While the Huntington High School varsity boys’ lacrosse team was competitive throughout the season, the Blue Devils missed qualifying for the playoffs. New head coach Julian Watts wants to be on a much more secure footing next spring.
Watts took over the team late in the pre-season and he hopes with a year under belt he’s ready to lead the Blue Devils into a successful new era. He was assisted by Andy Gutierrez and Joe Trezza.
Huntington finished with an overall record of 6-9. Fred Amato and Sam Bergman both won All-Division honors. The 30-player squad was captained by Bergman, Anthony McDonald, Mike Abbondandelo and Colby Martin.
Huntington opened the season by winning four of five games, including victories over North Babylon (12-7), Longwood (14-7), Comsewogue (5-4) and Copiague (18-1). The lone early season loss came at the hands of Smithtown East, 5-4.
What followed was a great deal of frustration. The Blue Devils topped William Floyd (8-7) and Brentwood (13-2), but fell to Walt Whitman (12-10), West Islip (17-4), Smithtown West (16-7), Riverhead (12-7), Ward Melville (14-3), Connetquot (12-5), Lindenhurst (7-5) and Half Hollow Hills East (16-6).
Underclassmen Billy Burton, Henry Cartwright, James Duffy, Patrick Durand, Liam Hassett, Jonathan Koumas, Jack Krisch, Jack Langton, Luke Luckow, Anthony Martin, Nick Mattio, Jordan McCoy, Trevan Meagher, Cornelius O’Rourke, Cole Pillion, Jackson Pitti, Steven Scafordi, Jack Stewart, Robbie Smith and Johnny Tucker are all eligible to return next spring.
“The future looks bright,” Watts said. “There is definitely some young talent in the program.”
