Boys Lacrosse Playoff Update: The Boys Class A final between No. 1 Smithtown West and No. 2 Ward Melville has been postponed until Thursday, May 30 at 3 p.m. The game will take place at Sachem North.

The 2019 Section XI boys lacrosse playoff brackets are officially available.

CLICK for brackets!

CLICK for tickets!

Photo of the Week from John Dielman … this good boy loves lacrosse!

The Shoreham Wading River Lacrosse programs will be hosting it’s 12th annual “Lax Out Cancer,” at Shoreham Wading River High School located at 250 NY-25A, Shoreham, NY 11786.

“Lax Out Cancer” is our annual High School Lacrosse fundraising game which recognizes local children who are battling cancer and raises money to help them fight. “Lax Out Cancer” began in 2008 when the Shoreham Wading River lacrosse community raised money for a family of a local child battling cancer.

This fundraiser has become an annual event. It has attracted more attention, volunteers, and contributors. Last year’s Lax out Cancer event raised over $50,000 and helped four families with children whose lives have been devastated by this terrible disease.

CLICK to learn more!

The U.S. Men’s Lacrosse team beat Canada to capture a gold medal at the FIL World Championships.

Suffolk County was strongly represented on the world stage.

Players Rob Pannell (Smithtown), Kevin Unterstein (Shoreham-Wading River) and Jack Kelly (West Islip) and coach Joe Amplo (Sachem) were in Netanya, Israel to reach the pinnacle of their sport.

Suffolk County was well-represented in the 13th annual Under Armour All-America Lacrosse Games the weekend of June 30 at Johns Hopkins University’s Homewood Field.

The Top 44 senior boys and girls were selected by a committee made up of the nation’s most knowledgeable figures in high school lacrosse. Seniors in good academic standing are considered for participation. The players will compete in separate boys’ and girls’ North vs. South All-Star Games during the event.

The 2018 Under Armour All-America rosters are selected by INSIDE LACROSSE and the selection committee.

Girls Selections

• Shannon Berry, Ward Melville, Princeton
• Emerson Cabrera, Northport, Florida
• Meaghan Scutaro, Mt. Sinai, Notre Dame
• Meaghan Tyrrell, Mt. Sinai, Syracuse
• Cassidy Weeks, Bayport Blue-Point, Boston College
• Courtney Weeks, Bayport-Blue Point, Boston College

Boys Selections

• Michael Gomez, Half Hollow Hills East, Johns Hopkins
• Alex Mazzone, Ward Melville, Georgetown
• George Wichelns, Connectquot, Maryland

Ray Enners and James Metzger will forever be linked to Half Hollow Hills sports lore. Both are Suffolk Sports Hall of Famers and now both have their lacrosse jersey numbers retired.

The numbers, the first to be retired in Hills history, were retired at the end-of-season Hills lacrosse awards dinner. Enners wore No. 26 and Metzger wore No. 21.

“I feel having my number retired, for which was an unprecedented honor at Hills, with Ray Enners is probably the greatest moment in my athletic career,” said Metzger.

Nicknamed “The Machine” by teammates, Lt. Ray Enners attended the United States Military Academy at West Point after graduating from Hills. He died valiantly on the battlefield in Vietnam in 1968 saving another member of his platoon who also happened to be from Long Island.

Metzger and Enners are also linked because Metzger won the Ray Enners Award in 1977 as the top lacrosse player in Suffolk County. He led his team in points and assists in both his junior and senior seasons and was an All-American as a senior. Metzger went on to star at Hofstra University.

Zach Hobbes wrapped up a memorable senior season at Ward Melville High School. Personal accolades aside, the Patriots went 21-1 and captured yet another New York State championship and finished the season ranked No. 1 in the nation. The Harvard-bound Hobbes is a major reason for the team’s success.

Aside from being an All-American and the Warrior/U.S. Lacrosse Northeast Boys’ Lacrosse Player of the Year, Hobbes also won the Lt. Ray Enners Award as the top lacrosse player in Suffolk County, and was named Section XI Spring Male Athlete of the Year.

“He’s the typical throwback, do-it-all middie,” Ward Melville coach Jay Negus told Lacrosse Magazine about Hobbes, who scored 33 goals and had 16 assists as a senior. “Offensively and defensively, he never came off the field. We really pride ourselves on the defensive end and Hobbes excelled there. Hobbes is an animal. He’s just a force, offensively and defensively.”

Perhaps the biggest honor for Hobbes is winning the Enners, which signifies leadership and sportsmanship and represents one of Long Island’s most famous war heroes. Enners, a Half Hollow Hills alum and Army officer, died in Vietnam rescuing one of his platoon members who ironically was also from Long Island.

Rather than tell the meaning of the Enners Award for Hobbes, we had him share personal sentiments about the honor in his own words …

“Being selected as the winner of the Ray Enners Award is an honor that transcends the sport of lacrosse. Ray Enners was a selfless man and the heroic actions he took on the battlefield only confirmed that he was truly a remarkable man.

I have always had a tremendous amount of respect for the men and women who voluntarily serve in the military and protect our country. It only makes me so much more grateful for receiving this award considering all of the sacrifices Ray Enners made for our country and his fellow soldiers. He made the ultimate sacrifice in order to save one of his fellow service members on the battlefield. Putting others before yourself is, in my opinion, one of the greatest character traits a person can possess.  Being held in the same regard as Ray Enners and the previous winners-especially my coach, Jay Negus, is something I’ll carry with me for a lifetime. 

