We've spent a good part of the last few weeks updating you folks on the recruiting status of rising seniors — and have had plenty of news to report with 14 Division I commitments.

We now have some news regarding the Class of 2010 — that is, rising juniors.

It didn't take many of the nation's elite [...]

The recruiting commitments continue to pour in, gang, as two more standouts from the Lower Hudson Valley region — Fordham Prep's Connor Brown and Lakeland/Panas' Jack Doherty — have orally committed to Division I programs.

Fordham Prep standout Connor Brown, left, has just given an oral commitment to Colgate. (File photo by Dave Kennedy/The Journal News) [...]

Marist's men's lacrosse team already had a strong Yorktown connection in place with former 'Huskers Ryan Penner and Paul Santavicca two of the Red Foxes' top players.

But that connection became even stronger earlier this summer when former 'Husker Scott Nelson was named as Marist's new head coach.

Yorktown defenseman Brendan Brunelle, right, has a comfort zone [...]

Located in between lacrosse recruiting hotbeds Long Island and the Hudson Valley — and surrounded by such traditional high school powers as Darien, Wilton and Greenwich — Fairfield University appears to be a sleeping giant in the world of Division I college lax.

Though the Stags made the NCAA tournament as recently as 2006, they have [...]

Binghamton, Manhattan, Marist, Tufts, Middlebury, Williams.

North Rockland's Shane Warner, the 2008 Journal News Rockland player of the year, had his pick of several strong Division I and elite D-III programs.

If you didn't visit "Lax to the Max" yesterday, you missed out on the announcement of the recruiting commitments of two ESG team members, North Rockland's [...]

We're several months away from the start of the 2009 varsity lax season.

But it's never too early to get a consensus on what teams will be the best.

The Iona Prep Gaels hope they'll have plenty more to celebrate next year. (File photo by Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)

Area lacrosse players will have another college option next year — and it's close by.

Prior to the start of this past varsity season, we invited you folks to name the area's top underclassmen.

And you did a pretty good job.

Kieran Donohue had 18 goals and 12 assists as a freshman for Somers this past season. (File photo by Dave Kennedy/The Journal News)

I know a lot of you guys play, coach or are fans of varsity football as well as lax.

Well, here's some news you'll be interested in.

For the first time ever, we will be unveiling our preseason Varsity Central Super 11 team before our football preview is published.

This is last year's Varsity Central Super 11 [...]

As Chris Bocklet, Kevin Drew and Tyler Granelli prepare to join the college programs at Virginia and Syracuse, Inside Lacrosse has provided its take on where the former John Jay stars rank among incoming college recruits in the nation.

The preseason recognition for area players continued today with Inside Lacrosse unveiling it's Top 25 rising juniors.

Checking in at No. 12 on the list is Yorktown's Kevin Interlicchio.

Yorktown attackman Kevin Interlicchio is No. 12 among rising juniors i n the nation, according to rankings released today by Inside Lacrosse. (File photo by Mark Vergari/The Journal [...]

For the second straight year, two players from the Lower Hudson Valley are ranked among the top 50-ranked rising seniors in the nation.

Syracuse-bound attackman/midfielder Joe Marasco of Somers is rated eighth and Johns Hopkins-bound midfielder John Ranagan of Yorktown checks in at No. 35 in Inside Lacrosse's annual rankings. The list will be featured in [...]

Iona Prep's Nick Trizano and John Jay's James Whalen will both be playing lacrosse at Drexel.

But the similarities end there.

Turnabout is fair play as they say.

After losing recruit Joe Marasco to Syracuse, Ohio State was able to land a player from Syracuse.

Former John Jay star Pete Coluccini will play his final season of collegiate eligibility at Ohio State.

Former John Jay all-America goaltender Pete Coluccini is heading off to Columbus. (Photo courtesy Syracuse University athletics) [...]

Former Putnam Valley star Steve Ammann closed out his career at the University at Albany by showing he contributed a lot more to the Great Danes than as a player.

Steve Ammann played alongside his brother Mike for the Albany Great Danes. (Photo courtesy University at Albany athletics)

By around 10:30 tonight, there will be four Sound Shore league champions.

One of the more entertaining aspects of the Sound Shore League is the names of the teams.

From Thirsty Turtle to Road Runners, there are plenty of colorful ones.

This is the color the lobsters I'm used to look like. (File photo by Mark Vergari/The Journal News)

Defending champion No Limit will take on Green Lobster on Monday at 8:15 p.m. at Purchase College in the Sound Shore Men's Lacrosse League A Division championship game.

Hey folks.

Thought you'd enjoy a special bonus here at Lax to the Max.

The Lower Hudson Valley area promises to be a prime target area for recruiting for Marist College now that Scott Nelson will be running the show.

The school announced today that it has hired the former Yorktown 'Huskers as its new head coach.

