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From press release PURCHASE, NY —  A new program has a new leading man. Purchase College (NY) Director of Athletics Chris Bisignano has announced the hiring of former John Jay High School (NY) and Fairfield University (CT) standout attackman Michael Bocklet as the first-ever men’s lacrosse coach in program history. Bocklet, a local standout himself, […]

Two of the top programs in Section 1 (NY) met in Cross River on Thursday as John Jay pulled away to beat Rye 10-5. Michigan-bound Shawn Smith led the way for the Indians with three goals and two assists. Ryan Lee had three assists. Rye got two goals each from Penn-bound Chris Santangelo and Cal […]

Unlike many varsity lacrosse standouts in the tristate region, there isn’t much time for Shawn Smith to prepare for the upcoming season in the winter. That’s because the senior is not only a lacrosse standout, but one of the leading varsity hockey players in New York’s Section 1 (Westchester, Putnam, Rockland and Dutchess counties), In […]

For Lazarus Chavez and the Rye High School Garnets, the path to the Section 1 (N.Y.) final starts within their league. The senior Syracuse University-bound defenseman sees games against Fox Lane, Horace Greeley, Byram Hills, Pleasantville and Harrison as critical to the Garnets’ success in 2014. So too, undoubtedly, will be the play of Chavez, an […]

For Rob Looney, the key to excelling in goal comes down to two key things — his hands and hard work. “My strengths as a player lay within my quick hands and my work ethic,” said the senior at John Jay High School (N.Y.). “My style of play would best be described as a scrappy […]

Kevin Fuchs has found a new college home. The Hewlett High School (N.Y.) standout had been planning on following the collegiate path of another former Hewlett standout, Max Seibald, by committing to the admission process at Cornell University almost a full year ago. But Fuchs informed Joe Lombardi that he has had a change of […]

John Jay High School (N.Y.) has seen its recruiting class of 2014 double in size in just a few days. We told you earlier this week that defenseman Bob Giordano has decided on Stevens Tech. Now, another Indians rising senior is joining a group of rising senior commits that includes Graham Bocklet (Vermont, defense) and […]

We’ve been reporting on several commitments to the Stevens Institute of Technology the last few days here and on our “Lacrosse Insider” section. There’s a perk that comes with attending Stevens Tech that we have not yet explored until now. Namely, its location. “Hoboken is an awesome little place,” said Bob Giordano of John Jay […]

A 6 p.m. contest between Section 1 (N.Y.) Class B contenders John Jay-Cross River and host Somers highlights today’s slate. John Jay is coming off a big 10-6 win over 2011 Connecticut Class M state champion Wilton while Somers defeated Arlington in its last game, 6-5, scoring four straight goals to pull out the victory. […]

Jack Lambert and John Jay will be tested from right the start. The Indians’ annual showdown against rival Yorktown, regarded as the unofficial game of the year in Section 1 (NY) boys lax, is scheduled for Week 1 of the regular season, on Saturday, March 30 at 7 p.m. at JJHS. In the teams’ last […]

With four siblings who have played or are playing Division I lacrosse, the Bocklets may be the first family of lacrosse in New York’s Hudson Valley. News 12 anchor/reporter Pete Ruf takes a behind-the-scenes look at the Bocklets in this feature segment. That’s among the headlines from this past week. Here are links to some […]

A brand-new fall lacrosse event is set to get under way. The inaugural Gobbler Games, set for John Jay High School in Cross River, N.Y., will feature current and former player primarily from Section 1 in New York (Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties). It will be held on Saturday, Nov. 24 and Sunday, Nov. […]

Graham Bocklet didn’t have to look far to find some positive role models when it comes to lacrosse. The John Jay junior grew up surrounded by it. His four cousins either played or played at the Division I level — attackman Mike Bocklet (Fairfield University), defenseman Matt Bocklet (Johns Hopkins), attackman Chris Bocklet (University of […]

High school teams that have combined for 90 state titles will be competing in one venue on Sunday, Nov. 18. They will be vying at Tom Rotanz’s Shoreham-Wading River Fall Classic, which is annually regarded as the premier event on the fall schedule in the tristate region. This year’s event will be played at Farmingdale […]

