Advertisement

Section V boys lacrosse is loaded with Division I commits: 56 players to watch in 2024

Justin Ritzel, Canandaigua Daily Messenger
·7 min read

Face-off specialists are, arguably, the most important position in boys lacrosse. A job done well fosters possession and scoring opportunities, while struggles can hem a team in its own end for extended periods of time.

Jonah Carrier accepts that responsibility for Irondequoit. The Eagles' senior won 73% of his face-offs in 2023 and was rewarded with an All-Greater Rochester selection and named first team all-league in Monroe County.

Even for a specialist who claims three-quarters of their draws, there remains room for improvement.

"This year I'm definitely trying to increase the percentage," Carrier said. "Usually every game I go into it hoping to win 75 to 80%. Usually I watch film on the other kids to see what they're going to do against me and try to counter it."

Boys lacrosse: Section V scores for 2024 season

Carrier was near-unbeatable in Irondequoit's season opener against Webster Thomas with a 20-for-23 showing.

Irondequoit's Jonah Carrier eyes a loose ball.
Irondequoit's Jonah Carrier eyes a loose ball.

His second outing, 15-for-25 against Hilton on Tuesday, was a more modest output for Carrier's lofty standards, as the Cadets' own specialists Michael Mitrano and Drew O'Buck offered a stiff test for four quarters. According to Eagles coach Aaron Bottazzo, those numbers don't tell the entire story.

Carrier, a midfielder, also operates like a point guard at the top of the zone. As he draws attention from the opposing defense, opportunities open up for teammates.

"I've coached Jonah all four years he's been on varsity with us. I remember seeing him his freshman year and thinking he can really play for us, and ever since that day there hasn't been a time he hasn't taken a face-off for us," Bottazzo said. "It's been a pleasure coaching him. He's taken a step from junior to senior year, in terms of always having that high motor. When he's on, he's very hard to stop. The fact that he's such a talented player, I think it breeds success and confidence for the other guys."

Irondequoit is off to a 2-0 start, its latest win earned in stunning fashion. The Eagles trailed by three with less than five minutes to go against Hilton, but took advantage of multiple man-advantages to tie the score and force overtime.

Then, after negating a foul of its own to start overtime, Irondequoit struck on a shot by Cooper Moore -- another returning first team all-league selection -- to complete the comeback.

A sign of things to come for his senior season? Carrier hopes so. While Irondequoit remains one of Section V's most storied boys lacrosse programs -- the Eagles' 16 championships are second-most in section history -- the program has not won a title since 2012.

"We haven't won a sectional championship in over a decade," Carrier said. "I think we've got the team to do it this year."

Section V boys lacrosse players to watch for 2024

Aquinas' Tano Auriuso celebrates a goal against McQuaid.
Aquinas' Tano Auriuso celebrates a goal against McQuaid.

  • Drew Angelo, Honeoye Falls-Lima: 2023 All-Greater Rochester selection, Monroe County first team all-league face-off specialist. Committed to Syracuse University.

  • Jeremy Askin, Geneva: Finger Lakes first team all-league face-off specialist. 11 goals, 15 assists in 2023.

  • Tano Auriuso, Aquinas: 58 goals, 26 assists in 2023.

  • Ethan Aust, Penfield: The Patriots returning leading scorer from 2023. Aust was a second team all-league choice at attack.

  • Sean Baird, Spencerport: Monroe County first team all-league defenseman. Committed to St. John Fisher.

  • Ryan Bowerman, Penfield: Monroe County first team all-league defender, also named to the 2023 All-Section V team. Bowerman is "a complete defender who excels in all aspects at the defensive end," according to coach John Schembri. Bowerman is committed to Loyola.

  • DeSean Bruce, Geneva: Finger Lakes first team all-league defenseman.

  • Jonathan Bucciarelli, Greece: Monroe County second team all-league goaltender in 2023. Bucciarelli has over 500 career saves and had a 61% save percentage last season. Committed to Jacksonville. Said one opposing Section V coach, "Arguably the best goalie in Section V."

  • Jonah Carrier, Irondequoit: 2023 All-Greater Rochester selection, Monroe County first team all-league face-off specialist. Committed to University of Maryland.

  • Joey Cinquino, Livonia/Avon: GRALL first team all-league face-off specialist.

  • Leo Cohrs, Geneva

  • Cody Coleman, Rush-Henrietta: Monroe County second team all-league at attack. Committed to Roberts Wesleyan.

  • Ben Cook, Honeoye Falls-Lima: Monroe County first team all-league defenseman, All-Section V second team. Committed to RIT.

  • Thomas D’Angelo, Brighton: Committed to Union.

