the Indians’ offense. He will attend Williams.

• Nick Trizano, Iona Prep: The attackman, who is bound for Drexel, hopes to cap a prolific varsity career by helping the Gaels return to the CHSAA metro championship. Individually, he has a chance to lead the nation (yes, nation) in scoring for back-to-back seasons.

• Shane Warner, North Rockland: The Binghamton-bound attackman is an outstanding all-around player.

• Ask about our recruiting consultation program. Get more info by clicking here.

• Join the LaxLessons.com group on Facebook by clicking this link.

Be sure to post your comments.

You can also reach Joe Lombardi at joe@laxlessons.com.

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27 Responses to “Preseason players to watch: Westchester/Putnam/Rockland/Dutchess”

  1. Valley Lax says:

    Great analysis Joe. No one does it better. Great to have you back. You’re the best!

  2. Section 1 Fan says:

    Joe great JOB! So glad that you’re back and still covering lax! Great site and great writeup looking forward to some more stellar reporting!

  3. slacrosse says:

    Joe,

    Welcome back. Great commnets and best of luck in your new endeavor!!

  4. Joe Lombardi says:

    Hey everyone –

    It’s great to be back and thanks for the nice comments.

    slacrosse – Thought you might have a comment or two about the Garnet selections?

    Town Lax – Considering Ytown has two of the top offensive players in the nation in the Hopkins-bound tandem of John Ranagan and Kevin Interlicchio, you might be surprised to hear me say this. But Ytown’s strength will be its defense.

    Think about it. You have four Division I-bound players in goalie Michael Bonitatibus (Loyola) and defensemen John Fennessy (Towson), Ethan Fox (Marist) and Brendan Brunelle (Marist).

    Fennessy may be the best defenseman in the section. What do you folks think and who do you think are some others at his level?

  5. lax man says:

    joe,
    who do you think is the top overall player this year in rockland?

  6. jlombardi says:

    lax man –

    Some might argue in order to be the best overall player you have to play one of the field positions. For those who subscribe to the theory, I think it has to be Shane Warner of North Rockland.

    However, you could make a strong case for Clarkstown South’s Luke Haggerty. I have been impressed not only by his skills but how he has improved his game each season. To me, that’s one of the most important criteria in being a premier player.

    What do you folks think?

  7. GreenWhite says:

    Fennessy is a beastttt

  8. Dee-up says:

    Hey- Joe glad I have a link to your new spot here. Under a new name on here, and got nervous when i first saw you gone. Joe ? for you, in the blogs people often say the same names when asked top players in section 1. The same names are repeated , and yes i know, rightfully so. So my ? is who are the second level players that will fall into the next tier of quality players. The top 12 we all heard already.
    When our games start i go back and fourth to maxpreps to see who can hurt us … Some some SECOND level names of guys make it easier. Who’s next ?
    Nice new Picture there Joe, shakes still on the table

  9. Reno says:

    Joe, I see you’re still neglecting Byram Hills even though they began to prove themselves last year. How about you look into that team a little more before you are scrambling to gather information on them the night before the section finals.

  10. LAX says:

    Reno how about you name some kids from Byram Hills instead of demanding Joe to?

  11. biggie lax says:

    Who cares about Byram Hills, they will lose to Rye by at least 10 goals this year!

  12. Groundchuck says:

    Hey Joe its Groundchuck reporting in. Good luck with the new site it looks great!

    -GC

  13. lLax44 says:

    Joe
    Good Luck . Kids are happy you are still around.

  14. GreenWhite says:

    Yeah definately Joe u da man!!!

  15. Valley Lax says:

    Hey I just found your guys LaxLessons.com facebook group and joined.

    I did a random LaxLessons.com under search and there it was. Good to be with you guys there as well as here.

  16. laptop says:

    Joe dont forget about short stick defensive middie Cody Hanlon for Yorktown going to Marist.

  17. LoveTownLax says:

    Hey Joe,

    Congratulations – LTL wishes you much success! When will you be visiting Charlie Murphy Field?

  18. PopLax says:

    Joe,

    What scrimmages will you be attending, and what do you think is worth going to to get a grip on who’s who?

  19. hud lax says:

    Danny Levanthal, Greeley. Big and fast. Had a 4 goal game vs Rye and 5 vs Put Valley last year. The D TRAIN will roll this year

  20. LoveTownLax says:

    Thanks, Joe, glad to be here, it’s finally lax season! Same rules apply at LaxLessons that do at LttM? – like try to keep it positive and to “just say no” to using the word “flat” to excuse a team’s poor performance? :o)

  21. BigFan says:

    Fennessy is a great defenseman, but the best defenseman in the section is Rye’s Donald Keough.

  22. daslax says:

    hey joe,
    how bout mentioning some more somers kids, we all know about jojo. It looks to me as though your only writing about the kids who pretty much know there top colleges or are already signed. What about the others who havent signed or has talked about where there going. What about Greg Petre, possibly Matt Diena (if he doesnt play football) or Dylan Hass who even though not playing lax in college will still be a major influence. Or even Rob lombardo.

  23. Wasabi says:

    Hey Joe-
    I like the new blog. But I don’t see Will Stewart’s name on your players to watch list. I think most people on here, even Jay haters, would agree Stewart belongs on Section One’s first midline with his all-around game and cannon shot. Oversight?

  24. Wasabi says:

    Yup, there it is. I could’ve sworn this morning that his name wasn’t there. Granted that was before my morning cup-a-jo. I love the extended coverage btw. I can see this blog really blowing up now that it reaches out to LI and Fairfield County. Good work

  25. Joe Lombardi says:

    Thank you sir. Appreciate the support. The response we have received so far in our “new territory” so to speak has been frankly overwhelming.

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