You make the call: Who will win the Smithtown West vs. Garden City showdown?

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It will be No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the first full week of regular-season action in the nation’s No. 1 hotspot for lacrosse, the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut tristate region. Two-time New York Class B state champion Garden City will host Smithtown West in a matchup of the top two ranked teams in the LaxLessons.com […]

You make the call: Who should be the preseason No. 1 team in tristate boys HS lax?

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We’re still a couple of months away from the start of the 2014 season, but it’s never too early to look ahead. So let’s do just that. At this point, who do you think should be the top-ranked varsity boys team heading into the season in the nation’s No. 1 hotbed for lacrosse, the New […]

You make the call: Should high school players be ranked?

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Is it possible to rank high school players by class or position numerically? Is it fair? Is it appropriate to do so? There’s quite a discussion in the “Comments” portion at the bottom of  LaxLessons.com’s “Ask Joe” page on this very topic. Reader Natas 117 writes: “I agree with you not ranking HS players.I’ve seen […]

You make the call: Who was 2013 tristate HS MVP?

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The 2013 high school season is now one for the books in the nation’s No. 1 hotbed for lacrosse, the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut tristate region. With the season now complete, take a moment to weigh in with your vote in our latest poll, which asks, “Who do you think was the MVP of the 2013 […]

You make the call: What tristate team was the biggest surprise?

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With the 2013 season now complete, our latest poll question asks, “What tristate varsity boys team do you think was the biggest surprise this past season?” 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 […]

You make the call: Who will win the Ward Melville-West Genesee state final?

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They are two of the most tradition-rich — and successful — boys lacrosse programs in the nation. West Genesee has won a New York record 15 state titles 15 championships, but last took a title in 2008. Ward Melville has won seven state crowns, but hasn’t won one since 2000. But on Saturday at 4 […]

You make the call: Who will win the Garden City/Jamesville-Dewitt state final?

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Defending New York Class B state champion Garden City will be facing a Jamesville-Dewitt squad which has won three state titles since 2007 on Saturday in the 2013 title game in Rochester. JD won back-to-back state titles in 2010 and ’11, beating GC each time. Our latest poll question asks who you think will win […]

You make the call: Who will win Garden City-Niskayuna state semfinal showdown?

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Postseason matchups don’t get much bigger. Or better. It will be defending New York Class B state champion Garden City against the nation’s No. 2-ranked team, unbeaten Niskayuna, in the downstate semifinals at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5 at Marist College. Who do you think will win? That’s our latest poll question as we […]

You make the call: Who will win Yorktown vs. Niskayuna state playoff showdown?

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They’re two of the top teams not only in New York state, but in the nation. And one of them will not advance beyond the first round of the state tournament. That’s because heavyweights Yorktown and Niskayuna will battle it out in a first-round state tournament game on Thursday, May 30 at 3:30 p.m. at […]

You make the call: Who will win Woodstick 2?

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What do you think the result of Woodstick 2 – the Nassau County Class B final between No.1 Garden City and No. 2 Manhasset on Tuesday, May 28 – will be? That’s our latest poll question. Manhasset won the teams’ regular-season meeting — the 123rd Woodstick Classic — 9-7 on April 27. What will be […]

You make the call: Who will win Chaminade-St. Anthony’s title game?

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They have accounted for every CHSAA AAA final dating back to 1987. After Chaminade’s run of four straight titles ended in 2008, St. Anthony’s has won four consecutive crowns. But Chaminade entered the season as the consensus No. 2 team in the country and was No. 1 in the tristate most of this season. The […]

You make the call: What team has been the biggest surprise?

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The season is nearing the midway point, and, with that in mind, our latest poll question asks what varsity team do you think has been the biggest surprise in the NY/NJ/CT tristate region? Here are some candidates with their records and signature wins. To vote, go to the right panel of this page. Then, scroll […]

You make the call: Who will win the Bronxville-Yorktown game?

