The lacrosse season is underway on Long Island. It is the third season of the Plainview PAL Lacrosse program, and the 5th and 6th grade Hawks are having unprecedented success.

The Hawks are currently in a stretch in which they have not lost a regular season game since mid-season 1998. Many of the players on this year's team have been on the team since then and are a huge part of the winning streak. Players such as Brent Herbst, Joe Heney., Colleen Hopkins, Matt Weisman, Dan Green, Chris Hudson, Justin Battino, David Valuch, Eric Friedman, Justin Siragusa, John Bastone, Eric Eichenbaum, AJ Lee Daniel Rossi, Logan Rubinstein, Evan Siegel, Matt Stucchio, James Doyle, Robert Eslick, Jordan Klausner, and Michael Lisoski have kept the winning streak alive this year. Well done!

The fifth graders are new to the team this year. John Bastone is the rising star from the group at midfield. The talented group is featured by Logan, Eric and AJ. The defensive standout has been James Doyle, our star crease defenseman.

The midfield is among the best on Long Island. The "J" line of Joe Heney, Justin Battino, and John Bastone runs other teams ragged. The rest of our middies are cut from the same cloth. They don't give the opposition time to think. Mike Lisoski is a newcomer who heads up the checking line with David Valuch, Justin S, Logan, Matt S. and Robert, all bring it.

The attack has found new leadership this year with Dan Green and Matt Weisman stepping up. Jordan Klausner is a scoring threat that we have seen light it up. Colleen Hopkins, Eric Eichenbaum and AJ Lee have all had great scoring games as well. The team has outscored opponents this year while showing class and restraint from running up the score.

The defense is led by the captain of the team, Brent Herbst. Brent is the field coach. Evan, Chris, Eric and James are super defenseman. They show the swagger of a hard new tough defense.

The assistant coaches Lee Eichenbaum, Adam Weisman, and West Coast PR man Alan Klausner have been part of my staff since the start in 1998. They are a huge part of the team's success.

We have gotten amazing support from our friend Ron Hamel, the Police Officer/Director of the Plainview Police Activity League. We also get great encouragement from the Plainview-Old Bethpage athletic director, Kevin McDermot. Kevin has been developing the Lacrosse coaches this year in the school district. He has brought in Chris Rogler and Kevin Warne to work with the varsity team. Coaches Sullivan and Buck have worked with the junior varsity, and coaches Gentile and Obloj have handled the 7th and 8th grade team. All of these coaches have volunteered their time to work with the PAL kids this year. Thanks guys.

Our Plainview Unit has been lucky to have Harry Jacobs around to help whenever we ask. Harry has been involved since the beginning of the program. There are numerous people who have helped with this program. I thank you all. the parents and relatives of the players should be very proud of these children. They have taken the field in all types of weather and gave it 100 percent. When I ask them "what time it is?," they respond, "Gametime, Huhh", and when the captains ask, "Pride jumping jacks, are you ready?" the players answer, "yeah." Thanks for being ready. Go Hawks. Coach Mike.