L.I. Lizards aim for MLL championship

After qualifying for the Major League Lacrosse (MLL) playoffs for the first time in four years last season, the Long Island Lizards have championship aspirations for 2010.

The Lizards qualified for MLL’s Championship Weekend in Annapolis, Md. and lost a hard fought one goal game to the eventual champions, the Toronto Nationals.

Looking to bounce back this year, the Lizards have five remaining home games through late July that will give Long Islanders an opportunity to see the sport of lacrosse’s top players in the world. The next home game is this Saturday, June 5, against the Denver Outlaws at Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium at 7 p.m.

The Lizards boast loads of offensive talent, including former Duke attackmen Matt Danowski and Zack Greer, who both share the record for most points in NCAA history.

“We’re really looking forward to playing some home games and getting a lot of Long Island fans out and getting some support,” said Lizards head coach Jim Mule.

After dropping its first two games on the road, the Lizards defeated the Boston Cannons 13-11 in its home opener at Stony Brook University’s LaValle Stadium on May 27.

Mule, an East Meadow native, said last year’s experience making the MLL’s Championship Weekend before falling in the semifinals to the eventual champion Toronto Nationals has added increased motivation for the 2010 season. “[Making the playoffs last year] definitely makes you hungry,” said Mule. “You get a taste of being at Championship Weekend and you want to be there again.”

The 2010 Lizards feature a host of local players from Nassau County’s South Shore, including 6’4 defenseman Nicky Polanco, an Oceanside High School graduate (and Rockville Centre native) who starred at Hofstra University from 1999-2002. He is in his sixth season with the team. Two other local players on the roster include defensemen Dom DeNapoli, a graduate of Hewlett High School and St. John’s University, and Ricky Pages, a Lynbrook High School alum who starred at Ohio State.

Polanco is one of several former Hofstra players on the Lizards, along with midfielders Anthony Muscarella and Mike Unterstein as well as defensemen Brian Spallina, Julian Watts and John Orsen. Other Lizards who played local college lacrosse include New York Tech graduates Tom Zummo and Frank D’Agostino as well as former Adelphi standout Donny Moss.

With the exception of a July 3 game against the Chicago Machine at Stony Brook, all of the Lizards’ remaining home games will be at Hofstra University’s Shuart Stadium. Saturday’s game, at 7 p.m. against the Denver Outlaws, features Hewlett High School graduate Max Seibald, the 2009 Tewaarton Award winner at Cornell, and Baldwin High School alum Casey Cittadino. The other home games are June 19 and July 31 against Toronto, at 7 p.m., and July 22 against the Chesapeake Bayhawks with an 8 p.m. faceoff.

Numerous promotions will be offered to fans throughout the season and families can arrange for birthday parties for their children at home games. The Lizards also give back to the local community by conducting numerous youth

clinics throughout the year and participating in many charity events in the area.

For further information on the Lizards’ 2010 schedule, call (631) 424-2606 or visit www.longisland

lizards.com.