Andrew Duffy knows all about the demands and rewards of being a college athlete. That’s a rare trait for a high school senior. But the John Jay-Cross River (N.Y.) midfielder is in a unique position. As you’ll soon learn, all three of his siblings played sports at the collegiate level. Andrew will be continuing that […]

It didn’t take long for Shawn Smith to make an impact on the John Jay boys lacrosse team. The midfielder did just that when he earned a spot on the varsity team last year as a freshman. Now, just over a year later, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound midfielder has decided on his college destination. Smith has […]

Yorktown holds the record for most consecutive Section 1 boys lacrosse championship game appearances at 32 straight. And counting. But John Jay also has an impressive streak of its own that’s also intact. The Indians have made seven straight sectional title-game appearances. John Jay enters this season having lost in last year’s Class B sectional final […]

Mike Skluth’s path to lacrosse success has been paved through hard work. The results speak for themselves. The junior is one of the top defensemen on a John Jay team known for its defense. He’s also be continuing his career at the Division I level. Skluth, a junior, verbally committed to the University at Albany. […]

The Prime Time travel lacrosse program has established a strong connection with the Division III collegiate program at the Stevens Institute of Technology. For starters, Prime Time director Nick Daniello played for the Ducks. Prime Time defenseman Anthony Grasso of Fox Lane has committed to play for Stevens. And now, so too has another Prime […]

A total of 11 players from last season’s John Jay team are preparing to start their freshman years on collegiate lacrosse programs. The 2012 Indians will have to go a long way to approach that number. But John Jay doubled its number of rising senior commits yesterday when midfielder Brandon Lew gave a verbal commitment […]

Photos by Ray Nelson/MaxPreps.com We’re on the brink of another big Saturday of games. But that doesn’t mean the recruiting news is on hold, folks. If you checked our “Updated recruiting review and commitment rundown” yesterday, you learned that Tom Branca, a junior goaltender at John Jay, has committed to Fairfield University. The 5-foot-10 lefty […]

Earlier today, we told you about our third sophomore commitment from the nation’s No. 1 lacrosse hotbed, the Hudson Valley/Long Island/Connecticut region. Jack Lambert, an athletic defenseman with good speed and stick skills, has decided on North Carolina after being pursued by most of the nation’s top programs, including Virginia and Syracuse. The 6-foot, 170-pound […]

The start of official practice has not yet arrived, but the John Jay Indians are getting ready right now. And that’s a good thing, because the Indians’ schedule this year demands it. For the second straight year, the attackman’s John Jay team will meet Yorktown in the opening week of the season. This year’s showdown […]

“It gets late early out there.” When major-league baseball Hall-of-Famer used that phrase, he was describing the conditions for left fielders in Yankee Stadium, faced with having to contend with the setting sun. But the same thing can be said about the 2011 varsity season in the nation’s No. 1 hotbed for boys lax, the […]

Tomorrow is the first day of winter. Which makes it the perfect time to take a look at the college choice of John Jay’s Malcolm Winter. As we reported last week, Winter, a left-handed defenseman, has decided on Goucher College in Baltimore. Winter was added late last week in our “Updated recruiting review and commitment […]

Top left: John Jay senior attackman Mike Daniello, clad in a Johns Hopkins sweatshirt, signed a National Letter of Intent to accept a scholarship offer from Hopkins tonight, surrounded by his family (top, from left), brother Nick, mother Kathy and brother Chris. Nick and Chris are former college lax standouts. Nick played at Stevens Tech. […]

The Division I fall signing week gets under way on Wednesday and lasts until Nov. 17. During that time, the many seniors whose commitments we have reported on the last year or more will make those commitments binding by signing National Letters of Intent. Meanwhile, plenty of other seniors who have not yet verbally committed […]

There has been much discussion of the growing number of senior John Jay players who have committed to college programs. With the commitment of speedy Evan Chen to Bates College in Lewiston, Me., the number is now nine. But there’s also another impressive number. That’s the No. 12. And that’s the number of seniors players […]

With eight seniors committed to college programs, John Jay is the unofficial leader for college-bound 12th-graders among high school teams in the nation’s No. 1 hotbed for lacrosse, the Hudson Valley/Long Island/Connecticut region. If you want to keep score at home, just check our “Updated recruiting review and commitment rundown,” or check out the complete […]

