LILJ Boys Winter League Playoff & Championship Recap; Game Write-Ups, Analysis, Player Performances

Championship weekend put a bow on the LILJ Boys Winter League, as both the JV and Varsity champions were crowned following a competitive slate of seven games to close out the season. The weekend was filled with exciting lacrosse, and big-time performances as teams rose to the moment with titles on the line. From high-level battles to standout individual efforts, the championship atmosphere brought out the best across both divisions, wrapping up the winter league with energy, intensity, and a preview of what’s to come this spring. Check out the recaps of each of the five games down below from the final weekend of this year’s winter league!

Legacy Taz 2029 vs S2S Trojans 2029

Opening up the Sunday slate of the games on the final weekend it was Legacy Taz 2029 JV set the tone early and held strong down the stretch to earn an 8–4 win over Shore 2 Shore in a competitive matchup. Taz jumped out to a 6–0 lead in the first half behind strong ball movement and efficient finishing, putting Shore 2 Shore in a hole heading into the break. The Trojans showed fight in the second half, outscoring Taz 4–2, to get back in the game, but the first half lead built by Legacy was enough for them to secure the win.

James Magnus was the standout on the offensive end for Legacy Taz, finishing with a game-high five points on three goals and two assists while consistently creating opportunities for himself and his teammates. AL Pehanick added a pair of goals, and Ryan Bardak, Gavin Beauchamp, and Michael Granshaw each chipped in goals to round out a balanced scoring effort. Griffin Aebisher contributed as a facilitator with an assist, helping keep the offense flowing throughout the game. On the defensive side, Legacy Taz was steady and disciplined, forcing turnovers and limiting high-quality looks. In goal, Christopher Cirillo made five saves in the first half to anchor the defense with a 56% save percentage, while Ryan Scala was perfect in relief, stopping all three shots he faced. At the faceoff X, Brady Daniewicz was a key presence, winning five of six faceoffs to help Taz control possession early.

For Shore 2 Shore, Kellan Garvey led the way offensively with two goals, while Christian Ferrari and Kevin Hegarty each found the back of the net. Cannon Halstead added an assist, and Ferrari along with Alex Liguori stood out in the ground game combining for seven ground balls and a caused turnover. The defense also saw Luke Herrera force two turnovers and scoop up two balls off the ground.

St. Anthony’s 2028 vs Legacy Black 2029

The stage was set for the JV Championship Game featuring the St. Anthony’s sophomores and the freshmen of Legacy Black! St. Anthony’s built a strong early lead and withstood a late push to secure an 8–6 win over Legacy Black in a competitive, back-and-forth matchup. St. Anthony’s set the tone in the opening half, jumping out to a 6–1 advantage behind efficient offense and strong possession play. Legacy Black responded with a five-goal second half to make things interesting, but St. Anthony’s did enough down the stretch to close out the championship!

Salvatore Ranieri led the way offensively for St. Anthony’s, finishing with a game-high three goals while consistently pressuring the defense. Parker Savarese added two goals of his own, creating problems from the perimeter, while Charlie Gandolfo had a big all-around performance with a goal and two assists. Gabriel Cuttita and Jeffrey Rettaliata each chipped in goals, with Rettaliata also standing out between the lines by collecting four ground balls and Rettaliata battling at the faceoff X going 5/8. Defensively, St. Anthony’s got key contributions from multiple players, and Colton O’Connell was sharp in goal, stopping seven shots and allowing just one goal while anchoring the unit in the first half. His play helped St. Anthony’s build momentum early and control the pace of the game.

Legacy Black showed resilience after halftime, led by Cayden Peters, who paced his team with four points on three goals and an assist while generating offense from multiple spots on the field. Johnny Nessler, Aidan O’Neill, and Colin Neff each found the back of the net, while Dylan Massari added an assist. In goal, Cameron Manuel was more than stout making six saves while playing in the second half and finishing with a stellar 75% save percentage.

Huntington vs Kellenberg

For the second straight night the Blue Devils and Firebirds went head-to-head and it was once again the Blue Devils of Huntington controlling the game, building a steady advantage to earn a 6–2 win over Kellenberg. Huntington came out firing early, scoring six times in the opening half to put Kellenberg on its heels. Despite a more even second half, Huntington’s defensive effort and early offensive burst proved too much to overcome as they shut the door after halftime.

