Season Preview: Boys Lacrosse Eyes 10th County Title

Will this season be a perfect 10 for the West Islip High School boys’ lacrosse team?

With the 2013 campaign set to start this week at Connetquot, the Lions have set their sights on a tenth consecutive Suffolk County Class A title. But head coach Scott Craig, who begins his 26th season at the helm, knows the task will once again not be easy.

“It’s a lot like it was two years ago when (Suffolk Class A) was six or seven teams deep,” Craig said of the upcoming season.

That season, West Islip won its eighth straight Suffolk County championship in thrilling overtime fashion against Smithtown West, but fell in the Long Island title game to eventual state champion Farmingdale.

In 2012, West Islip was again at the top of the mountain, winning its ninth straight Suffolk title on the way to the team’s fifth New York State Class A Championship over the past seven years. 

Here’s a look at the 2013 Lions:

Key players: Nick Aponte (senior, midfield), Ryan Wieczorek (senior, midfield), Mike Moynihan (junior, midfield), Dan LaMagna (senior, midfield), Trevor Bovich (junior, attack), Dan Madden (senior, defense), Dan Johnson (senior, defense), A.J. Ilchert (junior, defense), Jared Carrino (senior, goal)

Key losses to graduation: Tom Moore (University of Denver), Brendan Smith (Marquette University), Jack Kelly (Brown), Anthony Santo (Sacred Heart)

Player to watch: Kyle Ziegler (junior, midfield). “He’s grown into a better athlete over the past 12 months,” Craig said.

Craig’s teams to watch: Smithtown East, Smithtown West, Northport, Ward Melville, Sachem North, Bay Shore.

Must see games: March 30, home vs. Chaminade; April 3, home vs. Sachem North; April 9, at Smithtown East; April 13, home vs. Ridgewood, N.J.; April 15, home vs. Northport; April 23, at Smithtown West; April 29, home vs. Ward Melville. (See full schedule here.)

Pre-season national rankings: No. 20, Under Armour/Inside Lacrosse; No. 5 Nike/US Lacrosse.

Final thoughts from Craig: “There is going to be a point in the season when some of the juniors will have some complacency and think West Islip is West Islip and feel it’s just their turn to win. But that does not happen automatically. The juniors that are (on varsity) again and the seniors understand the work and commitment that is needed.”