Long Island natives representing US at Lacrosse World Championships

Sports |

Of the 40 world-class athletes selected to represent America at this year’s Federation of International Lacrosse World Championship in Manchester, England, seven hail from Long Island. They will compete from July 10-24 and are the favorites to win Gold, an improvement from the Silver won in 2006 when the games were held in London, Ontario.

Here’s a look at who made it …

Name, high school, college

Kevin Cassese: Comsewogue, Duke … The son of legendary Comsewogue High School football coach Tom Cassese, Kevin is the head lacrosse coach at Lehigh University. He was a standout at Duke and was a member of the 2002 World Lacrosse Championship team that won Gold, as well as the 2006 team. Cassese plays for the Philadelphia Barrage of the MLL.

Stephen Peyser: Cold Spring Harbor, Johns Hopkins … He currently plays for the Long Island Lizards and Orlando Titans in the professional leagues. Peyser won two national titles at Hopkins.

Max Seibald: Hewlitt, Cornell … Seibald won just about every major lacrosse award there was to be had in 2009: Tewaaraton, Enners, Lowe’s Senior Class Award, Geppi-Aikens, Charles Moore, All-American and the list goes on. Now he’s looking to add another honor to his list … a World Title. He also plays for Denver in the MLL.

Matt Zash: Massapequa, Duke … An assistant coach at Bryant University under Mike Pressler – the U.S. Team head coach –, Zash is also a member of the Long Island Lizards and New York Titans. A Massapequa High grad, Zash played four years at Duke and was on the Barrage before coming to his hometown team. He played for the U.S. National Indoor Team that won a Bronze Medal in 2007, as well as the U.19 U.S. Team that won a World Championship in 2003.

Brief analysis: After losing in 2006, every American has a sour taste left over. That loss will be avenged and the United States will win Gold. They’ll have a chance to repeat at home in 2014. The FIL announced this week that Denver will host the next World Championship.

Check the LI Pulse Hot Corner Blog for updates on these players and their lacrosse success over seas in the coming weeks.

cal hunter

At night when Cal Hunter's family is asleep, the only thing he loves more than a tall glass of Wild Turkey next to his Mac is the clicking of keys when thoughts become words and sentences become a story. He thinks, he lives, he writes. There isn't much more to know.