They were one of the premier feel-good stories of the 2012 season in the tristate region.
The Mamaroneck High School Tigers edged defending champion Mahopac 9-8 to win the New York Section 1 Class A championship. It was not only the Tigers’ first sectional boys lax title in history, but one of the most unlikely in the history of the tournament.
Mamaroneck, after all, had lost eight straight games during the regular season.
Do the Tigers have a chance to repeat?
Our first look at senior-laden Mamaroneck comes from one of the heroes of last year’s unlikely playoff run, senior goaltender Thomas Brill, who is headed to the University of Tampa.
Now, here are Thomas’ perspectives on the upcoming season.
What have you been doing to get ready for the season?
We’ve been having practices a couple times a week after school, and will soon start weight room and box lacrosse training in the gym.
Mamaroneck has also set up a team at Chelsea Piers Connecticut (in Stamford, Conn.) for a very competitive winter league. We’ve been playing teams like Wilton, Fairfield Prep, Brunswick and Greenwich.
How does your schedule look, what games are you looking forward to most, and who are some of your scrimmages against?
We have a very tough schedule. Our philosophy is the only way to get better is to play extremely good competition. Every year we scrimmage Greenwich and other teams that we think will prep us for the upcoming season.
We look forward to whoever our next opponent is. Although we have high expectations for this season, the next game we play is the most important.
What player or players on your team do you think will surprise some people this season?
I think midfielder Dylan Pailes-Friedman will turn some heads. He is also much improved in the faceoff dot.
As a whole, everyone has improved since last year. Alex Lanni (LSM) and Alex Roth (defense) should also be a force on the defensive end.
What do you think the strength of your team will be this year?
This season, our strength will be our experience and age. We are a team of almost all seniors, and all starters will be returning from last year.
How do you view the race in your league and who do you think some of the contending teams will be?
Section 1 is always loaded with great teams. Mahopac, Lakeland/Panas, Bronxville and others are always going to be tough teams
* LaxLessons.com story on Thomas’ commitment to Tampa
If you’re a player from the NY/NJ/CT region and would like to share your perspectives on the 2012 season, send an email to info@laxlessons.com.
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Posted In: Player's perspective, Section 1
Do your thing Thomas!
This kid really stepped in for Danehy last year and did a great job.
Rare to see a championship team with almost everyone coming back.
Class A looks wide open again.
You gotta say that Mamo is the favorite until proven otherwise. LP and Pac will be right there at the end as well. Arlington might very well be in the mix at the end too. I think that North Rockland, Clarks South and WP are all on the outside looking in at that group. Not sure how close Arlington is to the top three either.
LP is the favorite this year. Lot of sophomores, now juniors, got a lot of pt last year. Prunty, Murphy, Zingaro, Sofronowicz, etc. Their d is mostly untested though. PAC would be next on my list. Hynes is a very good leader. Mamaroneck still did lose like 8 games in a row. I take more out of the Nisky debacle than the wins over Arlington and PAC. We will see. They scrimmage Town early. See if they can keep that close. If so, I may be wrong.
Would give the edge to Mamo based upon the quality of returning seniors inc a good goalie.
JustLaxin–dont think the loss to Nisky was a negative relative to LP or Pac as IMO Nisky would have laid a VERY big hurt on any Class A team. The loss to Nisky should have been a great learning experience for Mamo and a wake up call (if needed) to show Mamo how hard the program has to continue to work if it aspires to reach an elite level.
I saw LP play Town and Shen well. Mamaroneck was not even in same league as Nisky. LP would have played them closer. That same Mamaroneck team lost 8 straight and had losses to NewRo and Eastchester. Just how I see it as of now.
I think last season you’re definitely right in that Nisky would not have beaten LP or Pac by 20 goals as they did Mamo.
But we’ll have to agree to disagree on the following: Last season I don’t think LP or Pac were close to being in the “same league” with Nisky either. I see Nisky winning by 9-10 goals holding LP or Pac to just a few goals–maybe 13-3 or 4.
Nisky (ranked 36 by Laxpower in ’12) only lost to West Islip 9-6!! I was at that game and it was even closer then the score result. They were always known for their D but last season they had a powerful offense as well.
I do like LP to win but imagine if Mamo were to win back to back titles!?!
Because I really dont have a handle over the returning personnel of Pac and LP guess I’ll take back saying Mamo has an “edge” in Class A and just say they’ll be in the mix with PAC and LP on an equal basis.
LP has Brian Prunty, Pac has Hynes as star players. Those teams will be eager to prove Mamaroneck’s run last year was a 1-hit wonder.
Super players for sure. Gonna be a heck of a season!
Class “A” do not sleep on Clarkstown South, Arlington
Class “B” Yorktown in a walk
Class “C” Broxnville easy
Mamo repeats this year. Way understimated until playoffs last year (injuries plagued them throughout regular season) Great goalie, solid D, and a high powered offense. Favorites to win the section