Lynbrook still boasts talent

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Lynbrook lost two big scorers, some key defenders and its starting goaltender from last year’s 10-win team that dropped a hard-fought 9-7 decision to Long Beach in the opening round of the Nassau Class B boys’ lacrosse playoffs, but the Owls are far from short on talent.

“We graduated a lot, but we have a good senior group back and some young guys who got their feet wet last season,” coach Bill Leighley said. “I don’t know how things are going to go early, but I think we’ll step up as the season progresses. As long as we’re peaking at the right time, that’s the main thing.”

Leighley designed a challenging non-league slate that included games against large schools Farmingdale, Baldwin and Oceanside to help prepare the Owls for their Conference B-II rivals. Lynbrook, seeded third behind Manhasset and Hewlett, begins conference play April 9 at Great Neck North.

Award winners Nick LoCicero and Joe Grossi, both All-Conference selections, spearhead Leighley’s group of returnees. LoCicero, a senior attack, will run the offensive show from the ‘X’ position after recording nine goals and 18 assists last spring. “Nick’s confident with the ball in his stick and has great vision,” Leighley said. “He can catch a pass and move the ball quickly to an open teammate, or he can settle us down.” The coach noted Grossi, a junior midfielder coming off a 10-goal campaign, will handle faceoffs and be one of the team’s groundball leaders.

Two athletes that helped the Owls basketball team to the playoffs, senior Matt Murphy and junior Michael McVeigh, are two keys to the midfield. Both are shifty lefties expected to contribute offensively and defensively. “Matt’s leadership on the basketball court transfers onto the lacrosse field,” said Leighley, “and Michael has one of the hardest shots on the team.”

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