Boys lacrosse: Mrzyglod celebrates milestone as surging Red Hook dominates

ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON - There was an understandable frustration as Mikey Mrzyglod realized the team wasn't yet in position to be competitive, despite his individual excellence.

While the impressive statistics were posted and the accolades heaped, his excitement always was tempered.

"What kept my head up was believing that everything I was doing was for the benefit of the team," the Red Hook boys lacrosse star said. "The wins weren't coming, but everything was in an effort to help the program, and we were building toward something."

It's why the senior appeared so gleeful Wednesday, smiling widely after being presented congratulatory balloons, even as the rain began to pour.

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"I love this for him," Raiders coach Rich Saulino said. "Mikey was part of our last championship team (in 2019), but he was an eighth-grader and didn't play much. Since then, he's been part of the rebuilding, but he's worked constantly to improve, and the younger players have followed his lead."

Mrzyglod established himself as a foundational piece in the rebuild, and now he's seeing the construction of a potential title contender near its completion. So, reaching a milestone during a dominant victory that secured Red Hook a Section 9 playoff berth, "is definitely something I'll celebrate."

The attackman scored four goals, including the 100th of his career, in the Raiders' 17-5 win over New Paltz at Bard College. Brady Kelly, who already is emerging as a dynamic playmaker, had four goals and five assists to ignite the offense.

"I love games like this!" Mrzyglod said. "We're now 4-0 in our division and clinched a playoff spot. It's the first time in three years we've done that. Let's enjoy this."

The Raiders already have more wins this season than the previous two years combined. There is a wealth of offensive talent on the roster, along with an athletic defense that has quietly excelled, holding opponents to 7.5 goals per game.

"It's totally different now," Kelly said, comparing this team to when he first joined the varsity last year. "We're winning, putting up good numbers, and we know there's a chance we can do something special."

Red Hook was in control of this game from the outset and raced to a 9-0 lead in the first quarter. Mrzyglod put them on the board 23 seconds in, and Gabe Gravino and Kelly each added a goal in the next minute. They did this against a solid New Paltz squad that is also enjoying a turnaround season.

John Macri had four goals and two groundballs, and Gravino had three goals and an assist for the Raiders (8-2). Landon Ramsey added a goal, two assists and two groundballs, James Hennig scored a goal, and Yoav Alperson made seven saves.

"Coming out of COVID, it was a struggle with numbers," said Saulino, whose program bolstered its depth last season by including players from Rhinebeck and Pine Plains. "We've got more participation now, and people are buying in. A lot of what we do is predicated on details, and it takes everyone buying in for it to work."

Kelly, Macri, Sawyer Smith and Gavin Campolong are among the cadre of underclassmen who have helped elevate the team.

Cole Cuppett scored three goals and James Damour had two for New Paltz (5-4).

Ramsey, Matt Mulkins and Jackson Taylor led a defense that stifled the Huguenots, who entered averaging 13.8 goals per game. Just getting within scoring range was made difficult enough, but seldom was the opponent allowed space for a clear shot.

Saulino and his players credited defensive coordinator John La Bella for his film study and scouting report, preparing them well for this matchup. Nick Benassutti, Gravino and Macri anchored a midfield that controlled tempo and maintained possession. It helped, of course, that Nate Strassburger won 18 of 23 faceoffs.

"We put in a lot of work last summer, thinking this would be there year we kind of turned the corner," defender Landon Ramsey said. "Knowing who we had coming back, and seeing the potential of some of the younger guys, there was a lot of excitement about what we could be."

Kelly is one of those younger guys who have flourished. He's the brother of Brian Kelly, a former high school All-American who now plays for St. John's University. Brady watched as a fan when Red Hook was a perennial contender and soaked up as much knowledge from Brian as he could, hopeful of one day following in those footsteps.

He already has an array of dodge moves, field vision belying his age, and a rapport with his older teammates who have taken him under their wing.

Some of Kelly's talents were on display two minutes into the game, when Mrzyglod sprinted behind the goal on a crease roll and flipped him a pass on the wing. The freshman then put a quick spin move on his defender, creating space to launch a shot into the upper corner, giving Red Hook a 4-0 lead.

"Brian did a lot for me when I was younger, so I really wanted to help Brady when he came up," Mrzyglod said. "He used to hang around us all the time as a little kid. It's great to see him becoming the player he is."

For all of them, it's even greater to see this team becoming what it is. The Raiders' six-game win streak includes quality victories over Goshen, Lourdes and now New Paltz, and there is a belief ― and legitimate reason for it ― that this group can make noise in the playoffs.

"We set a goal to win a section title," Saulino said. "We believe we have what it takes to do that."

And that’s reason for excitement.

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Boys lacrosse: Mrzyglod, Kelly lead resurgent Red Hook over New Paltz