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Yorktown is the consensus No. 1 team in Section 1. Can another two-time New York state semifinalist claim that distinction. That could be the case if Bronxville comes away with a win on Saturday, April 13 on the new turf field at Yorktown’s Charlie Murphy Field. Our latest poll question asks who you think will […]

You make the call: Who will win Delbarton at St. Anthony’s showdown of nationally ranked teams?

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It will be a NJ vs. NY matchup of nationally ranked teams on Saturday, April 6 when Delbarton visits St. Anthony’s at 1 p.m. The contest can be seen live on MSG Varsity Channel 14 (Optimum) and on MSGVarsity.com. Our latest poll question asks who you think will win the game. To vote, go to […]

You make the call: Who will win Ridgefield-Greenwich opener?

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Connecticut will get its regular season going next week and there are some interesting Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference games. Our latest poll question asks who you think will win the Ridgefield at Greenwich game on Wednesday, April 3. To vote, go to the right panel of this page. Then, scroll past the “New Comments” […]

Columbine results could mean Yorktown-John Jay will be classic

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We’re just a day away from “Showdown Saturday,” and some huge early season tristate contests, including Chaminade-West Islip, La Salle-Garden City and Yorktown-John Jay. Yorktown-John Jay will be unique in that, even though this is Week 1 of the regular season in New York’s Section 1, both teams already have played a mutual opponent. Columbine, […]

You make the call: Who will win the Yorktown-John Jay game?

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Are you getting set for Showdown Saturday? Among the matchups on March 30: La Salle (Pa.) at Gardem City, Chaminade at West Islip and Yorktown at John Jay. The 7 p.m. Yorktown at John Jay game marks the first meeting between the teams since Yorktown pulled out an 9-8 overtime win in the 2012 Section […]

You make the call: Who will win Chaminade-West Islip clash?

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In less than a week we’ll have our first Showdown Saturday of the regular season. Among the matchups on March 30: La Salle (Pa.) at Gardem City, Yorktown at John Jay and Chaminade at West Islip. The high noon Chaminade-WI game is a rematch of a 7-6 Chaminade win last year — which proved to […]

You make the call: What’s the tristate varsity matchup you’re most looking forward to this month?

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With varsity teams in New York State, and especially Long Island, having a jump on the start of official practices  and the regular season, there is no shortage of huge matchups this month. You can get a rundown of them here as well as in Joe Lombardi’s weekly column on tristate lacrosse for InsideLacrosse.com. What’s […]

You make the call: Who will win the CHSAA (NY) Division AAA title?

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Some high school teams in parts of the nation have already started their regular seasons. But among teams in the nation’s No. 1 hotbed for lacrosse, the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut tristate region, we’re still a few weeks away from the first openers. So that gives us some time to continue traversing the tristate to get […]

You make the call: Who will win the Section 11 (NY) Class A title?

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With the official start of varsity boys lacrosse practice in the tristate getting closer and closer, be sure to vote in our latest poll, which asks, “Who do you think should be the favorite to win the Suffolk County (Section 11, N.Y.) Division 1 title?” To vote, go to the right panel of this page. […]

You make the call: Who will win the Section 1 (NY) Class A title?

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With the start of the season inching closer, be sure to vote in our latest poll, which asks, “Who do you think should be the favorite to win the Section 1 (N.Y.) Class A title?” We just wrapped up asking a similar questions about the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference title. In heavy voting, Ridgefield […]

You make the call: Who will win the FCIAC boys title?

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With the start of the season inching closer, be sure to vote in our latest poll, which asks, “Who do you think should be the favorite to win the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference title?” We will be asking for your thoughts on a tristate conference championship regularly, starting last week when we asked who […]

You make the call: What was biggest tristate boys lax story in 2012?

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“Strong” Island completed a sweep of the New York state champions with West Islip (Class A), Garden City (Class B) and Shoreham-Wading River (Class C) all winning titles. In Connecticut, New Canaan surprised many by winning the FCIAC championship. Mamaroneck, which lost eight games in a row during the regular season, stunned the Hudson Valley […]

You make the call: Are proposed men’s rules changes, including implementing a shot clock, good or bad?

