Newsday's All-Long Island boys lacrosse team 2022

Newsday Player of the Year Joey Spallina, Mt. Sinai, A, Sr.

There’s not much more that can be said about Spallina’s record-setting high school career. He burst onto the scene as an eighth-grader, putting up 84 points for a team that went to a county final. He was the first freshman to make the Newsday All-Long Island team and has only gotten better since.

Despite losing his sophomore season to the COVID-19 pandemic, Spallina still managed to set the Long Island boys lacrosse career scoring record with 507 points.

This season, he led Long Island in both goals (77) and assists (93) as Mt. Sinai won the Suffolk Class C title.

“I think Joey has proven everything that he possibly could prove in a high school lacrosse career,” Mt. Sinai coach Harold Drumm said after the Mustangs won the Suffolk championship. “He’s hands down the best high school lacrosse player I’ve ever seen.”

Spallina will play at Syracuse next year.

Nassau Player of the Year: Brendan Staub, Garden City, D, Sr.

Since 2005, there have been 10 seasons with a Garden City defenseman on the Newsday All-Long Island first team, and Steve Finnell has coached them all.

“Brendan is one of the best Garden City has ever had, period,” Finnell said after the Trojans shut down Canandaigua Academy, 8-1, to win the state Class B championship this spring. “He’s the smartest and most tenacious kid on the field. He’s pretty rare.”

Rare enough to be the first defender to be named a Newsday player of the year since Garden City’s Stephen Jahelka in 2011.

Staub added 10 goals and 10 assists to go along with 88 ground balls and 25 caused turnovers. He'll play at Cornell next year. 

Pictured, from left: Charles Balsamo of Chaminade, Jack Cascadden of Garden City, Michael Ippoliti of St. Dominic.

Charles Balsamo, Chaminade, A, Sr.

Balsamo led Chaminade with 51 goals. He played his best in the big games, scoring five times in the CHSAA AAA state championship game against St. Anthony’s. He's committed to Duke.

Jack Cascadden, Garden City, FO, Sr.

Long considered one of the best faceoff specialists in the country, he won 76% of them this season. The physically imposing Cascadden also was able to add offense when needed. He had two goals and an assist in Garden City’s class B state championship win. He’ll play at Cornell next year.

Michael Ippoliti, St. Dominic, G, Jr.

The Syracuse-bound Ippoliti made 190 saves in 17 games, including 16 to help St Dominic win the CHSAA Long Island Class A title over Kellenberg. He’s also excellent in the clearing game.

Pictured, from left: Michael Leo of St. Anthony's, Tyler McCarthy of Connetquot, Mike Meyer of Northport.

Michael Leo, St. Anthony’s, A, Sr.

A dynamic finisher, Leo led the Friars with 43 goals as a member of a vaunted attack unit. He had four goals and two assists in a regular season win over Chaminade, one of three wins for the Friars over the Flyers on the way to the CHSAA AAA state championship. Leo will play at Syracuse next year.

Tyler McCarthy, Connetquot, M, Jr.

A skilled and athletic offensive playmaker, he had 48 goals and 31 assists this season and led the Thunderbirds to the Suffolk Class A playoffs. He’s committed to Syracuse.

Mike Meyer, Northport, A, Sr.

He proved to be equally adept at scoring as he was at passing. Meyer was the only player in Suffolk other than Spallina to record 100 points, finishing with 52 goals and 56 assists.

Pictured, from left: Andrew Miller of Northport, Jesse Phelan of Cold Spring Harbor, Patrick Pisano of Cold Spring Harbor. 

Andrew Miller, Northport, LSM, Jr.

A strong, disruptive defender, Miller showed his overall athleticism and skill by scoring 18 goals, mostly in transition, and adding nine assists.

Jesse Phelan, Cold Spring Harbor, D, Sr.

The Dartmouth-bound Phelan helped formed an impenetrable backline. He was an aggressive defender who also liked to get involved in transition. He had 46 ground balls and 22 takeaways.

Patrick Pisano, Cold Spring Harbor, D, Sr.

Dennis Bonn called Pisano the best defenseman he’s ever coached at Cold Spring Harbor. Pisano was the heartbeat of a defense that led the Seahawks to the state class D title. He also chipped in with five goals and had 64 ground balls and 32 takeaways. He’ll play at Yale next year.

Pictured, from left: Jameson Smith of Bayport-Blue Point, Joey Terenzi of Manhasset, Marcus Werthiem of Smithtown East.

Jameson Smith, Bayport-Blue Point, Sr.

Another standout two-sport athlete, Smith’s all-around offensive game has helped make Bayport-Blue Point a contender in Suffolk Class C the last two seasons. He had 34 goals and 31 assists this year, and will play at Johns Hopkins next year.

Joey Terenzi, Manhasset, M, Sr.

A dynamic offensive player who was the linchpin to a talented and balanced offensive attack. He had 37 goals and 30 assists on the season, including six assists in the state Class C semifinal and three goals in Manhasset’s Class C state title win.

Marcus Wertheim, Smithtown East, M, Sr.

A crafty but strong midfielder who excelled on the offensive end. He had 45 goals and 22 assists and helped lead the Bulls to an appearance in the Suffolk Class A title game.

Nassau Coach of the Year: Keith Cromwell, Manhasset

A year after suffering a devastating final-minute loss in the Long Island championship game, Cromwell led a young team to a state title. Manhasset’s balanced offensive attack helped the team end the year on a nine-game winning streak, culminating with a 13-5 win over Westlake in the state Class C title game.

Suffolk Coach of the Year: Pete Mitchell, Comsewogue

After graduating the bulk of last season’s Suffolk championship team, Mitchell said this year was one of his favorite coaching jobs in over 30 years on the sidelines. And for good reason, as a young team bought into the Comsewogue system and won another Suffolk B title.

By Gene Morris

gene.morris@newsday.comGeneMorris

Gene Morris joined Newsday's sports department in September 2012 and covers high school sports. He earned a journalism degree from Stony Brook University in 2010.