Newsday's All-Long Island boys lacrosse public schools first team 2026

Newsday Player of the Year: Devin Paccione, Wantagh, A, Sr.

There was the 11-assist game, the eight-assist game, the six-assist game and the five five-assist games. Devin Paccione could sure feed a lacrosse ball to the right guy in the right spot.

After a loss to Rye in the state Class C semifinals earlier this month, his final tab came to a Long Island-leading 91 assists in helping lead Wantagh to a third straight Nassau Class C title and second straight Long Island championship.

His talent showed. So did the chemistry.

“The guys around me, they trust me with the ball behind the net and they were in great positions that I did a pretty good job at finding them and they did a great job of finishing the ball,” Paccione said.

But he wasn’t just a feeder. Paccione also scored 46 times, giving him 139 points — second on Long Island — and 376 for his high school days. That kind of impactful play resulted in the four-year starter being the 2026 Newsday Player of the Year.

“I thought I had a pretty good season,” Paccione said. “Yeah, a lot of assists, a good amount of goals, pretty balanced out.”

His coach enjoyed the view.

“Devin’s lacrosse IQ, agility, vision and change of direction make him one of the most dynamic offensive players on the field,” James Polo wrote in a text before adding praise for his “athleticism and playmaking ability.”

His dad was another reason why he was so good. Dan Paccione is the head men’s lacrosse coach at United States Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point.

“I give him all the credit in the world,” Devin said. “He’s taught me everything I know about the game. I’m still learning from him, and he’s an awesome role model.”

The younger Paccione will now be in the college ranks, too. It’s on to Villanova.

“I still think I have a lot to work on as a player,” Paccione said, “but I’m excited to go there, and I’m excited to keep learning and keep becoming a better player.”

Suffolk Player of the Year: Cameron James, Smithtown East, A, Sr.

Boys lacrosse coach Kevin Huff remembers leaving a Smithtown East basketball game in January around 6 p.m. and seeing his senior captain, Cameron James, outside, practicing wall ball with his lacrosse stick while snow was still on the ground.

“He’s on asphalt and he’s going 100 miles an hour . . . He had all these little things that he did,” Huff said. “He’s compulsive with it, and he kept track. He gave himself consequences if he didn’t get it.”

James kept a list of goals for the season in his locker, which he checked off throughout the year. From winning a county title to simply having fun and being a good leader, James checked off almost every box on the list. Even in the summer, Huff remembers watching James pick up younger teammates who were knocked down and pump them up for the next play.

James posted 64 goals and 40 assists while helping Smithtown East secure the top seed in Class B and capture its first county title since 2015. The recipient of the 2026 Lt. Ray Enners Award — given to Suffolk’s top lacrosse player — had 13 games with at least five points, seven of which came against teams that won or competed in the county finals.

James, originally a Yale commit, will play lacrosse at Johns Hopkins next spring, which he described as his “dream school since fifth grade.” He leaves Smithtown East with 192 goals, 114 assists and a total of 306 points in his high school career.

“I think the most important thing is just hard work,” James said. “You have to work hard. Lacrosse is everything to me. I put all my time and effort into it. Every decision I make is wrapped around, ‘Will this help me get better?’

“And you’ve got to have fun. You have to love the sport, love the people around it and fight for the right reason.”

FIRST TEAM

Anthony Asaro, Garden City, M, Jr.

Asaro’s presence on the field consistently draws a slide, which allows him to make the right pass or find someone who will. That’s the danger the UNC commit poses, well beyond the 17 goals and 26 assists on the stat sheet. Asaro’s dynamic athleticism and stick skills elevated Garden City’s offense to the tune of its 13.8 goals per game.

Josh Berger, Roslyn, A, Sr.

Berger, the program’s all-time leading goal scorer with 177, scored 67 goals and fed for 24 assists. Coach Jesse Sorensen saw the Yale commit as “an elite scorer that can finish from anywhere on the field with either hand . . . What makes him special is his mastery in other areas, like riding and defense.”

Greyson Cabrera, Northport, M, Sr.

Cabrera’s 56 goals and 30 assists helped the Tigers claim Suffolk’s top seed, reaching the county final in Class A. The Richmond commit had 11 games with at least five points.

Johnny Calabria, Sachem North, A, Jr.

Calabria helped lead Sachem North to its first Suffolk title, producing 56 goals and 52 assists. Coach Anthony Muratore feels the Bryant commit’s “ability to distribute the ball along with him being a finisher makes him a tough cover. John’s lacrosse IQ brings incredible value to his teammates.”

Jake Calloway, Westhampton, M/LSM, Jr.

The do-it-all midfielder had 58 caused turnovers and 115 ground balls. He scored 36 goals and assisted on 16 more, with the Penn State commit helping the Hurricanes win 10 games and make the playoffs.

Jake Casamento, Half Hollow Hills, LSM, Sr.

Coach Connor Hagans called Casamento a “stud,” and it couldn’t be a more apt description. The Penn commit caused 68 turnovers and scooped up 86 ground balls as a disruptive defensive force. Don’t let him get going with his pole in transition, either; he had 21 goals and four assists.

Andrew Dengler, Garden City, D, Jr.

Dengler continues to dominate as one of Long Island’s top defensemen. With the size, speed and stick skills to guard an opponent’s top player, the Cornell commit helped the Trojans allow a county-best 5.6 goals per game.