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Change is in the air in the men’s collegiate lacrosse world. The Men’s Lacrosse Rules Committee announced today it is recommending several rules changes to the game, including the implementation of a 30-second shot clock after a stall warning and the elimination of the motorcycle grip on faceoffs. The recommendations will be voted on in […]

You make the call: Who do you think was 2012 tristate HS MVP?

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The 2012 high school season in the nation’s No. 1 hotbed for lacrosse, the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut tristate region, is now one for the books. With the season now complete, take a moment to weigh in with your vote in our latest poll, which asks, “Who do you think was the MVP of the 2012 […]

You make the call: Who will win downstate New York’s sectional finals?

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We have one public school boys conference champion already crowned. It happened yesterday as New Canaan scored 10 times in the second half to defeat Ridgefield 11-9 in the FCIAC championship game. Matt Blasco and Michael Bossidy each had four goals for the Rams, who won their first FCIAC title since 2003. Now let’s take […]

You make the call: What was the year’s biggest story?

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File photo by Ray Nelson Hofstra University-bound senior captain Korey Hendrickson (No. 14) scored the game-winner in overtime as Farmingdale beat Ithaca 12-11 to celebrate its first-ever state title on June 11. The Dalers were the only team from Long Island to take a state crown this year, marking the first time just one or […]

You make the call: Who will be the region’s top team in 2012?

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There’s no shortage of contenders to the claim: * Two-time New York State champion Garden City. * West Islip, the eight-time defending Suffolk County champions. * Darien, which had won six Class M Connecticut state titles, before being denied a seventh straight last year. * Always powerful CHSAA heavyweights St. Anthony’s and Yorktown. * Yorktown, […]

You make the call: Who will win Wednesday's state semifinals?

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Photo by Ray Nelson/MaxPreps.com Farmingdale’s Mike Perettine’s overtime goal skips past West Islip goaltender Kyle Turri for the winner in the Dalers’ 10-9 victory against West Islip in the Long Island Class A title game at Stony Brook on Saturday. We’re just two days away from state semifinal action in both New York and Connecticut. […]

You make the call: Who will win the big showdowns?

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Photo by Ray Nelson/MaxPreps.com Chaminade and West Islip battle it out during their meeting earlier this season. The two teams have big games next week. Chaminade plays at Yorktown. West Islip visits Ward Melville. It’s a huge week for big games next week. We are rotating our poll question, asking for your vote on who […]

You make the call: Pick winners of big early season games

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It gets late early out there. That old Yogi Berra line, initially used to describe the conditions for left fielders battling the setting sun in the old Yankee Stadium, can also be used when it comes to the 2011 varsity boys lax season. That’s because there is a jaw-dropping array of huge early season showdowns […]

You make the call: Pick the year’s biggest story

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Well, folks. It’s been quite a year. There here have been all sorts of surprising developments, impressive individual and team accomplishments and interesting stories to follow. With the calendar year about to end, we’d like to know what you think was the year’s biggest story. For starters, be sure to exercise your right to vote […]

You make the call: Who will be Connecticut’s top teams?

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There’s certainly no shortage of talent in the state of Connecticut when it comes to high school lacrosse. Cheshire won the Class L state title last year, edging always strong Fairfield Prep 9-8. (Above, Cheshire is shown celebrating after that big win.) Darien has won six straight Class M state championships and has an array […]

You make the call: Who is the favorite in Section 8 Class B?

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There was no shortage of opinion late in the summer when we devoted a thread to an outlook on Section 1 Class B for this coming season. With two-time finalists John Jay and Somers back, and Yorktown moving down from Class A, and Rye moving up from last C, Class B looks to be stacked […]

You make the call: Who gets the edge – Darien or John Jay?

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One team has won six straight state titles and has the nation’s No. 2-ranked junior. The other has won four sectional titles the last five years, including the 2007 season when it defeated the nation’s top-ranked team in the state semifinals, and has the nation’s No. 8-ranked senior. Combined, the two teams have 20 players […]

You make the call: Who should be the favorite in Section 1 Class B?