Receiving this award would not have been possible had it not been for the many people I have been blessed to be surrounded by while growing up.  People who are more than willing to help others that are in need and have a special way of pushing others to be the best they can be.  I have to give credit to many people for my found success both on and off the field. 

My parents, sisters, grandparents, uncles, and aunts who from a young age always displayed the character traits – honesty, integrity, perseverance, kindness – that would eventually rub off on me. My coaches for pushing me to put in the time and energy at working to be the best I could be.  At an early age it was Mike Chanenchuk, who stressed that the developing and honing of fundamental skills would be the keys to success later in my lacrosse career. His ‘One more pass’ and ‘the assist is just as important as the goal’  mantras instilled in me, the importance of being a true team player. 

My high school lacrosse coaches Jay Negus, Chris Muscarella and Chris Murphy.  It was under their leadership and guidance that I grew into a more confident player which, ultimately, helped me take on leadership roles both on and off the field.  I credit them with affording me the opportunity to play in three state championships.  My football coaches, Chris Boltrek, Ron and Chris Muscarella, Mr. Markey and Mr. Sorbera also played an important role in developing athleticism and mental toughness. My friends and teammates who were always genuine when congratulating me when I found success and were also there when things didn’t go my way.

So it is with strong conviction that I can say,  I would not be the person I am today, or the winner of the Ray Enners Award, had the people mentioned above not been a part of my life.”

Here is a breakdown of the awards given out at the end-of-season Suffolk County Boys Lacrosse Coaches Association dinner …

2018 Awards – Specials

Raymond Enners Award

• Zach Hobbes, Ward Melville

US Lacrosse Coach of the Year

• Tom McCandless, Lindenhurst

John Fernandez Courage Awards

• Brendan Reese, West Babylon
• John Felice, Comsewogue

Louis J. Acompora Service to the Sport Awards

• Bryan Lubitz, Floyd Youth Lacrosse
• The Acompora Family

2018 Suffolk –  US Lacrosse Awards

All-American

• George Wichelns, Connetquot HS, Attack, 12th Grade
• Conor Calderone, Smithtown West HS, Midfield, 11th Grade
• John Sidorski, East Islip HS, Attack, 11th Grade
• Peter LaSalla, Rocky Point HS, Midfield, 12th Grade
• Zach Hobbes, Ward Melville HS, Midfield, 12th Grade
• Bobby Abshire, Commack HS, Midfield, 12th Grade
• Ethan Rall, Islip HS, Long Stick Midfield, 12th Grade
• Kyle Zawadzki, Smithtown West HS, Attack, 12th Grade

Honorable Mention All-American

• Richie Lacalandra, Comsewogue HS, Attack, 12th Grade
• Mike Bienkowski, Islip HS, Midfield, 12th Grade
• Alex Mazzone, Ward Melville HS, Defense, 12th Grade
• Matt Grillo, Ward Melville HS, Attack, 12th Grade
• Xavier Arline, Shoreham-Wading River HS, Attack, 10th Grade
• Mike Gomez, Half Hollow Hills East HS, Defense, 12th Grade

All-Academic

• Zachary Gagnon, Comsewogue HS, Defense, 12th Grade
• Craig Connor, Westhampton Beach HS, Midfield, 12th Grade
• Noah Daniels, Lindenhurst HS, Midfield, 12th Grade
• Zachary Yorio, Harborfields HS, Goalie, 12th Grade
• Vincent Grazidei, Bayport-Blue Point HS, Attack, 12th Grade
• Andrew Brust, William Floyd HS, Goalie, 12th Grade
• Justin Weick, Eastport-South Manor HS, Attack, 12th Grade
• Philip Clementi, Harborfields HS, Attack, 12th Grade

LIMLF Scholar-Athlete Scholarship

• Zachary Gagnon, Comsewogue HS, Defense, 12th Grade

Bob Scott Award

• Zach Hobbes, Ward Melville HS

Coach of the Year

• Tom McCandless, Lindenhurst HS

2018 Awards – Division 1

Crosse Award

• Bay Shore

Coaches of the Year

• Tom McCandless, Lindenhurst
• Mike Gongas, North Babylon
• Tim Cox, Bay Shore

Assistant Coaches of the Year

• Chris Nentwich, Riverhead
• Mark Spruyt, Bay Shore

JV Coaches of the Year

• Sean McAleavey, West Islip
• Brian Henselder, Whitman
• Anthony Muratore, Sachem North

Rookies of the Year

• Reid Greco, Smithtown West
• Sal Miccio, Northport
• Julian Dugue, Floyd
• Colin Krieg, Ward Melville

Most Outstanding Players

• George Wichelns, Connetquot
• Zach Hobbes, Ward Melville
• Alex Mazzone, Ward Melville
• Kyle Walker, Smithtown West
• Connor Calderone, Smithtown West

2018 Awards – Division 2

Crosse Award

• Mattituck

Coaches of the Year

• Glenn Lavey, Harborfields
• Mike Luce, Bayport-Blue Point
• Keith Scheidel, Islip

Assistant Coaches of the Year

• Brian Michalec, Comsewogue
• Doug Meehan, Bayport-Blue Point

JV Coaches of the Year

• Chris Winslow, Center Moriches
• Jamie Carretta, Mount Sinai
• John Holownia, Comsewogue

Rookies of the Year

• Joey Spallina, Mount Sinai
• Matt Knote, Eastport-South Manor
• Tyler Gatz, Mount Sinai
• Nick Cannetti, Sayville

Most Outstanding Player

• John Sidorski, East Islip
• Peter LaSalla, Rocky Point
• Teddy McLoughlin, Isip
• Thomas Heller, Comsewogue
• Ethan Rall, Islip