New York teams embark on start of boys lacrosse seasons

Regular-season spring sports action begins this week with boys lacrosse.

The season's first games will be played on Long Island, where many of the more interesting story lines are in place for what promises to be another dramatic finish when the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships are played on June 6 at Vestal High School.

Here are some of the more notable ones:

Powerful 'Pequa is back for more
Massapequa's run to its first state title was one of the most overpowering in state history. After winning a squeaker against Smithtown East in the Long Island championship game, the Chiefs beat their opponents in the state final and semis by a combined score of 39-11. Though 17 seniors from that squad have departed, there's plenty of talent returning, led by Yale-bound senior Nick Yevoli as well as fellow middies Griffin Barnathan, Casey Kimmel, Philip Brady and Sal Ienna, and attackmen Ryan Tierney and Giff Konen.

Yorktown hits half-century mark
What better way to usher in the 50th season in program history than by winning its seventh state title, but first since 2013. The Huskers did precisely that in 2014. Yorktown's trio of two-time All-Americans — attackman Connor Vercruysse (Rutgers), midfielder Luke Palmadesso (Villanova) and defender Austin Fusco (Syracuse) — have departed. But, as usual, Yorktown has no shortage of returning talent in midfielder Ryan Baker (UMBC), attackman Michael Dedvukaj (Monmouth) and the twin tandem of attackman Nick DelBene (Towson) and defender Dan DelBene (Manhattan).

Bronxville hopes to maintain Class C supremacy
The Bronxville team that won a state title for the first time in school history in 2014 was one of the most talented squads since the state tournament expanded to include Class C in 2000. There's plenty of talent coming back, led by arguably the best all-around player in the Hudson Valley, Johns Hopkins University-bound attackman Henry Grass. If others expected to take on expanded roles, including attackman R.J. Ambrose, defender Brendan Forst and midfielder Ara Atayan, step in and step up, the Broncos could be celebrating another state championship.

F-M eyes another title-game trip
It was a long time coming for Fayetteville-Manlius as the Hornets advanced to the state title game for the first time in 21 years last year. F-M finished a splendid 19-2 in a season in which its only losses came against Massapequa in the state and a one-goal setback to Lafayette at the midway point of the season.

Fairport, Mendon drive Section 5
Fairport (18-3) took state finalist Fayetteville-Manlius to overtime before bowing 10-9 in the semifinals, ending its 11-game win streak. Mendon (Pittsford) (15-4) fell to Fairport in the sectional final 7-6. The way the 2014 season ended has many Section 5 fans anxiously awaiting the Class A race between the two talented squads.



Multimedia news and sports editor and producer Joe Lombardi is director of media initiatives and managing editor of the DailyVoice.com, as well as the primary author of the most recent edition of "Lacrosse for Dummies." Follow Joe on Twitter @Joe_Lombardi or e-mail jlombardi@dailyvoice.com.