By Andrew Coen
The Lizards of Major League Lacrosse have launched its eighth season with five remaining home games scheduled at the Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale .Ê
Ê The Lizards are hoping to return to their early glory when they captured two of the first three MLL titles after the league launched in 2001. The 2008 squad is led by many players with local roots including Oceanside High School graduate Nicky Polanco, now in his fourth season anchoring the Lizards defense and delivering massive hits to attackmen in front of his home fans. The Rockville Centre native and former Hofstra stand-out is a two-time MLL defensive player of the year and an intimidating force for opposing attackmen.
Ê Polanco is one of five former Hofstra players on the Lizards roster, which also includes defenseman John Orsen, midfielders Joe Mascaretti, Blake Miller and Rob Bonaguro as well as defensive midfielder Julian Watts. The Lizards also feature former Lawrence High School star defenseman Rob Blount, a 2007 CW Post graduate and Baldwin High School product Adam Crystal, who was a four year defensive starter at Drexel and is now a Hofstra Law School student.
Ê In an effort to create more offense for the fans Major League Lacrosse has slightly different rules than high school and college lacrosse such as
a two-point shot, a 45 second shot-clock and an allowance of only two long-stick defenders. Long Island Õs leading offensive weapon last year was attackman Tim Goettelmann, who led the Lizards in goals with 28 and points with 38. The Lizards second leading scorer from 2007 Stephen Berger also returns.
Ê The LizardÕs next home game is against the Boston Cannons on Saturday May 31 with a 7 p.m. face-off and the following Thursday June 5 versus the Philadelphia Barrage also at 7 p.m. ÊThe remaining home contests feature the New Jersey Pride on July 3, the San Francisco Dragons on July 26 and the Baltimore Bayhawks on August 9, with all games facing off at 7 p.m.
Ê 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 numerous charity events in the area. The Lizards take requests for clinics or
player appearances on
their website longislandlizards.com.
Ê For more information on the Lizards' 2008 schedule, call (866) LIZARD-1 or
(631) 424-2606.
Comments about this story? kbloom@liherald.com or 516-569-4000x284
