Photo by Jim Stout/MaxPreps.com
With the growth of the game, there have been plenty of stories of new programs, such as Carmel (shown above during its first-ever varsity game yesterday against visiting Hen Hud, a 17-5 loss for the host Rams), as well as existing programs on the rise.
One of them could be Bethpage.
The Golden Eagles have been more than competitive — hovering around the .500 mark — since going 13-6 in 2005.
Could 2011 be a breakthrough year for Bethpage?
The potential is there. The Golden Eagles are coming off an 8-7 overtime win against Friends Academy that improved their record to 2-0.
Friends is expected to contend for the Nassau Class C title.
Bethpage is in Class B, where two-time state champ Manhasset now resides.
The two teams square off today at Bethpage.
That game headlines today’s slate.
Also of note, West Islip, which has won four state titles the last four years, plays its season opener today against visiting Lindenhurst in what is a busy day in Suffolk.
In the Hudson Valley, six-time Section 1 Class C finalist Rye, which has moved up to Class B, and Class A contender White Plains square off in both teams’ season opener at 4 p.m. at White Plains, and Horace Greeley and Scarsdale open things up at 5 p.m. at Scarsdale.
Before we get to today’s slate, LaxMagazine.com and US Lacrosse Magazine’s Northeast Region Top 10 teams were published late last night. You can check out the rankings, along with the region’s player of the week, game of the week and news and notes, by clicking here.
Now, here’s the rundown of today’s schedule for the nation’s No. 1 lacrosse hotbed, the Hudson Valley/Long Island/Connecticut region:
Rye at White Plains, 4 p.m.
Copiague at Northport, 4 p.m.
Bayshore at Brentwood, 4 p.m.
Sachem East at North Babylon, 4 p.m.
Patchogue-Medford at Ward Melville, 4:15 p.m.
Commack at West Babylon, 4:15 p.m.
Manhasset at Bethpage, 4:30 p.m.
Massapequa at Wantagh, 4:30 p.m.
North Rockland at Byram Hills, 4:30 p.m.
New Rochelle at Clarkstown North, 4:30 p.m.
Half Hollow Hills East at Riverhead at Pulaski Complex, 4:30 p.m.
Lawrence at Elmont, 4:30 p.m.
Locust Valley at Mepham, 4:30 p.m.
Half Hollow Hills West at East Islip, 4:30 p.m.
Pelham at Edgemont, 4:30 p.m.
Eastchester at Tappan Zee, 4:30 p.m.
Longwood at Walt Whitman, 4:45 p.m.
Seaford at Baldwin, 4:45 p.m.
Smithtown East at Connetquot, 5 p.m.
Greeley at Scarsdale, 5 p.m.
William Floyd at Smithtown West, 6 p.m.
Report your scores right here
Be sure, as always, to weigh in with info/thoughts/scores on games you attend. And don’t forget to put those smart phones to good use in providing in-game updates, gang.
Big City Classic, college schedule
The college lax spotlight will be on the metro area on Sunday as the New Meadowlands Stadium serves as the host site once again for the Big City Classic tripleheader. A showdown between Syracuse and defending national champion Duke highlights the slate. For the schedule of games, and the entire D-I slate for this week, click here.
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Posted In: Fairfield lacrosse, fciac, Gameday, Section 1, Section 11, Section 8, Section 9
Suffolk Picks:
Lindenhurst at West Islip- Lindy’s started strong but the Lions won’t lose their opener twice in a row…WI 13-5
Floyd at Smithtown West- West looks to bounce back against a physical Floyd team with some quality players. Closer than expected. West 10-6
Pat-Med at Ward Melville- I think everyone would be surprised if this one was close. WM 15-2
Middle Country at Sachem North- Can 2-0 MC keep it up against the hype machine that is Sachem North. Probably not, but maybe interesting for a while. Sachem North 13-6
Hills West at Connetquot- Hills West nearly beat Baldwin in their opener, but they will still be underdogs here against the powerful offense of EI. EI 14-6
Smithtown East at Connetquot- A matchup of two teams that were better last year and will take time to improve. I’ll go with the home team. Connetquot 6-5.
Longwood at Whitman- This one shouldn’t be close. Whitman 16-4.