Roy Colsey's first season as Horace Greeley varsity coach wound up being his last.

Roy Colsey is now eyeing the head-coaching job at Ridgefield (Conn.). (File photo by Seth Harrison/The Journal News)

Now that the Empire State Games are over, the focus has quickly shifted to recruiting.

Goaltender Luke Haggerty of Clarkstown South played the entire way in goal today and led Hudson Valley to a 7-5 win over Western in the bronze-medal game at Binghamton University.

There was plenty of drama on Friday in the first Empire State Games meeting between Hudson Valley and Western.

Rob Santangelo of Rye hopes to help Hudson Valley win its second bronze medal in the last three years today. (Photo by Vincent DiSalvio/The Journal News) 

Joel Schwartz, a 72-year-old swimmer from Nyack, died last night while competing in the Masters 1,500-meter swimming competition.

Reporters Jeff Gold and Tony Pinciaro and photographer Vincent DiSalvio are in Binghamton reporting on the 31st annual Empire State Games for The Journal News and LoHud.com.

You can follow it by visiting our special ESG blog. Here's the link.

You can also find stories, photos, videos and lots more here.

Following last summer's Empire State Games, Rye resident Kieran McDonald said his mailbox was "flooded with mail from colleges."

A year after Hudson Valley edged Long Island in overtime in last year's Empire State Games, the teams met up once again tonight in another one-goal game.

This time, Long Island prevailed 9-8.

Hudson Valley goalie Michael Bonitatibus, center, of Yorktown, and teammates react after losing 9-8 to Long Island on a goal with one second [...]

Tonight's the night, gang.

It's the official start of New York's version of the Olympics — the Empire State Games.

The 31st annual Games — the first and largest state-run amateur athletic competition in the nation — start with opening ceremonies at 7:30 p.m. at Binghamton University Soccer Stadium.

For those not making the trip, you can follow [...]

Hey folks, be sure to pick up a copy of today's Journal News.

We have a nice preview of this week's Empire State Games.

Fairfield University just announced that Ted Spencer will be retiring after 13 years as head coach. Spencer, who was diagnosed with throat cancer last fall, will take some time off and then take over in a newly created position of associate athletic director at Fairfield.

Several players from the LoHud — Lakeland/Panas product Billy Honovich, Somers' [...]

When Joe Breschi left Ohio State to take over as head coach of North Carolina in mid-June, the status of several marquee recruits was suddenly up in the air.

Chief among them was Somers' Joe Marasco.

Joe Marasco's college decision took an unexpected twist yesterday when he committing to national champion Syracuse after initially giving an oral [...]

It's always been Joe Marasco's dream to play lacrosse at Syracuse.

Now he'll have an opportunity to realize it.

Hey folks,

Hope you have had a chance to check out our Westchester/Putnam all-star and Rockland all-county sections both in The Journal News today and here at LoHud.com.

Three former Yorktown standouts who are now playing on Division I college programs just returned from trips overseas. Ryan Penner and Paul Santavicca, who now play at Marist College, just got back from Australia. Tommy Dooley, who will be a senior at Hofstra, played in Germany and Prague in the Czech Republic.

Paul Santavicca, left, and [...]

… and players and coaches of the year for Westchester/Putnam and Rockland.

This season, we added some new features on our LoHud.com all-star/all-county sections.

Be sure to check them out.

And, of course, weigh in with your thoughts and insights.

Westchester/Putnam player of the year Chris Bocklet of John Jay. (File photo by Matthew Brown/The Journal News)

• Westchester/Putnam [...]

It won't be long now, gang.

In just two days, we will be unveiling Westchester/Putnam all-star and Rockland all-county teams — as well as our spring athletes of the season.

John Fennessy got a late start playing lacrosse.He didn't pick it up till his freshman year in high school.

But that hasn't stopped him from earning a Division I scholarship.

Yorktown's John Fennessy has accepted a scholarship offer from Towson. (File photo by Dave Kennedy/The Journal News)

This summer, the Hudson Valley Empire State Games team will have the distinction of having two of the nation's top recruits.

Somers' Joe Marasco in action during last summer's Empire State Games at Iona College. (File photo by Vincent DiSalvio/The Journal News) 

Now that the 2008 Hudson Vallet ESG team is all set, I took a few moments to give my thoughts on the selections, the selection process and what the schedule looks like for Hudson Valley in Binghamton.

Just received the final 30-player roster (including alternates) via e-mail from Hudson Valley ESG coordinator/coach Dave McNally.

Here it is. (Players' class in school is effective the fall.)

It's been a summer staple since 1986.

And today, the Sound Shore Lacrosse League is more popular than ever.

Publik House defenders Don Femminella and Nick Chalsen pressure Bar None's Aaron Fishkin during a Sound Shore Summer Lacrosse League game at the Joseph T. St. Lawrence Community, Health and Sports Center in Ramapo last week. Publik House [...]

