Many wondered how the loss of such defensive standouts as Stephen Jahelka and Brian Fischer would affect Garden City.
Well, defense was anything but a question in the Trojans’ 13-8 season-opening win over visiting Syosset yesterday.
That’s because GC was too busy putting on what was quite an impressive offensive display.
Led by Liam Kennedy’s three first-quarter goals, GC scored five times in the first period, and slowly pulled away to build a 13-4 fourth-quarter lead. Kennedy finished the game with six goals and one assist. Patric Berkery had two goals and three assists and Justin Guterding two goals and two assists.
Next up for GC – a showdown vs. Ward Melville on Saturday.
Speaking of which, be sure to check out our new poll question.
To vote, go to the right panel of the page. Then, scroll past the “New Comments” and “Popular” tabs and click on “Poll.” Then cast your vote from the multiples choices, or, write in your choice
In other action yesterday, Holy Trinity held off Farmingdale 8-7, Long Beach downed Baldwin 10-6, Col Spring Harbor pulled away from South Side 11-2, Lynbrook handled Oceanside 7-2, Bethpage beat MacArthur 10-5, Plainedge won at Kellenberg 8-6, Bayport-Blue Point beat Sachem East 14-7, Plainview JFK won at Jerich 8-6, Friends down Floral Park 10-2, Port Washington outlasted Locust Valley 12-11 and Eastport-South Manor beat Connetquot 10-7.
Among action today on Long Island, Chaminade and Massaepua will battle it out, Garden City returns to action at Carey, Harborfields hosts Longwood and Riverhead plays at East Hampton.
In preseason action, heading to the Hudson Valley, Yorktown hosts Don Bosco (N.J.) at 3:30 p.m, Kennedy Catholic unveils its new turf field in a 4:30 p.m. scrimmage against Briarcliff and Clarkstown South hosts Valley Central for a 5:15 p.m. scrimmage.
In case you missed it, as we reported here yesterday, the schedule for Saturday’s four-team, preseason Darien Jamboree has been finalized. Participating teams are West Islip, Shoreham-Wading River, Fairfield Prep and the host Blue Wave. You can check out the schedule here.
Don’t forget to check in with updates from the field with your mobile devices. You can post them directly as comments on this thread or, if it’s easier, email them to us at info@laxlessons.com.
The amount of score updates we’ve received here since our launch just three years ago has been truly remarkable. Keep ’em coming, folks.
Finally, a quick programming note.
If you’re in the Hudson Valley/Connecticut region, be sure to tune in tonight at 7 p.m. for MSG Varsity’s “High School SportsDesk” on Channel 14 (Optimum). Joe will be joining Shawna Ryan for separate segments previewing the best teams and players in the Hudson Valley as well as Connecticut.
Since Long Island regular-season action is off and running, scroll down for links to MSG Varsity’s three-part Long Island preview specials that aired last past week on “High School SportsDesk.” (Previews for other tristate regions will be broadcast the new two weeks.)
Today’s schedule
* Section 8 (Nassau County) boys, girls (click on “Game schedule” tab and use the pull-down menu)
* Section 11 (Suffolk County) boys, girls (click on “Schedule” tab and use the pull-down menu)
Put those cell phones to good use
Be sure, as always, to weigh in with info/thoughts/scores on games you attend by posting comments here. And don’t forget to put those mobile devices to good use in providing in-game updates.
Weather Forecast
Click here for today’s weather and a look at the three days ahead.
LAXLESSONS Links
MSG Varsity coverage (iO Channel 14, iO On-Demand Channel 614, msgvarsity.com)
LAXLESSONS Links
MSG Varsity coverage (iO Channel 14, iO On-Demand Channel 614, msgvarsity.com)
Player’s perspective archive
* You can check out the more than 100 stories by clicking here.
Schedules galore
* For a look at how schedules for teams from throughout the region for the 2012 season are shaping up, be sure to check out the “Schedules scanner” thread.
Recruiting coverage
* Updated recruiting review and commitment rundown (for classes of 2012, ’13 and ’14)
* 2011 NLI Fall Early Signing Period commitment rundown
* Class of 2011 commitment rundown
* For a list of committed players with their profiles up, click here.
* To get your profile up, click here.
Connect with us
* Follow LaxLessons on Twitter by clicking here.
* Become a Fan of LaxLessons on Facebook now by clicking here.
Get in the game
Cast your vote in our latest poll
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.
Lacrosse for Dummies
Order a copy of the 330-page new edition of the book by Joe Lombardi here.
Posted In: CHSAA lacrosse, fciac, Gameday, SCC lacrosse, Section 1, Section 11, Section 8, Section 9, SWC lacrosse
Massapequa has a 6-4 lead on Chaminade in the third quarter.
6-5 after 3
Wow. Potential upset in the making. Any update LI Lax?
