Lindenhurst boys lacrosse team's Hunter DeRonde scores six goals in win over Half Hollow Hills

It had been almost two decades — the 2008 playoffs — since Lindenhurst last beat Half Hollow Hills in boys lacrosse, either as a combined program or separated into Hills East and West, according to Lindenhurst coach Thomas McCandless.

With the Bulldogs seeded sixth in the preseason to Hills’ third, Lindenhurst senior Hunter DeRonde felt as if he and his teammates had something to prove Thursday at Half Hollow Hills West.

“I think they underestimated us; a lot of people are underestimating us this year,” he said.

DeRonde scored six goals to lift Lindenhurst to a 14-10 Suffolk Division I win over defending state Class A champion Half Hollow Hills. Senior Joe Scavone IV added two goals and three assists.

With Hills (0-3) leading 6-3 in the second quarter, DeRonde scored four of Lindenhurst’s seven consecutive goals, with Scavone, junior Jack Tissier and sophomore Caiden Alazraki each adding one for the Bulldogs (2-0).

Alazraki finished with two goals and four assists.

Still thinking about this absolutely filthy finish from Lindenhurst’s Caiden Alazraki.

Seven seconds on the shot clock when Joe Scavone IV starts moving.

Alazraki is only a sophomore 👀 pic.twitter.com/zAGAsfTu3X

— Michael Sicoli (@Michael__Sicoli) March 27, 2026

“He’s been playing with us for three years now,” DeRonde said. “It’s just built a bond.”

Hills senior Sal Caiazzo scored with three seconds left in the third quarter to end the Bulldogs’ run. Sophomore Patrick Sarnicola and senior Ryan Murgatroyd scored in the first four minutes of the fourth quarter to give Lindenhurst a 12-7 lead with 8:21 left.

Senior Alex Burmeister, sophomore James Estevez and senior Dan Hillman led a defensive effort that held Hills to four second-half goals. Lindenhurst senior goalie Brandon Ramirez made 11 saves.

“When these guys were freshmen, we went 2-12,” McCandless said. “I told them, ‘Look, you have to buy into this. You’re getting beat up right now, you’re young, you’re working at it. It will get better when you’re older, I promise you.’ This year, we’re coming out strong, so we’ll see.”

Senior FOGO Delvani Valdivia helped the Bulldogs maintain their momentum, winning 17 of his final 22 faceoffs after starting 3-for-6.

It didn’t help Hills to be without sophomore FOGO Colton Raio, who was sidelined because of an injury.

Junior Nick Haugen had three goals and an assist.

The team graduated much of its star-studded 2025 team and the inexperience showed at times, whether it was losing a ground ball or a lack of communication on and off the field that didn’t exist a year earlier.

“Every team is different,” Hills coach Connor Hagans said. “It’s going to be a steep learning curve for some of these young guys, which is good for the future, but right now, we’re just going through some growing pains.”