The Huntington varsity boys’ lacrosse team is heading into battle with an experienced roster of 35 players. The Blue Devils are hoping to turn in a strong season and make a splash in the playoffs.
The squad has been guided through the opening weeks of the season by first year head coach Julian Watts and new assistant coaches Andy Gutierrez and Joe Trezza. The junior varsity team is coached by Anthony Troffa and Timothy Witt.
Huntington is led by captains Michael Abbondandelo, Sam Bergman, Colby Martin and Anthony McDonald. The roster also includes freshmen Liam Hassett, Jack Krisch and Trevan Meagher; sophomores Freddie Amato, Billy Burton, Jon Koumas, Nick Mattio, Cole Pillion and Jack Stewart; juniors Sebastian Abreu, Henry Cartwright, JT Duffy, Patrick Durand, Jack Langton, Luke Luckow, Anthony Martin, Jordan McCoy, Cornelius O’Rourke, Jackson Pitti, Steven Reyes, Steven Scafordi and John Tucker; seniors Nat Amato, Ryan Buxton, Gerard Federici, Ken Flores, Ryan Gorecki, Alex LaBella, Chris Martin, Anthony Puglisi and Hugh Smith.
“Our team has really came together in the first few weeks that we have had practice and Coach Watts is doing a great job as the new head coach,” LaBella said. “We’re definitely going to be a tough team to face this year.”
The Blue Devils are coming off a 2017 campaign that saw the team compile a record of 5-9 in league play and 6-10 overall.
“The team is coming together and it looks like we’re going to have a good season,” Nat Amato said. “We’re definitely capable of making playoffs this year.”
The winter weather has presented some obstacles that Huntington has had to overcome as it prepares for the start of league play. The Blue Devils participated in a multi-team scrimmage last Saturday and played well.
“Lacrosse is going great this year,” Bergmann said. “It looks much stronger this year and we have so much potential to keep growing.”
Huntington begins its league schedule this week against North Babylon. League games with Smithtown East, Longwood, Copiague, Walt Whitman, West Islip, William Floyd, Smithtown West, Riverhead, Ward Melville, Brentwood, Connetquot, Lindenhurst and Half Hollow Hills East will follow. A non-league contest at Comsewogue on Saturday, April 7 at 11 a.m. is also slated.
