A tumultuous week of upsets has resulted in some cataclysmic changes in our brand, spanking new LaxLessons.com Top 25 regional rankings.
Not the least of which comes at the No. 1 spot.
After all, since our preseason rankings, one team West Islip has held the top spot. But no more. After an upset loss to Ward Melville, the Lions have lost the No. 1 spot.
So … who’s the new No. 1?
Read on.
New York State Sportswriters Association rankings
1. Manhasset: Indians are a confident team that’ clicking in all key areas heading into the postseason. (Last week: No. 3)
2. Yorktown: After a 9-8 win over Chaminade in a clash of nationally ranked Titans, the ‘Huskers hope to beat rival John Jay for the second straight year. (Last week: No. 4)
3. West Islip: Could the Lions’ 8-7 OT loss to Ward Melville help them refocus for playoffs? Stay tuned. (Last week: No. 1)
4. St. Anthonys: Princeton-bound Thomas Schreiber, perhaps the best shooting midfielder in the state, had seven goals in a 12-4 win over New Canaan. (Last week: No. 6)
5. Ridgefield: Tigers are a bit banged up heading into Thursday’s 6:30 p.m. mega matchup against four-time state champ Darien at Tiger Hollow Stadium. (Last week: No. 5)
6. Chaminade: It was a rough week for the Flyers. After a surprisingly close 5-3 win over St. John the Baptist, they lost back-to-back games to rivals St. Anthony’s and Yorktown. (Last week: No. 2)
7. Ward Melville: Having secured wins over both the No. 2 and 3 ranked teams in the region, the Patriots take a quantum leap this week. (Last week: No. 14)
8. Garden City: After an 8-2 loss to Manhasset, Trojans have outscored their next three opponents 33-13. (Last week: No. 7 )
9. Lynbrook: Perhaps the most overlooked powerhouse team in the region has won seven straight since suffering its only loss, 5-4 to Garden City.Last week: No. 8 )
10. Brunswick: Lost showdown to Lawrenceville but still as well-rounded a team as you’ll find. (Last week: No. 10)
11. Darien: Young team has made great strides the last two weeks. Now, most are expecting a down-to-the-wire game Thursday at Ridgefield. (Last week: No. 15)
12. Shoreham-Wading River: The Wildcats have suffered back-to-back 9-8 losses (to Sayville and Kings Park). (Last week: No. 9)
13. Cold Spring Harbor: Christian Kennedy had four goals and one assist in an 11-7 win over North Shore. (Last week: No. 11)
14. Comsewogue:.Big 9-8 win over Smithtown West last week. (Last week: No. 13)
15. Greenwich: Cardinals overtaken by Darien in key contest last week. (Last week: No. 17)
16. Rocky Point: Outscored 4-0 in fourth quarter of 8-4 loss to Sayville. (Last week: No. 12)
17. Farmingdale: Mike Ferrigno had three goals in an 11-10 win at Baldwin. (Last week: No. 23)
18. Somers: Tuskers’ Eddie Schurr starred on defense paired against all-American Jack Doherty of Lakeland/Panas in an overtime win last week. (Last week: No. 20)
19. Fairfield Prep: Coming off tough loss to Bergen Catholic. (Last week: No. 18)
21. Baldwin: Max Malinowski and Ty Harper each had four goals in a 17-4 win at Valley Stream Central. (Last week: No. 19)
22. Lakeland/Panas: Rebels looking to bounce back after tough losses to Yorktown and Somers. (Last week: No. 16)
23. John Jay: Senior Geoff Stearns anchored a defense that came up big against Duke-bound EddieLucas and Syosset. (Last week: Not ranked)
24. Whitman: In midst of eight-game win streak. (Last week: Not ranked)
25. Sayville: Debuts here after 8-4 win over 2008 Class B finalist Rocky Point and 9-8 win over Shoreham-Wading River. (Last week: Not ranked)
Dropped out: Putnam Valley, Hicksville, Smithtown East, Glenn
BY REGION – Top 5
WESTCHESTER/ROCKLAND/PUTNAM/DUTCHESS
1. Yorktown, 2. Somers, 3. Lakeland/Panas, 4. John Jay, 5. Rye
NASSAU
1. Manhasset, 2. Chaminade, 3. Garden City, 4. Lynbrook, 5. Cold Spring Harbor
SUFFOLK
1. West Islip, 2. St. Anthonys, 3. Ward Melville, 4. Shoreham-Wading River, 5. Comsewogue
FAIRFIELD
1. Ridgefield, 2. Brunswick, 3. Darien, 4. Greenwich, 5. Fairfield Prep
Be sure to weigh in with your comments.
You can also reach Joe Lombardi at joe@laxlessons.com.
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Posted In: General
I don’t know about the rest of you, but I think the Class B Section 11 tournament is going to be absolute insanity. Any one of Comsewogue, Shoreham, Rocky Point or Sayville can win it. Plus theres Smithtown West.
Get your popcorn ready.
Manhasset deserves the top spot but just out of curiousity how many people would pick them to beat St. A’s, Yorktown, Chaminade or even Ridgefield head to head?
Well Set barely beat Darien and lost to Wogue. The rest of their schedule is weak compared to Nade and St. A’s. Guess we’ll have a better idea after today.
