Cardozo’s lacrosse captain Ayoob among city’s best

By Joseph Staszewski

It was a return to glory for a number of city boys’ lacrosse teams.

Fieldston and its high-octane offense again rose to the upper echelon of the Ivy Prep League and reached its first NYSAISAA final since 2009. Tottenville and Monsignor Farrell were both trying to eliminate the taste of championship defeats from last season, and did so.

The Pirates won their first PSAL Class A crown since 2004 while Farrell ended the drought with an unbeaten CHSAA Class A championship run, its first city crown of any kind since 1995.

All-City Boys Lacrosse Player of the Year: Grady Smith, Fieldston

Fieldston returned to prominence this season and the versatile Smith was a big reason for that success. The senior midfielder and All-Ivy Prep League first team selection was the offensive cog the rest of the Eagles rallied around. He produced 45 goals and 30 assists to lead the Bronx school to a second-place finish in the Ivy’s and its first berth in the NYSAISAA title game since 2009.

All-City Boys Lacrosse Coach of the Year: Demetrios Haronitis, Tottenville

It was title-or-bust this year for a senior-laden Tottenville team that Haronitis personally developed. That goal was realized as it brought home its first PSAL Class A crown since 2004 by beating New Dorp 5-4 in dramatic fashion. The Pirates’ journey wasn’t easy with plenty of tight wins and a surprising regular-season loss to Hunter. Still, Haronitis never exhibited less than 100 percent confidence in his club, and he was rewarded with a title.

FIRST TEAM

A Ben Andreycak, Fordham Prep

The Tufts-bound senior and All-American selection was one of the city’s best all-around talents. He scored 45 goals, including the tying score in a big win over rival Iona Prep, and notched 37 assists.

M Bektosh Ayoob, Benjamin Cardozo

The senior captain led the Judges to one of their best seasons in recent memory, which included a return trip to the PSAL Class A semifinals. Ayoob scored 41 goals and dished out 22 assists.

A Kenny Coughlin, Tottenville

The Hobart-bound standout was the key cog to the Pirates’ PSAL Class A title, especially with fellow star Cody Rivera missing time with injury. Coughlin, who will also play football at Division III Hobart, tallied 34 goals and 23 assists, by far his best season in a Pirates uniform.

A Tyler Dean-Krantz, Riverdale

The Falcons didn’t feature an explosive offense, except when Dean-Krantz was in open space. The senior attack was one of the Ivy Prep League’s most prolific scorers with 23 goals and 23 assists. He could dodge to the cage or fire precisely from the outside.

A Nick DeMeo, Tottenville

A sophomore attack, he played well beyond his years this season. He gave the Pirates another offensive threat and scored the winner in a big win over Catholic league foe Xaverian. DeMeo had 25 goals to go along with 24 assists.

G Chris Fiore, New Dorp

Considered the best goalie in the city, the Morrisville-bound senior was again superb as New Drop reached the PSAL Class A final for the second in his four seasons. He made 239 saves to keep the Central Cougars in every game.

M Hugo Francis Poly Prep

No player had a bigger impact on a game than Francis. The Blue Devils’ ball-control offense ran through him, which made perfect sense as the senior pumped in 27 goals to go along with 32 assists to help Poly reach the NYSAISAA semifinals.

M Sam Healy, Fieldston

Healy did a little bit of everything for the Eagles, and he did it well. The junior scored 30 goals, handed out 26 assists and was one of the city’s top face-off winners.

M Tanner Morris, Fieldston

The senior was armed with one of the most precise shots in the city, constantly hitting the corners. That was evident with his team-leading 61 goals, a key factor in the Eagles’ run to the NYSAISAA final.

M Mark Rini, Monsignor Farrell

Rini vowed before the year started to erase the memory of last spring’s championship game loss. He did just that, tallying 49 goals, 17 assists and won 62 percent of his face-offs. Rini scored five goals, including the winner, in the CHSAA Class A final against Stepinac.

D Logan Williamson, Fordham Prep

Williamson knows a thing or two about physical play as the Rams’ starting running back. That translated into a big year on the lacrosse field as the leader of a stingy Fordham defense. As a result, Williamson was named CHSAA Defender of the Year.

HONORABLE MENTION

A Shawn Brackett, New Dorp

D Vinny DiMare, Monsignor Farrell

A Max Goupit, Poly Prep

G Conor Gowan, Fordham Prep

G Joseph Lio, Farrell

G Alex Meiselman, Tottenville

M Nick Mietkowski, Hunter

D Ryan Nardi, Fieldston

M Joe Liberto, Xaverian

D Hal Press, Riverdale

M Emin Sabovic, Christopher Columbus