If you’re in the Hudson Valley/Connecticut region, be sure to tune in tonight at 7 p.m. for MSG Varsity’s “High School SportsDesk” on Channel 14 (Optimum). Joe will be joining Shawna Ryan for separate segments previewing the best teams and players in the Hudson Valley as well as Connecticut. The show reairs tonight at 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., and then will be available on On-Demand Channel 614 and msgvarsity.com.
In case you missed it, you can catch the previews here:
Hudson Valley:
http://www.msgvarsity.com/hudson-valley/hudson-valley-boys-lax-preview-3-21-12-1.994640
Connecticut:
http://www.msgvarsity.com/connecticut/connecticut-boys-lacrosse-preview-1.994791
9-9, headed to OT
Flyers win, 10-9.
Here’s one man’s opinion of how the Darien Blue Wave shape up for 2012 –
Overall the Wave are poised for yet another successful season, already the sole CIAC team listed in IL’s Top 25 (#21) and ESPNs HS preseason poll (#10). They boast the usual roster of college commits, including senior Case Matheis, the NY Metro area’s POY for 2011 as named by MSG Varsity. Assuming a full recovery from the meniscus surgery to the familiar quickness and dodging ability that allows the rest of his game to flourish, Matheis will be leading an offense along with senior lefty attack Tim Murphy that will be even more potent than in recent years. With the graduation of four long poles and the starting goalie from 2011, the “reload not rebuild” will be more prominent on the defensive side of the field. Senior Tony Britton will lead this revamped group, which will include seniors LSM Corey Eppley and close D Tommy Lyons and likely starting in goal soph Phil Huffard. Overall I expect that the offense will carry more of the load early on while the D settles in over the course of the regular season to jell well in advance of the postseason. One underrated aspect of the defense in my view will be that any of the three first line midfielders, Henry West, Bob Weaver and Jon Magnusson have the size and athleticism to play SSDM when called upon after a change of possession, which will aid the transition and settled defense a great deal. The usual depth associated with the Wave will be more prominent than last year, with lots of juniors and sophomores in more regular roles.
The schedule highlights many of the area’s most prominent HS teams, with these dates noteworthy in particular –
Today 3/22, 1st scrimmage at DHS v. John Jay NY, 4:15pm
Saturday 3/24, 1st Darien Jamboree with Fairfield Prep, West Islip, Shoreham-Wading River, starts @ 9am
Weds. 3/28, scrimmage vs Salisbury School, at Yale’s Reese Stadium, 7pm
Weds. 4/4, 1st game vs Ludlowe, 4:30pm
Thurs. 4/12, At Wilton, 6pm
Sat. 4/14, vs Torrey Pines CA, 12 noon. A fundraiser for the benefit of the Wounded Warrior Fdn, vs California’s #1 team.
Tues, 4/17, vs New Canaan, 4:30pm
Thurs 4/19, vs Manhasset NY, 6pm at Boyle Stadium, Stamford HS.
Tues. 4/24, At Yorktown NY, 7pm
Thurs 5/3, vs Greenwich, 4:30pm
Sat 5/5, vs St. Anthony NY, 2pm
As always the goal for this team is the Class M State Championship and the FCIACs. Darien has not won both in the same season since 2008, which was also the last time they beat Manhasset (on the road). Lofty goals, yet reachable with hard work, top coaches and a favorable bounce or two along the way. Best of luck and wishes for good health in 2012.
Tough schedule.
Yorktown is quite strong this season. Right now I’d favor D by a small margin. Should be a real good game.
Is Ridgefield on the Blue Wave calendar this year? If so I see that as a noteworthy game. Tigers and NC are the pre-season challengers to wrest the FCIAC title from the hands of Brameier. Staples, Wilton, Greenwich, McMahon as the next tier
In Ridgefield that’s a noteworthy game. In Darien that game would be in the group along with Staples, McMahon and other FCIAC opponents. What I’ve listed is not a ranking of who might be the “best” in our league. It’s a listing of the notable games from my point of view, which always includes the out of conference opponents plus NC, Wilton and Greenwich. The Ludlowe game is listed because it’s the regular season opener. If Darien gets to play Ridgefield in the FCIAC playoffs, then that will obviously be notable.
Perhaps you should refer to Joe’s listing of the Top 5 teams in Connecticut going into the 2012 season. You won’t find Ridgefield on that list either. Take that up with him if you like.
Too bad the Ridgefield vs Darien game won’t feature a matchup of defending CT State Champs….that would have been cool…
Not really, especially if you’re going to give up 17 goals in 48 minutes. Stick to Class L and Section 1 teams and enjoy some success.
With prep schools in CT, tough to crack that Top 5. If you were doing Top 5 FCIAC, Ridgefield would be at or near Top 5.