Michael Galgano, Farmingdale, LSM/D, Sr.

Galgano stood out for his Nassau Class A semifinalist team, causing 76 turnovers and collecting 71 ground balls, and the UMass commit contributed six goals and two assists. Coach Eric Dunne lauded his ability to cover the top opposing threats, cause those turnovers and communicate, and for having an “incredible motor and a tremendous lacrosse IQ.”

Charlie Koester, Garden City, M, Sr.

Koester had 40 goals and 38 assists as a focal point for Garden City. The Lehigh commit had seven games with at least five points against top-tier opponents, including Northport, Cold Spring Harbor and Ward Melville. He also had 11 goals and 10 assists across four playoff games.

Luca Lattanzio, Comsewogue, A, Sr.

Lattanzio had at least four points in all but three games this spring, dominating to the tune of 72 goals and 31 assists. The Queens College commit graduates with 279 career points. He helped Comsewogue claim the No. 2 seed in Suffolk’s Class B.

Luke Martini, Wantagh, A/M, Soph.

Martini followed up a 62-goal, 21-assist freshman season with a 64-goal, 38-assist sophomore season, and he added 50 ground balls. “Luke possesses a natural scoring instinct and is a force in the open field,” according to coach James Polo.

Joe Nicholson, Wantagh, M, Sr.

Nicholson posted 56 goals and 26 assists as well as 55 ground balls to help power his Nassau and Long Island Class C championship team. Coach James Polo praised the Villanova commit, who finished with 204 career points, as “a relentless two-way midfielder” and a player who “impacts every facet of the game,” and added that “his exceptional athleticism, toughness and competitive drive allows him to make game-changing plays.”

Gavin O’Brien, Northport, A, Jr. 

 O’Brien led Suffolk with 67 assists — 13 more than anyone else in the county — in addition to his 31 goals. Rutgers will have to wait another year before getting its hands on the Tigers star, who had 15 points in three playoff games and enjoyed a monstrous 10-point day against eventual county champion Sachem North in the regular season.

Brayden Robertiello, Garden City, FO, Jr.

Robertiello dominated as the best faceoff specialist on Long Island, winning 250 of 318 faceoffs for a fantastic 79% win rate, and he also had 14 goals, nine assists and 123 ground balls in Nassau’s top conference. The Penn State commit won more than 90% of his faceoffs in seven games and dipped below 60% just three times in 19 games.

Rocco Spallina, Massapequa, A, Jr.

Spallina delivered a Long Island-leading 93 goals for his state Class A championship team. Coach Kevin Catalano described him as having “elite finishing” ability and added that his 29 assists were also indicative of “a complete, do-it-all skill set that makes it easy to see why he is committed to continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Pennsylvania.”

Brody Waxer, Syosset, M/A, Sr.

Waxer’s five-year varsity run ended with 84 points on 55 goals — including a seven-goal game in a 13-12 overtime win over Massapequa — and 29 assists, leaving him with career totals of 192 goals, 109 assists and 301 points. Coach John Calabria called the Michigan commit “a dominant force,” who was “constantly pushing his teammates to become better every day.”

Luke Waxer, Bethpage, LSM, Sr.

Waxer had a terrific spring guarding an opponent’s top attackman and rarely needs a slide. In just 12 games, the Bryant commit was second in Nassau’s Power League in caused turnovers with 34 and he scooped up 64 ground balls. Waxer added six goals and six assists, helping Bethpage reach the Nassau Class B semifinals.

Josh Weisenfeld, Syosset, G, Sr.

Weisenfeld finished his standout Syosset tenure with 529 career saves in three seasons, including 204 in this one. Coach John Calabria called the LIU commit, who had a 2026 save percentage of 56.5, “the backbone of the Syosset defense” and mentioned that he “was able to change games and steal opportunities from opposing teams,” and that he “dominated in his role.”

Nolan Wieczorek, Massapequa, A, Jr.

Wieczorek was a large factor in Massapequa’s state Class A title run with a Long Island-high 141 points, a total built on 61 goals and 80 assists. Coach Kevin Catalano noted that the Richmond commit steps forward “as a premier leader whenever the team needs a spark,” and that he “continues to improve and elevate his game each and every year.”

Kip Zacharia, Manhasset, D, Sr.

Zacharia anchored the defense for his state Class B title team, covering the No. 1 threat and collecting 51 ground balls and causing 19 turnovers. Coach Nick Armstrong viewed the Lehigh commit as “a very fundamentally sound and disciplined player, with (an) excellent lacrosse IQ,” and added that Zacharia “played tremendously” during the postseason.

Nassau Coach of the Year: Nick Armstrong, Manhasset

Armstrong’s first season in charge of the program was memorable. He guided Manhasset through a regular season marked by key injuries and then a healthier/thrilling postseason run that included a 9-8 overtime win over top-seeded Garden City in the Nassau Class B title matchup, a 10-9 victory over Smithtown East in the Long Island championship game, a 12-11 victory over Yorktown in the state semifinals and a 10-7 victory over Victor in the state final, capping an 18-4 year.

Suffolk Coach of the Year: Anthony Muratore, Sachem North

Sachem North reached new heights under Muratore, who took the team to its first Suffolk final and its first county title with a 12-7 win over top-seeded Northport. There hadn’t been a county crown for boys lacrosse in the district since Sachem High won it in 1995. Muratore, in his sixth season, led this 2026 edition to a 16-4 record.