  • Anthony DeRosa, Webster Schroeder: Monroe County first team all-league midfielder. Committed to RIT.

  • Reid Doolittle, Webster Thomas: Monroe County second team all-league midfielder. 16 goals, 15 assists in 2023.

  • Patrick Donahoe, Honeoye Falls-Lima: Monroe County first team all-league at attack.

  • Braden Fingar, Penn Yan: Section V Class D all-tournament team selection. 26 goals, 24 assists in 2023.

  • Teagan Fingar, Penn Yan: All-Section V first team, Section V Class D all-tournament team. 42 goals, 33 assists in 2023. Committed to Mount St. Mary's University.

  • Luke Fliss, Pittsford: Monroe County second team all-league midfielder. 17 goals, 24 assists in 2023.

  • Alex Garrow, Wayne: Finger Lakes first team all-league midfielder. Committed to Nazareth.

  • Dom Gullace, Canandaigua: Monroe County first team all-league defenseman.

  • John Harding, McQuaid: 24 goals, 12 assists in 2023.

  • Max Heieck, Geneva: Finger Lakes second team all-league attack, Section V Class C all-tournament team. 30 goals, 33 assists in 2023.

  • Jack Herendeen, Victor: 2023 All-Greater Rochester selection. Committed to Cornell.

  • Luke Herendeen, Palmyra-Macedon: Finger Lakes first team all-league defender.

  • Griffin Hilimire, Mynderse: Finger Lakes first team all-league attack. 45 goals, 35 assists in 2023.

  • Keagan Hoesterey, Palmyra-Macedon: Finger Lakes midfielder of the year, Section V Class C all-tournament team. 49 goals, 37 assists in 2023.

  • Kieran Hughes, Brighton: Committed to Hamilton.

  • Jaxon Leonard, Churchville-Chili: Monroe County first team all-league attack.

  • Peyton Lich, Palmyra-Macedon: Finger Lakes first team all-league goaltender. 158 saves, 65% save percentage in 2023.

  • Max McEnerney, Livonia/Avon: GRALL first team all-league at attack.

  • Eoin Meyer, McQuaid

  • Michael Mitrano, Hilton: Monroe County all-league honorable mention midfielder. 54% on face-offs in 2023.

  • Mitchell Monte, Fairport: Monroe County second team all-league midfielder. 29 goals, 7 assists in 2023. Committed to Dartmouth.

  • Cooper Moore, Irondequoit: 2023 Monroe County first team all-league attack.

  • Nkodia Ndongala, East United: Monroe County second team all-league face-off specialist.

  • Noah Olbrich, Aquinas: 60 goals, 18 assists in 2023.

  • PJ Ostrowski, Wayne: Finger Lakes first team all-league midfielder.

  • Brenton Paladino, McQuaid: Committed to Mercyhurst.

  • Chase Perryman, Honeoye Falls-Lima: 2023 All-Greater Rochester selection, Monroe County first team all-league attack, Section V Class C tournament Most Valuable Player. Committed to St. Bonaventure University.

  • Gavin Price, Haverling: GRALL first team all-league midfielder. 22 goals, 22 assists in 2023.

  • Alex Rheude, Canandaigua: Monroe County first team all-league midfielder. 12 goals, 9 assists in 2023.

  • Cam Ryan, Victor: Committed to Syracuse.

  • Mason Schembri, Penfield: Monroe County second team all-league goaltender, who posted a 75% save percentage in league play last season.

  • Nate Schilling, Webster Schroeder: Monroe County second team all-league attack. Committed to York College.

  • Jack Schimmel, Aquinas: Committed to Mercyhurst.

  • Owen Smith, Honeoye Falls-Lima: Monroe County first team all-league midfielder. Committed to Aurora University.

  • Aksel Stanat, Brighton: Committed to Geneseo.

  • Zach Tortora, Spencerport: Monroe County first team all-league midfielder.

  • Sam Underhill, Newark: Finger Lakes third team all-league midfielder. 28 goals, 19 assists in 2023.

  • Gio Valerie, Aquinas: 35 goals, 18 assists in 2023 as midfielder.

  • Bryant VanHousen, Penn Yan: Section V Class D all-tournament team. 25 goals, 20 assists in 2023. Committed to SUNY Cortland.

  • Owen Wetterings, Livonia/Avon: GRALL first team all-league defenseman.

  • Drew Willamee, Canandaigua: Section V Class B all-tournament team selection, Monroe County first team all-league attack. 22 goals, 16 assists in 2023.

  • Chase Wilson, Hilton: Monroe County second team all-league attack. 41 goals in 2023.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Section V boys lacrosse: These are the 56 top players on AGR watchlist