On Sunday, Aug. 24, the Long Island Lizards won their second Major League Lacrosse Championship in 3 years. The Lizards beat the Baltimore Bayhawks 15-14 in a thrilling overtime victory in front of 7000+ fans at Villanova University in Philadelphia, PA. Manhasset players John Gagliardi, Tim Goettelmann, Conor Denihan, Nick Murtha and Matt O'Kelly helped lead the Lizards to victory.

The story actually began on Friday September 22nd in the MLL semi-finals game against the Boston Cannons. In this game, the Lizards displayed their lacrosse dominance. Manhasset's Tim Goettelmann led all scorers with five goals and one assist and was named MVP of the game. Lizards defenseman John Gagliardi of Manhasset held the Cannons leading scorer Mike Watson to one point and was later named MLL Ironman/Sportsman of the game. Conor Denihan and Matt O'Kelly both added 3 points to the Lizards offense. Denihan had a two-point goal that put the game out of reach for the Cannons. The Lizards won the game 20-14. In the other semi-final game at Villanova, the Baltimore Bayhawks beat the New Jersey Pride 16-15 to help them advance to the finals against the Lizards.

During the championship game between the Lizards and the Bayhawks on Sunday, there were many smaller battles taking place in the overall war that would eventually decide the winner. Gagliardi vs. Millon, O'Kelly on the face-offs, Denihan vs. Cattrano and Goettelmann vs. the entire Baltimore defense were a few of them. It was a game that was televised on ESPN2 that Sunday night to over 80 million households around the USA, making it the most highly broadcasted lacrosse event ever. The Manhasset players rose to the occasion on national TV winning all of their battles, helping the Lizards win the championship.

In the offseason, John Gagliardi and Tim Goettelmann, along with other Lizard players run Lax-It-Up Fall League and Clinics (www.laxitup.com) that take place at Buckley Country Day starting mid September. The MLL will be heading into its forth season in 2004. Long Island has won two of the first three championships.