He started his varsity career as one of many. Forrest Walter was among 13 sophomores on John Jay’s roster in 2009. But it hasn’t taken him long to stand out. Walter quickly emerged as one of the Hudson Valley’s top players, earning all-section honorable-mention in ’09 and all-section honors this past season. The 6-foot, 185-pound […]

It’s been a busy night for Division I commitments in the Hudson Valley region, folks. Two of the leading players on sectional championship teams — both of whom are senior midfielders — made their college choices, and both will be heading to Division I programs. If you have checked our “Updated recruiting review and commitment […]

Lacrosse is spreading from East to West — and from North to South. Case in point. Rollins College, which is located just outside Orlando in Winter Park, Fla., on the shores of Lake Virginia. The Tars are set to start their fourth season as an NCAA Division II program. And some help is on the […]

John Jay senior Alex Lanza drew up a nice blueprint for a perfect college. He wanted to continue his lacrosse career at a place that a place that equally balanced academics with athletics. The 6-foot, 200-pound lefty defenseman completed his mission by giving a verbal commitment to Division III power Gettysburg, where he will join […]

There was quite a long list of renowned collegiate programs that would have been very pleased to have gotten a verbal commitment from either Jimmy Morris (No. 20, picture at top) and Brendan Morris (pictured below). But Gettysburg has to be especially happy right now. That’s because both of the twin brothers have committed to […]

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?

It was a breakout year for Jake Weil. After emerging as one of the key players on a John Jay team that won a sectional title for the fifth time in six years, the 6-foot midfielder enjoyed a noteworthy summer for the Prime Time travel team, which ended with his earning a spot in the […]

There has been quite a spirited debate here among readers — and in our latest poll question — as to who would have won a matchup between state champions West Islip and Manhasset. Now, LaxPower has weighed in. I just received word from George Baldassare, LaxPower’s director of high school boys lacrosse, that its computer […]

Today, it all starts. Officially, at least. This is the first official day of practice and tryouts, but for many teams and players throughout the area, it’s just the continuation of a what’s already been an intense and diligent preseason. John Jay senior midfielder Brandon Merlino (file photo by Jim Stout/MaxPreps.com) has been getting ready […]

Considering all the highlights he’s already enjoyed at the high school level, it’s almost hard to believe that Mike Daniello has two more varsity seasons to go. In fact, considering all that’s happened, Daniello’s sophomore season seems like an eternity ago. Since it ended, he became one of the most heavily recruited players in the […]

John Jay lacrosse has started a new era. Tim Schurr, who has taken over the program, is just the third varsity head coach in the 31-year history of the program. The Indians, who saw their run of consecutive sectional titles end at four last year, welcome back a strong nucleus, and drew the No. 20 […]

Hey gang. I just received an e-mail from Syracuse University’s assistant director of athletic communications, Mike Morrison, with some interesting news.

Nick Savastano’s tenure as John Jay coach is over. Savastano was told today that he will not be retained as the Indians’ coach after a highly successful 10 years as head varsity coach in which John Jay’s program achieved national prominence. John Jay athletic director Chris McCarthy said the decision does not affect Savastano’s status […]

For the last few years, the John Jay-Yorktown game, regarded as the regular season game of the year in Section 1, has been a May tradition. And it’s been played on a Friday night the last two years. This year, the game will be played in the opening week of the regular season — and […]

Johns Hopkins-bound Jameson Pickel and John Jay will be hosting defending FCIAC champion Ridgefield next season. (File photo by Jim Stout/MaxPreps.com) There has been a lot of talk here as to why John Jay and Ridgefield don’t meet on a regular basis. Well, wait no more, gang.

John Jay’s Mike Daniello, one of the top junior recruits in the nation, has done some soul-searching after verbally committing to attend North Carolina on Sept. 28 and has decided to change his commitment and attend Johns Hopkins.

It was decision day for Mike Daniello. I just got off the phone with the John Jay attackman moments after he contacted the final list of schools he was considering. The first call he made was to North Carolina. Daniello, the No. 9-ranked junior in the nation by Inside Lacrosse, has given a verbal commitment […]

Army has landed another top senior from the Hudson Valley in John Jay’s Will O’Donnell.

