It’s been a good start for the Wallkill boys’ lacrosse team under first-year coach Taylor Jordan, as the Panthers opened their season last week with three wins before they take a two-week break.

The Panthers opened their season on March 27 with a 19-6 road victory over the Pine Bush Bushmen at Pine Bush Elementary School. They finished the week with a 15-2 victory over the Newburgh Free Academy Goldbacks on Thursday. They also routed the Middletown Middies, 18-0, on March 28.

Johnny Canavan led the Panthers against Pine Bush with six goals, and Colin McCartney added five. Richie Martinez scored four goals. Brent DeCouer, Sean Petricek, T.J. Mazzetti and Connor Maruca scored one goal each.

Martinez scored six goals in the win over Middletown. Canavan had four, and McCartney added.

McCartney led the way in the win over the Goldbacks with seven goals. Martinez and Canavan had two each, while Will Jablesnick, Mason Ondreyko and Petricek had one each. Martinez had two assists. Jablesnick, McCartney and Petricek had one each.

Alec Petroccelli-Henry made four saves.

“We have a great group of kids who work hard and love the game,” Taylor said.

The Panthers have a lot to replace from last year’s 15-2 team. Their season ended in the 2022 Section 9 Class C semifinals by eventual champion, the Rondout Valley Ganders.

Graduated seniors include Dustin Colombo, Ty Crowley, David Goll, Julian Gries, Robert James, Trevor Jones, Michael LoCicero, Miguel Lopez, Zach Maruca, Austin Palen, Dominic Pelella and A’keil Smith.

However, there is plenty returning for the Panthers in Jacob Bernstein, Canavan, Nicholas DiLemme, Jayden Falk, Connor Friedle, Carson Frisbie, McCartney, Jack Ganssle-Desotelle, Martinez, Ondreyko, Petroccelli-Henry, Kenny Phillips, Charlie Price and Andrew Vincenzo.

They’ll mix with a group of newcomers that includes DeCouer, John Fioranti, Jr., Jablesnick, Maruca, Demisse Mazzetti, T.J. Mazzetti, Christopher McNair, Petricek, Aenghus Rose, Erick Vargas and Uriel Wright.

“We have an exciting lacrosse season ahead,” Taylor said. “We have lots of talented players and we’re looking forward to a competitive season and building on last year’s success.”

The Bushmen, however, are looking to rebound from a difficult season under new coach Michael Ciarelli.

It’s been a tough start so far with their losses to Wallkill and then a 7-2 loss to the Highland Huskies on Thursday.

The Bushmen have graduated four players off last year’s team.

Valley Central wins opener
The Valley Central Vikings won their opener on Thursday, 20-8, over the Ganders.

Connor Stafford scored six goals and had four assists, while Dylan Butcher had four goals. Jack Sherry had two goals and an assist and Kai Hew had three goals and two assists. Colin Kinsley had a goal and an assist, while Bryson Antal had two goals and one assist. Dan Latimer had two goals and three assists.

Brody Jurman had three goals and Ben Caterina and Josh Webb had one goal each.

Landon Santangelo, who is taking over for Cameron Prutzman in goal, made 10 saves for the Vikings.

The Vikings also lost Carter Laughman, Bryce DeRonda, Gavin Starr and Kevin Acevedo, but return plenty of firepower in Stafford, Sherry, Hew, Latimer, Antal, Webb and Aaron Goldstein.

“Our offense graduated two of our leading scorers in Gavin Starr and Kevin Acevedo,” Valley Central coach Tom Stoddard said. “However, between our returning players and our underclassmen, there will be plenty of opportunity and skill to fill those roles.”

Ben Caterina, Tyler Adkins and D.J. Livingston will join Santangelo in the back.

New players include Logan Drake, Lucas Drake, Butcher, Kinsley, Brody Jurman and Wienckowski.

The Vikings finished the week with an 11-9 win over La Salle on Saturday. Stafford scored four goals and had three assists, while Antal had three goals. Butcher scored twice, and Sherry had a goal and an assist. Hew had a goal. Latimer and Kinsley had one assist each.

Santangelo made eight saves.