Jack Kamenstein (Geneseo) delivered another standout game for Huntington, leading all scorers with three goals while consistently attacking the cage and drawing defensive attention. Lucas Serino and Keegan Warren each added a goal, with Warren also contributing between the lines. Brendan McNulty was active all over the field, finishing with a goal while scooping three ground balls. Christian Luca and Ricardo Berry each chipped in an assist, helping keep the offense balanced. Huntington also dominated possession, led by Colby Curran at the faceoff X, where he went 8-for-10 while collecting a game-high seven ground balls. Defensively, the Blue Devils were disruptive throughout, forcing turnovers and limiting Kellenberg’s second-chance opportunities. In goal, Alvin Luna and Chris Rado split time and were steady, combining for six saves while allowing just two goals, both finishing with a 75% save percentage.

Kellenberg showed fight throughout the contest, with Finn Lavelle pacing the offense with a goal and an assist, while Dylan Roberts added a goal of his own. Brayden Farrelly chipped in an assist, and Eoin Power (NJIT) and Dylan Kolm were active defensively, combining for multiple caused turnovers. Goalie JP Mastacciuola put together a great game in the net, making nine saves on 15 shots faced for a 60% save percentage, keeping Kellenberg within striking distance.

Hills vs Ward Melville

Hills edged Ward Melville in a tightly contested matchup, holding off a late push to secure an 8–7 victory. The game was competitive from the opening faceoff, with both teams trading goals throughout the first half. Hills carried a slim 4–3 lead into the break before matching Ward Melville goal-for-goal in the second half to preserve the one-goal win.

The Hills offense got a big offensive showing from Bucknell commit Nick Haugen, who scored three goals and battled for seven ground balls, giving Hills an edge in key possessions. Jeffrey Kleinman also stepped up with a big game, finishing with three goals and an assist. He was a constant threat offensively and helped set the tone early. Daniel Chung was another key contributor, posting a goal and two assists while shooting efficiently and causing a turnover on the defensive end. Aidan Ozvath played a major role as a facilitator, dishing out three assists to help keep the Hills offense balanced. Sal Caiazzo (UVM) In goal, Hills relied on Michael Labovitz, who made five saves while facing consistent pressure to help secure the win.

Ward Melville was led by Louis Montellese, who powered the offense with a game-high three goals on seven shots and was active between the lines with multiple ground balls and caused turnovers. Jack Rella (Salve Regina) added a goal and two assists, while Gavin Lohmann and Collin Mark each found the back of the net to keep the Patriots within striking distance. William Klein chipped in with a goal and a strong two-ground-ball effort as Ward Melville pushed late in the contest. Angelo Sorbera delivered another stout game at the faceoff X winning 9/15 faceoffs. In the caused turnover department James Speciale created two turnovers to get the ball to the Ward Melville offense.

St. Anthony’s 2026 vs St. Anthony’s 2027

The championship game in the varsity division was a full fledged Friars matchup between the St. Anthony’s seniors and the St. Anthony’s juniors. This one saw the seniors put together a strong, balanced performance to earn a 12–5 win over the 27s jumping out to an early 7–2 halftime lead and never looking back. The 2026 offense shared the ball effectively and capitalized on its opportunities, finishing with 12 goals while maintaining a fast tempo throughout the contest.

Dylan Harrigan (Maryland) led the way for the 2026 group with a game-high three goals on six shots, consistently creating scoring chances and stretching the defense. Anthony Mancaruso (UNC) added two goals and an assist, while Charles Cacciabaudo (UNC) chipped in two goals of his own. Jake Johnston (Hopkins) scored once and dished out two assists while and Danny Rooney (Maryland) also added two assists as each were key facilitators, helping keep the offense moving and involved multiple scorers. Strong two-way play from Brody Richert (Towson) with one goal, one assist and play between the lines also stood out in the win. Rounding out the scoring was one goal each from Paul LoNigro (Wingate), Patrick Buckley (Salve Regina) and Billy Atkinson (Bryant). The goalie duo of Dylan Rappaport (Loyola) and Nick Zenk (Air Force) both delivered strong efforts with Rapport compiling six saves and 75% save percentage in the first half, and Zenk stopping four shots with a 57% save percentage in the second half.

St. Anthony’s 2027 showed flashes of fight, particularly in the second half, behind a pair of goals from Logan Hecht (Rutgers) and Gavin Lynch, who each finished with two goals. Reid Johnston and Ryan Lasko (BU) each recorded two assists with Lasko also finding the back of the net once. Nathaniel Cooke delivered a big game at the faceoff X, winning 11/16 faceoffs for a winning percentage of 68%.