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Boys Lacrosse

Photo Caption: Front row, from left: Andrew Dow (Hauppauge), Patrick Walsh (Wantagh), Dan Flannery (Garden City), Matt Zash (Massapequa), Kyle Dowd (Northport). Back row, from left: Nassau Coach of the Year Dennis Bonn (Cold Spring Harbor), Drew Peters (Babylon), Danny Loftus (Syosset), John Donnellan (Shoreham-Wading River), Phil Spinella (Comsewogue), Steve Panarelli (Farmingdale), Will Presti (Farmingdale), Greg Peyser (Cold Spring Harbor), Suffolk Coach of the Year Pete Mitchell (Comsewogue). (Photo by Ken Kreitzman)

A look at the boys lacrosse players who stood out on Long Island high school varsity squads in the spring of 2001-02.

JOHN DONNELLAN
Shoreham-Wading River, Defense, Senior

For all of the Wildcats offensive weapons, with Chris Unterstein, Liam Cerveny and Lee Schaknowski, Donnellan was a one-man wrecking crew on the defensive end. With a relentless pursuit, Donnellan shut down some of the top attackers in Division III as Shoreham (17-1) went on to repeat as Suffolk Class C champs. "Hes one of the best players I have ever coached," Shoreham-Wading River coach Tom Rotanz said.

ANDREW DOW
Hauppauge, Defense, Senior

Dow wants to be a Navy SEAL someday, and played defense and led his team as if he was going to battle when he stepped on the field. The 6-foot, 190-pound long-stick defender led Hauppauge (15-4) to the Suffolk Class B final this season with his aggressive style. "Hes a really focused and competitive kid," Hauppauge coach Jerry Goodfellow said. "He just worked really hard on the finer points of being a great defenseman. Hes the complete package." Bound for Navy Prep next season.

KYLE DOWD
Northport, Midfielder, Senior

Dowd whizzes 95 mph shots from the top of the box. He cradles the ball downfield like a bruising running back busting through the line of scrimmage, over, around and through defenders. Dowd scored 33 goals and had 15 assists through May 30, leading Northport, the defending state Class A champ and Long Islands only undefeated team, to the Suffolk final.

"The most significant thing about Kyle is that he is a tremendous competitor," Northport coach Bob Macaluso said. "He takes great pride in competing at the highest level." The Johns Hopkins-bound All-American has 121 goals and 63 assists in his career. Dowd played on the Empire State team and was All-County in 2000 and 2001.

DAN FLANNERY
Garden City, Attack, Senior

Flannery wasn't even sure if he would be able to play lacrosse this season. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament in a football game last fall he finished the game with the injury and had surgery during the winter. But by the time spring was here, so was Flannery, who scored 33 goals with 60 assists and added senior leadership to a young Garden City team.

BRIAN HEHIR
Chaminade, Midfielder, Senior

Whenever Chaminade coach Jack Moran had doubts, whenever he needed a big goal, it was usually Hehir who provided the boost. While defenses clamped down on linemate Jim OBrien, Hehir took advantage, scoring 33 goals and totaling 18 assists. Hehir led his team to a 16-3 record, and the CHSAA title. "I am just a cog in the Big Red Machine and I just tried to do my part," said the 6-2, 180-pound Georgetown signee. "Its not all me. Everyone else on the team did his part." Chaminade doesn't let underclassmen compete on the varisty, so Hehir finished his two-year career with 57 goals and 32 assists. "He seemed to play well in all of our big games," Moran said. "Hes a very focused kid and a student of the game."

DANNY LOFTUS
Syosset, Goalie, Junior

Loftus took Syosset to the Nassau Class A semifinals. Without him, the Braves may not even make the playoffs. He made 187 saves this season and kept Syosset in almost every game it played. He had 23 saves in a win over Garden City and 19 in a win over Hicksville, the two biggest of the year, and has emerged as a leader on the team.