The last time the Highland boys’ lacrosse team was on the field, they were playing the Wallkill Panthers for the Section 9 Class C championship.

That game didn’t go the way the Huskies were hoping, as the Panthers went on to take the title.

This year, the Huskies are looking to get over that hump.
It may look like the Huskies have lost a lot with the departure of midfielder Ethan Esposito and goalkeeper Lenny Casabura, along with the transfer of Jake Ward, who moved to Cornwall for his senior year, the Huskies will return plenty of offense this year.

Highland coach Tom Schlappich, in his 12th year at the helm, is hopeful his team can build off last year’s 9-7, Section 9 finalist season.

The Huskies return attackmen Dean Klotz and A.J. Palmer, who were in the middle of most of Highland’s offense last year. Frankie Guidi also returns on the attack. Osei Adoma returns as a long stick middie, while Shaun Piegari and Aden Wiser will return to the defense.

Logan Zehr, who took faceoffs for the Huskies last year is back in the midfield with Mike Murphy.

“We return much of the team from last season that made it to the sectional finals,” Highland coach Tom Schlappich said. “We have two very good additions to the program.”

Those additions will come on the defensive side of the field in the form of Carson Young and Owen Albright.

The Huskies got on the field for the first time against a different uniform on Friday when they hosted a multi-scrimmage with Cornwall and Our Lady of Lourdes on the turf at Marlboro High School.

Marlboro players are allowed to play on Highland’s lacrosse team as the Iron Dukes do not have a team. The Huskies will play three early-season games at Marlboro before playing the rest of their home games at Highland High School.

They’ll officially begin their quest for a Section 9 Class C championship on Wednesday when they host the Section 9 Class A runners-up, the Valley Central Vikings.

“While our schedule is difficult, and our league is very competitive, we expect to use last year’s season as a building block for our program this year,” Schlappich said.

2022 Schedule
Wednesday, March 30 – vs. Valley Central, 6 p.m. (Marlboro)
Friday, April 1 – vs. Newburgh, 6 p.m. (Marlboro)
Thursday, April 7 – at FDR, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, April 8 – vs. Cornwall, 6 p.m. (Marlboro)
Monday, April 11 – at Middletown, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 19 – at New Paltz, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 21 – vs. Red Hook-Pine Plains, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 23 – vs. Saugerties, 11 a.m.
Monday, April 25 – at Nanuet, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, April 28 – at Pine Bush, 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 30 – vs. Minisink Valley, 11 a.m.
Tuesday, May 3 – vs. Rondout Valley, 4:30 p.m.
Friday, May 6 – at Wallkill, 4 p.m.
Thursday, May 12 – vs. Goshen, 4:30 p.m.
Monday, May 16 – at James I. O’Neill, 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 18 – vs. Kingston, 4:30 p.m.