Throughout the last 17 years, Dom and Nick Pietramala have not needed to answer the most persistent question twins usually encounter. Team 91 LIs Parker McDonald Earns 2025 Five-Star Honors, Leading Edge Playmaking LSM Will Pedicano Earns Five-Star Honors. The jersey the most famous one in the sport hangs in his bedroom in Mount Sinai, and the No. We are thrilled to have him.. But Spallina countered. He also showed off his goal-scoring prowess, finding the back of the net 37 times. It was probably, Spallina said, our best half of lacrosse weve played in a while., Privacy Policy |Terms of service |Subscription terms |Your ad choices |Cookie Settings |California Privacy Rights |About Us |Contact Newsday |Reprints & permissions |Advertise with Newsday |Help. 2 in their class, theres no rivalry or ill will. They definitely are their own person, Boys Latin coach Brian Farrell said. I will tell you that going on the visits with him to all those places, I saw a different look in his eye when we were at Syracuse, Joe said. Late in the game, with the result a mere formality, there was one final piece of unfinished business. I dont know what else he could possibly prove. But, his goal isnt a personal one: its to win four straight national championships, when SU hasnt competed for one in 10 years. But Reh said the pressure made Spallina better. His fellow attackmen, Lucas Laforge (six goals, one assist) and Cole Marsala (three goals, one assist), did their parts in making life difficult for SWR. While growing up a Pietramala had its obvious advantages, including playing Xbox with the Blue Jays, the twins have also received their share of undue scrutiny from the doubters and challengers. has four siblings, Jake, Brett, Alexa and Olivia favorite athlete is Michael Jordan and favorite professional team is the New York Islanders enjoys fishing, boating and wakeboarding favorite Committed to: Syracuse. Pictured, top row from left:AJ Alexander of Syosset,Ryan Bell of Smithtown West,Danny Caddigan of Smithtown West. 22, many fans heckled Spallina. Following a two-game, 10-goal weekend for Syracuse's Joey Spallina, the No. Mt. Weve both been around the game so long that you know the ins and outs and what a team is looking for. // ]]>. Terms of service | Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and halt to in-person recruiting, the IWLCA actually wanted to move back the contact date for the class of 2022 from Sept. 1, 2020, to July 1, 2021. But after dominating that season and growing his body, there was no debate for his eighth grade year. [CDATA[ Rating: 100, A post shared by Team 91 Lacrosse (@91lacrosse), Congratulations to Team 91 22 Smash and Mount Sinai attackman Joey Spallina on his commitment to @CuseMLAX! Playing for Syracuse and wearing 22 was all a dream come true, Spallina said. Nobody but them understands what those guys have had to go through, Klausner said. Spallinas arrival couldnt come at a more pivotal time for the Orange, who are coming off. Then the Syracuse-bound attackman erupted for four goals and an assist. Credit: James Escher. Spallina is a two-time US Lacrosse All-American and the first freshman in the history of Long Island Lacrosse to be named as such. Perhaps a bit obscured in the shadow of greatness that surrounds Joey Spallina is the understanding that the Mount Sinai boys lacrosse team is a lot more than Joey Spallina. Full disclosure, I could be better at times, Joe Spallina said about balancing the relationship between being Joeys father and coach. The Mount Sinai senior attackman surely made his mark in more ways than one Tuesday evening, becoming Long Islands all-time career points leader as the top-seeded Mustangs romped over No. Spallina always wanted to be SUs 22, and wanted to play in the JMA Wireless Dome because lacrosse is king here, he said. But both admitted their excitement that when they head south, theyll do so with someone who will always have their back. I hold him to such a high standard at everything. Ive never met a more dialed-in, focused kid on what it takes to be excellent, what it takes to be great, Joe said. Decorated NCAA and PLL official Matt Palumb was a three-time NCAA champion goalie for the Orange, but his son, Jackson, plays attack and committed to Albany. And then, of course, there was Spallina, who is committed to Syracuse, as are his junior brothers, Brett and Jake Spallina. Newsday Player of the Year: Joey Spallina, Mt. By Joe Dziemianowicz Special to Newsday March 1, 2023 5:00 am. Sinai. Lizards star Stephen Berger, known around the league as one of the most fun-loving athletes, wanted to include