LIGuy – I would take ‘Town, St. A’s and Ridgefield over Manhasset. But I think Joe and you are right – based on their body of work, the Indians deserve the top spot. And it’s clear that they are a very talented team…I think all three hypothetical matchups would be very close.
Joe – I like R’field, Darien and Brunswick as the 1-2-3 in Fairfield. But where’s the love for Wilton? The Warriors torched Greenwich (they admittedly ran away with it late, but still…), routed Greeley and clipped New Canaan. Their losses are to the top two teams in the state. Seems more like an oversight than an intentional snub.
Oh please Wilton had one good game al season. Saw them vs Ridgefield they looked like a JV team.
Good call Joe and staff including Whitman and Sayville You coulf argue Sayville may even deserve to be a bit higher with wins over RP and SWR.
The ONLY Wilton game I’ve seen was the Ridgefield blowout. But based on body of work (wins over G’wich and NC, close loss to Darien), there’s no alternative in the 4 spot. And anecdotal evidence suggests that they’re really improving…besides McMahon, Fuller and LaSala, their top players are all sophomores.
CT lacrosse as a whole is down this year, and it’s tough to justify placing Greenwich – who can’t score – or Prep – who’s played like garbage all season – over a 9-2 team who’s beaten one of them. That’s all I’m saying. We’ll certainly find out more when the Warriors square off against St. A’s and Yorktown later in the month.
Oh please Greenwich had 4 starters out vs. Wilton or else they wouldve won easily.
Ha, OK. Let’s move Ridgefield to #1 because Morrissey and Mirra’s injuries likely cost them the L’ville game. Pop Darien up because they’ve lost their top attackman and a starting middie. Brunswick lost Virtue prior to THEIR loss to Lawrenceville; should we ignore that too?
Greenwich has demonstrated a remarkable inability to score thus far. The Horowitz loss is tough, yes, but great teams bounce back. The “what if” injury game is the last refuge of the loser.
If Manhasset beats Cham then they deserve the nod as #1
James makes excellent points about Wilton. It was very close this week between the Warriors and Cardinals. Next week they could very well sneak ahead of them.
The same 4 Greenwich starters were out against Darien, guess they would have smoked them as well
Any of them back in time for FCIACs?
The argument that Greenwich should be ahead because they have 4 starters out holds no water. While unfortunate, injuries are part of the game and nobody that has seen several GW and Wilton games can say GW is better. The good news for the FCIAC is all the good underclassmen at NC, GW and Wilton. Will be interesting to see if RF can sustain like Darien.
Joe,
I know you’ve put them up before but I can’t find the dates for the section 1 playoffs. Do you think you could give them to me?
Great job on this weeks rankings as always, Joe. I think you did the right thing by Ward Melville. Teams that actually go out and beat top teams, (especially on the road more than halfway through the season) are very deserving. The goal should be to be playing your best lacrosse at the end of the year, the regular season is the road to discovery.
I’m not certain if New Fairfield, Conn. is considered to be located in this region, but they are the last unbeaten team in Connecticut, including a 13-7 victory over Rye earlier this year. They could well run the table, although Darien, Wilton and others lie ahead in CT Class M. Have any thoughts on New Fairfield?
Lax Novice –
Very good point about New Fairfield, a team that has been dominant the last few years. I think we should consider stretching our border a bit and including the Rebels in the rankings. I will convene a staff meeting to discuss.
Curious –
Here you go:
The Section 1 seedings meeting is a week from today.
Sectional playoffs
Opening round: May 21 (at higher seeds)
Quarterfinals: May 27 (at higher seeds)
Semifinals: May 29 (at higher seeds)
Finals: June 4 (at White Plains High School The order of game is: Class C, followed by Class A, then Class B)
State playoffs
Quarterfinals: June 9 (at Albany and Hofstra)
Semifinals: June 11 (at Middletown High School)
Finals: June 13: (at Paetec Park in Rochester)
I coached against New Fairfield this year. It was the first game of the season. They lost a ton of talent. But they are a well coached team. Fiamengo is a very talented at attack as is Nicky Constible in the cage.
new fairfield has great all round player in fiawanga going to tufts. fast ,tough and a point machine
Yeah Fiamengo stood out in the Rye game. Certainly a very good player but on face-offs wasn’t really tested as McCormack of Rye was out that game.
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the CROP is getting ready for the best performance of the season on friday…
lookin for some solid airtime on MSG; it’s gonna basically be a home game
Fanagan, i dont know who you are, but i like where your head is at
would 1 manhasset loss put ytown on top?…to be honest we just want to be in Paetec Park in June celebrating
CROP, you’d be surprised by my true identity…
Men of the Year:
Joe Lombardi & Syracuse
Honorable Mention:
THE CROP & John FANagan
Question Joe, Cuse? How can Rocky Point be below WM in top 25 yet on the Suffolk list top 5 instead of WM?
Old Rugger,
Most likely that was an honest oversight. We’ll fix it.
Joe, I’ll send the coffee over for the staff meeting, no problem. Just let me know which booth at the diner you’ll be in!
Thanks very much joe
i love matt deiana