Galasso Begins Life At Syracuse

When the Syracuse lacrosse season begins February 17, West Islip’s Nicky Galasso will be in uniform for the Orange.

According to a report on Syracuse.com, the university announced this past Tuesday that the former West Islip High School standout has been admitted to Syracuse and had his first practice with his new team the same day.

In 2012, he transferred to the upstate New York lacrosse powerhouse after two years at the University of North Carolina.

Galasso said donning the orange Syracuse jersey (number 25) for the first time was “pretty cool” and that, “Hopefully, I can do big things in it.”

His new head coach, John Desko, said he expects his new attackman to have an immediate impact on Syracuse.

“We hope so,” the head coach said. “We aren’t encouraging transfers to come in and sit the bench. It’s a matter of how quickly he picks up the offenses and rides. It’s us figuring him out, too.”

A 2010 West Islip High School graduate, Galasso finished his high school career as Long Island’s all-time leading scorer with 500 points. He was the top high school recruit in the nation that same year and won four New York State Class A titles while a member of the Lions.

In 2011, Galasso was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year and set North Carolina school records for points in a season (56), assists in a season (32) and assists in a game (5).