Two of the top players in the LoHud — rising seniors Joe Marasco (Somers) and Michael Bonitatibus (Yorktown) — are featured by InsideLacrosse.com in video highlights of the Jake Reed Nike Blue Chip Camp that just wrapped up at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County.

On Friday, July 11, we'll be unveiling our Westchester/Putnam all-stars and Rockland all-county selections in boys lacrosse in The Journal News and right here at LoHud.com.

The Hudson Valley team that will compete in the Empire State Games is just about set.

Last night, following its Sound Shore League game against the Tailgators at Purchase College, the Hudson Valley coaches met and cut the team down to 31 players.

Our friends at laxpower.com just passed along their final national high school rankings for the 2008 season to me.

Collin Parkhurst, an attackman who was Hen Hud's second-leading scorer with 63 points this past season, will be headed to Siena College. Parkhurst made the U18 Hotbeds all-star team this summer. (File photo by Dave Kennedy/The Journal News)

It's back, folks.

But this year, we are starting our "Recruiting updates" thread about two months earlier than [...]

Hey folks. Just returned from the all-section dinner at Colonial Terrace in Cortlandt Manor.

Here is a rundown of some upcoming lax camps. Feel free to post info on others.

Former Somers all-America goaltender Mike Novosel, now a standout at Dartmouth, gives pointers to youngsters during the No Limit Camp at Rippowam-Cisqua School in Bedford last summer. (File photo by Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)

Despite tonight's heavy rains and thunderstorms, Sound Shore League action did get under way, marking the start of another season.

Thirsty Turtle's Michael Bartomioli, left, tries to get around No Limit's Jon Meyers, during a Sound Shore League game at Mahopac High School last summer. (File photo by Frank Becerra Jr. /The Journal News)

Today's senior all-star game at Yorktown and the ESG tryout at Horace Greeley have been postponed because of the threat of thunderstorms.

Because of state regulations, today was the last day the all-star game could be played so it will not be rescheduled.

The rumor mill has been buzzing the past few days that Yorktown all-America midfielder John Ranagan was close to making his college decision.

Those rumors can now be put to rest because the junior has made his choice.

John Ranagan will become the first Yorktown 'Husker to play at Hopkins since three-time high school all-American Chris Watson, [...]

I put together some thoughts on Thursday's state semifinal games at Hofstra as well as the state championship games.

Hope you enjoy.

Download:

We'll be posting updates as we get them, folks.

It was a day that had the potential to be a historic one for Section 1 boys lax.

The possibility of three teams making the state finals in the same season for the first time was very real as action got under way at Hofstra's James Shuart Stadium.

Those dreams were quickly dashed though as Yorktown started [...]

The game, originally scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. start, now won't get under way till 6 p.m.

We'll be back with updates.

Hey folks. I arrived here at Hofstra's James M. Shuart Stadium about 20 minutes ago, about two minutes before Yorktown's coach bus pulled in. The players were very business-like as they made their way onto the turf field.

Class B update No. 3: It's official, John Jay advanced to tomorrow's state semifinals with a 17-2 win over South Glens Falls. The Indians will play at Hofstra at 5:30 p.m. against either Rocky Point of Section 11 or Garden City of Section 8.

John Jay freshman Mike Daniello strong arms a South Glens Falls defender [...]

Yorktown's John Froats unleashes a shot during today's 9-6 Class A state quarterfinal win over Niskayuna at Yorktown High School. (Photo by Matthew Brown/The Journal News)

Rye's Kris Kilpi controls during today's 18-3 win over Johnstown in the Class C state quarterfinals at Lakeland High School. (Photo by Seth Harrison/The Journal News)

Be sure to keep it here, folks, for updates on today's state quarterfinal games.

We will also be posting scores from the Long Island championship games as they become available.

By around 7:30 tonight we will know exactly how many Section 1 teams will be heading to Hofstra tomorrow for the state semifinals.

Really, I mean it this time.

Of course, we thought the same thing when we woke up yesterday. But then came 98 degrees of separation. All three games wiped out by — get this [...]

The annual Yorktown alumni game is coming back.

It will be played this Sunday at 3 p.m. at Charlie Murphy Field. (It is on a Sunday instead of Saturday this year because the high school state championships, of course, are on Saturday.)

Former 'Huskers Mike McCall and Chris Watson have done a great job organizing this year's [...]

Will Section 1 make it 3 for 3 in the state semifinals for the third straight year?

There's a good chance.

Yorktown (Class A), John Jay (Class B) and Rye (Class C) have state quarterfinal-round games today starting at 3:30 p.m. at Yorktown High School when the 'Huskers face Niskayuna in what should be the most competitive [...]

Here's a one-stop shop for state playoff schedules and results as well as links to state brackets and rosters, stats and schedules for matchups involving the three Section 1 teams still alive.