John Jay rising junior Mike Daniello has his pick of virtually  every Division I program. (File photo by Jim Stout/MaxPreps.com) Today was the first day Division I college coaches could contact high school juniors, and it didn’t take long to see who the most prized recruit in the region is. Not that there were too […]

Matt Bocklet, top (shown in action for the Denver Outlaws), has had the upper hand on most of his MLL and NLL opponents during his pro career thus far. Matt Bocklet’s lacrosse career has taken him to many places. From John Jay High School to an NCAA tournament appearance at Fairfield University to an NCAA […]

Well gang, we continue to follow the recruiting commitments around the clock. And I just got word of another one. John Jay rising senior Fletcher Franklin, whose strong play in goal down the stretch helped the Indian make their sixth straight sectional final appearance, has committed to Division III Kenyon in Gambier, Ohio.

Brandon Merlino, John Jay’s standout midfielder, has made his college choice. (File photo by Jim Stout/MaxPreps.com) John Jay rising senior Brandon Merlino is on a family vacation to his grandfather’s native Sicily today. But that didn’t stop him from taking time out to make one of the most important decisions of his life.

Joe Scarsella, an assistant coach at John Jay with deep roots in the Indians’ program, died yesterday after a long illness. He was 49.

Princeton’s search for a replace for the legendary Bill Tierney has ended. The Tigers, one of the nation’s strongest and most tradition-rich programs, have named former John Jay star Chris Bates as their new head coach.

I’ve heard it called the greatest upset in state playoff history — and one of the biggest ever. I’m talking about John Jay’s 11-10 double-overtime win against Huntington in the downstate Class B semifinals, which we are featuring today in our “Blast from the Past” video series. I strongly disagree. When John Jay and Huntington […]

Rye defenseman Donald Keough and John Jay midfielder Mike Daniello. (Photo by Jim Stout/MaxPreps.com) The matchups are hardly surprising. But the games themselves could be. We’re talking about the Section 1 playoffs. With live threads now (see below) on the finals in Connecticut and Long Island, it’s time to launch our final prediction fest — […]

Top: Chris Daniello scored the first goal of Syracuse’s 17-7 win over Duke in today’s national semifinal victory. Above: Another former John Jay all-American, Kevin Drew, played a key role at d-middie for the Orange. (Photos by SU Athletic Communications) Hey gang, just a few moments ago, Syracuse advanced to its 16th NCAA championship game. […]

At left: Dylan Haas, John Bello (Somers). At right: Drew Beck, Andrew Masterson (John Jay). John Jay has won four straight titles. Somers is likely to be the top seed in the playoffs.

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Yorktown’s John Ranagan. (Photo by Ray Gallagher) When they talk about Yorktown’s 13-10 win tonight over John Jay years from now, most folks will start with two words. John Ranagan. The Hopkins-bound senior midfielder had one of those games that will forever will etched in the memories of those who witnessed it. • Check back […]

Matt Gorski of four-time defending state champion Darien. (Photo by Jim Stout/MaxPreps.com) It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Two days, two showdowns. And in Fairfield and Section 1, they are, simply stated, the regular-season games  of the year. • Everybody’s all-Americans: Let’s hear your picks

Sophomore Mike Daniello scored off the initial possession of overtime to give John Jay a dramatic 11-1- win over 2008 Class A finalist Syosset Saturday night. You can watch the goal here.

Shawn Honovich of Lakeland/Panas battles John Jay’s Forrest Walter in the Rebels’ 13-12 overtime win today. (Photo by Ray Gallagher) • For video highlights of Lakeland/Panas’ 13-12 win over John Jay, click here.

As John Jay and Somers players lined up for the post-game handshake following Somers’ 10-7 win tonight, you could almost sense the feeling on both sides. That while it was a big game — and, in fact, a very entertaining one — it was just Round 1. I talked to players and coaches from both […]

Tomorrow, Long Island will take center stage with some colossal confrontations on tap. But today, Section 1 is in the spotlight. Let’s call it Super Tuesday.