Copiague at Northport- Nor should this. Northport 16-3.
Hills East at Riverhead- This will be a bit easier than the Prep game. Hills East 10-4.
Commack at West Babylon- Not knowing much about either team, I will pick Commack to lose on principle. WB 11-6.
Bay Shore at Brentwood- Will get ugly. Bay Shore 18-2.
Sachem East at North Babylon- Could this one be a game? Sachem East 11-4.
Good picks LI Lax. Always like reading your assessment of things over in Suffolk.
Please note that the Rye-White Plains game today is a scrimmage.
Not according to the laxpower schedules. Of course you could always do what the boarding schools do and count it as a win if you win and as a scrimmage if you lose.
Always was set as a scrimmage just like tomorrow’s scrimmage vs. Pac. Dont know why Laxpower shows it as a game. If you count WP as a game would total 17 games, one more then the 16 regular season games allowed. Rye’s 1st regular season game is next Tuesday vs. Jay.
Noted. Looks as if you’re catching Jay at the right time.
Not taking anyone for granted, let alone Jay, even with injuries. They are pretty deep. Rye may not have every kid at 100% by game time but not losing any kids for the season like Jay.
Hope Daniello plays and all the guys from Jay that are hurt come back ASAP, not only for their sakes/team sakes but you want to play the very best players a team has.
Rye and Town are both catching Jay at the right time, wow. Playoffs is where it counts though, and who’s going to be healthy then is anyone’s guess.
went out to catch a bit of the WP Rye “scrimmage”, I’m afraid I didn’t learn much, Rye by like 5 – 0 at the end of 1. I will say it’s a new look Garnet team, not as much size, but clearly ready to play the big boys. I do think they will be missing Cole sooner rather than later. WP has, as usual, a bunch of athletes, but need to work on the stick skils and the overall understanding of the game. The goalie did stop stone a few Garnets, he was definitely the bright spot.
Final: Manhasset 13, Bethpage 5
WI 16, Lindenhurst 2 (the beat goes on!)
East Islip 20, HHH West 7
WM 18, Patch-Med 6
BBBear,
Sorry I missed you at the scrimmage. 2 Rye starters didn’t play but both should be back by the Jay game or sooner (for tomorrow’s Pac scrimmage). Yeah looks like Rye using a few kids at FO at this point. Yes seems like WP may be down this season.
Hope to see you at one of the games.
I’ll be there…need to see the Bears tomorrow take on Sleepy…I’ll be interested in how they do against ‘Pac….
Go Bears!!
TZ 14 Eastchester 6
New Ro 11 Cl North 6
Byram 12 N Rock 1
how is TZ this year? they have been coming on strong in rockland the last two seasons. will it be another strong showing for them?
Greeley 11
Scarsdale 2
Pequa 12 Wantagh 7
Whitman 13 Longwood 8
Connetquot 8 Smithtown East 5
From Reese Stadium –
Salisbury 9 – Darien 7 final
1st qtr Sals 4 – Dar 2
2nd qtr Sals 7 – Dar 3
3rd qtr Sals 9 – Dar 6 (most starters played through the 3rd qtr.)
Some fine display of lacrosse tonight on both sides. Salisbury executed well in 1st half, won most faceoffs, goalie from Landon (#3?) outstanding. Darien throwing it away a bit, not winning 50-50 battles in 1st half, better work in the 3rd quarter, overall a good workout to expose things to focus on before season starts next week.
Great stuff Lax Novice. Sounds like a solid showing for Darien heading into the season opener.
When you consider how Salisbury had smacked us around in these scrimmages the last couple of years, it’s progress for sure. And if it’s rankings you’re worried about, forget it. You could throw a blanket over Darien, Salisbury, Shoreham Wading River and West Islip for all the difference I witnessed this past few days. What matters is getting better and being able to compete with any team on our schedule. So far that looks like it’s happening right on time.
Well said. That’s why we’re #1 in the Northeast!!!
http://laxmagazine.com/high_school/boys/2010-11/news/032911_lacrosse_magazine_northeast_region_report_harvard_bound_duo_impressive_early
Thank you Joe 🙂
Nice job by Set. Nobody moves the ball like them. As always well coached and they bring the effort