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Yorktown’s moving down. (From Class A.) Rye’s moving up. (From Class C.) John Jay and Somers are still there. The result: A class that is as stacked as Section 1 has ever seen. Who do you think is the team to beat in Class B?

You make the call: A first look at who will be the best team in the Hudson Valley/Long Island/Connecticut region in 2011

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It’s early. Very early. And there are plenty of contenders. Among them: * Five-time Class M Connecticut state champion Darien, which returns attackman Case Matheis, arguably the No. 1 rising junior in the nation. * Two-time Class C New York state champ Manhasset. * West Islip, which has won four Class A New York state […]

You make the call: What was this season’s biggest story?

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Well, gang. The 2010 season in the Hudson Valley/Long Island/Connecticut region has been over for three weeks. Now that we’ve had some time to let it sink in, we have one simple question. What was the season’s biggest story?

You make the call: Who would win – West Islip or Manhasset?

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They’re the top two teams in the final Under Armour Inside Lacrosse National Rankings. They both have won back-to-back state titles. Manhasset ended the year 20-0. West Islip ended it with 21 straight wins after suffering a season-opening overtime loss to Sachem North. But the teams did not play this season, which begins the question: […]

A look back at last year’s champions

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Now all you bracketologists can turn off your calculators. And for some of you, congratulations on a job well done. One or more of you pretty much nailed the seedings and matchups more than 24 hours in advance. Very impressive. But now, it’s time to start a brand new season. The playoffs.

You make the call: Pick “Showdown Saturday” winners

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It’s quite a lineup, folks: * Chaminade at West Islip, 1 p.m. * John Jay at Yorktown, 1 p.m. * Somers at St. Anthony’s, 2 p.m. Together, these three games combine to form “Showdown Saturday,” one of the most action-packed single-day, early season slate of games the Hudson Valley/Long Island/Connecticut region has seen. * Previous […]

You make the call: Who will be the best teams in the Hudson Valley/Long Island/Connecticut region?

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Practice is now officially under way. The start of the season is right around the corner. Now’s the time to tell us who you think will be the best teams in the Hudson Valley/Long Island/Connecticut region. And have a chance to win. * “You make the call” topic archive

You make the call: Pick the year's biggest story

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All righty, gang. First off, it’s good to be back with you folks. With those words, written here on March 14, the new LaxLessons.com was officially born. Just weeks earlier, this was all an idea more than anything else, with the new homepage design and soon-to-launch features having just been sketched by yours truly on […]

You make the call: Who will be the region's top five teams in 2010?

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During the varsity season, we present our Top 25 regional rankings each and every week. The 2010 season won’t start for another five months. But why wait? • Previous “You make the call” topics

You make the call: What's the region's top rivalry?

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Manhasset players celebrate after beating Garden City in the annual Woodstick Classic this past season. Some have tradition — and lots of it. Like Garden City vs. Manhasset. Others have become heated of late. Like Darien vs. Ridgefield. There are lots of great rivalries throughout the Hudson Valley, Long Island and Connecticut. Perhaps more than […]

You make the call: What college would you pick if you could go anywhere?

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Academics. A chance to win a national title. The likelihood of earning playing time. The campus. Quality of student life and social life. Location and weather. Size. There are many factors that go into selecting a college — for students as well as athletes. But if you were a lacrosse player offered scholarships by every […]

You make the call: Is later better?

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The NCAA announced yesterday that the times of the Division I men’s semifinals and finals have been pushed back. In a nutshell,  the semifinals will now be at 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on the Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend (instead of noon and 2:30 p.m.), and the Memorial Day title game will now start […]

You make the call: Name the Top 5 laxers of all-time — and have a chance to win

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You guys have been great. The comments and info you have contributed to Joe’s blog here at LaxLessons.com since we launched this site in mid-March have been nothing short of amazing. In fact, since we started, there have been nearly 8,000 comments on this blog. So we’d like to show our appreciation.