Spallina in his performance. Then again, it's . And Spallina, always yearning to wear the same jersey, wants his name to be remembered in the same sentence as the Powells and the Gaits, Daquino said. Spallina improved on his first collegiate game against Vermont, in which he scored just one goal on a team-high 15 shots. Subscription terms | He punctuated many with a flick of the wrist ala Steph Curry after draining a deep three. No one has to tell that to SWR coach Michael Taylor. In the second game he started his freshman year on varsity after Hopkins recruit Brendan Grimes suffered a low lumbar stress fracture, Pietramala had seven goals and two assists. Hes committed to Cornell. Theres no unfamiliarity with anything.. When Mount Sinais head coach Harold Drumm first saw Spallinas outstanding skill set with his Team 91 Crush travel team as a sixth grader. Dom, adamantly not a morning person, would rather sleep in, then hang out with friends and watch the Ravens or play Madden. Nick, described by his dad as a stickler for the rules, has wanted to serve his country since he was little. Spallina continued to improve. Select your favorites. Sinai, center, gets congratulated by teammates after scoring in the third quarter against Garden City at St. Anthony's High School on Friday, April 22, 2022. Credit:. When Mount Sinai needed a goal late, they gave him the ball, and Spallina thrived under pressure, Drumm said. I was honored when [Syracuse] called me, Spallina said a few days later. Spallinas arrival couldnt come at a more pivotal time for the Orange, who are coming off their worst season ever. Mattituck, NY 11952, Site made in collaboration with CMYK Some games teams slide early, sometimes late, so we have to be able to beat teams different ways. After the narrow victory over the Catamounts and . He is also a three-time All County and All Division Player. P.O. They tossed a ball between themselves, one No. Help. He also boxes four days a week. I was talking to [UNC attackman] Nicky Solomon, and he told me, I dont even go home in the summers anymore, Dom Pietramala said. Spallina has always impressed against older competition. His career is at the beginning of his future in lacrosse, just as ours is in the development of our mens line. Less than a minute later, Laforge put in a rebound. Spallina dished out 13 assists, including 12 in the first half, despite not playing the fourth quarter as he led Mount Sinai to a 16-3 win over Hauppauge. Absolutely not, Dave Pietramala said when asked if he could have foreseen his sons both picking the same destination. But they have other guys as well.. Hes just an exceptional, exceptional lacrosse player.. Powell believes No. You might be using private browsing or have notifications blocked. Spallina said he did that in the fall. It may have been the most impressive performance of his high school career to date, and yet was the first game in which he did not score a single goal. It was Mount Sinais second straight county championship. Bell improved his elite playmaking skills this season, tallying 57 assists. It was the first time the five former No. . Its good to have another person to talk to and compare our experiences, Dom Pietramala said. Deacy was an equal-opportunity scorer and distributor, picking up 35 goals and 35 assists this season. The hardest part was calling the coaches of other finalists, like Penn States Jeff Tambroni and Denvers Bill Tierney, whom Dom and Nick Pietramala have known since they were kids. We knew at the end it was just give it to Joey and let him make something happen.". His days start at 5 a.m. at the gym. The visits that the Pietramalas made on their own were eye-opening for Dave Pietramala, too. Raised in East Meadow, the Long Island native has won both Writer and Sportswriter of the Year from the New York State Press Association. He led all players on Long Island with 122 points, which included 45 goals and 77 assists. Alexander scored nine goals in Syossets three playoff games and also had three game-winners in the final minutes of games earlier in the season. Obviously, not many of them worked. Joey Spallina #22 of Mt. 22.COMMITMENT STORY https://t.co/i1W6z5Mhrs pic.twitter.com/mP1tWaVsuW. Hell be playing at North Carolina next year. He finished the 2019 season with 33 goals and 10 assists. It felt great, Laforge said. . Spallina (225 goals, 276 assists for his career) surpassed West Islips Nick Galasso, who set the previous standard at 500 points in 2010, according to Newsday. named Newsday player of the year, Long Island Championship MVP, and is a Suffolk County and Long Island Champion. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Your ad choices | Its not just him, but the whole offense just runs through Joey, Farron said. To be able to get that opportunity, its hard to say no, he said. Bottom row:Jack Cascadden ofGarden City,Jake Deacy ofComsewogue,Jake Demert ofBay Shore. Im a leader and captain. Reprints & permissions | ), navigate the recruiting process. Desktop notifications are on | Turn off. 22s like Casey Powell and Charlie Lockwood, and former Syracuse players told him that he could be the guy who brings the program back, Joe said. I really was in favor to pushing it to July 1 so we could see kids play with our own eyes, Julie Myers said. In an article published Oct. 13, Inside Lacrosse noted that there were 264 players in its recruiting database who had committed to a Division I program since Sept. 1. But it was little Joey Spallina who stole the show and earned a spot at No. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Tue Dec 8 2020 | Nelson Rice and Kenny DeJohn | High School It was a sense of family, Dom Pietramala said. Daquino also worked with Spallina to improve his left hand. Home Joey Spallina. Several high-profile coaches and former players alike entered Sept. 1 the first day that college coaches can contact prospective players with both their parenting hat and recruiting clipboard. Joey Spallina is not waiting until his college lacrosse career begins to start making his money. Dom Pietramala is not exactly sure why he started playing attack, but from a young age, he has wanted to be different. Welcome to Gait Lacrosse @SpallinaJoey! When Gary Gait told Spallina hed be the next SU head coach, they talked briefly about the No. Inside Lacrosse is the most trusted and largest source of lacrosse coverage, score and stats data, recruiting data and participation events in the sport. You cant hold down 22 and the gang for 48 minutes, Garden City coach Steve Finnell said. A lethal goal scorer, Caddigan followed up his breakout sophomore season in which he led Suffolk I with 52 goals this spring. Your Favorites will also appear in your custom dropdown. The nations top recruit, someone who can help Syracuse return to its proper spot atop college lacrosse, says hes up for the task. All rights reserved. Dom has heard it all. 22 Joey Spallina. Editorial The Ukraine test Newsday Reporter Saturday 25 February 2023 US president Joe Biden walks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his surprise visit to in Kyiv. Copyright at Laxallstars.com Grow the Game. Spallina, a junior at Mount Sinai, is a physical, crafty attackman who thrives while backing down defenders and creating offense. Ryan Maher tiedit at 4, but Laforge untied it again. "Excellence is what we strive for, but youre never going to be perfect with everything. Altamont, N.Y. (January 12, 2022) Gait Lacrosse is excited to announce a 4-year partnership with mens lacrosse star Joey Spallina making him the first high school lacrosse athlete signed to a hard goods brand. Theres no question about that., Copyright USA Lacrosse Magazine SUBSCRIBE TO ALLSYRACUSE.COM NOW TO GET ACCESS TO EXCLUSIVE INSIDER CONTENT! Tattoo or body piercing parlors? This is your process, he told them. 22s, Spallina still remembers how he found out the jersey would be his. Dom opted for a piece of loose leaf. There are no statistics available for this player. 9 nationally in the Inside Lacrosse rankings, but they were behind at halftime. Mount Sinai had to do everything possible to get Spallina the ball and he notched 122 points as a junior. His game is more feeding than getting a goal, so he uses the slide to his advantage and his whole team works around him. While kids supported him at games by wearing his Mount Sinai jersey or Syracuses No. Lead feature. Still, going through the recruiting process side-by-side offered a helpful perspective. SEARCH . While hes an unselfish attackman, Spallina also has never met a shot or angle he doesnt like. On Wednesday, Terry Foy of Inside Lacrosse reported that Spallina, the Syracuse Orange commit. Francisco Cortes, Shoreham-Wading River, M, Jr. Jameson Smith, Bayport-Blue Point, M, Jr. Gene Morris joined Newsday's sports department in September 2012 and covers high school sports. Sinai's Joey Spallina took another step forward as a junior. 22 for the man who wore it best Gary Gait. He notched 131 points, earning All-American honors. 1 attackman Rating: 100. He narrowed his list to five schools Syracuse, Loyola, North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia and chose Syracuse both because of that childhood dream and the teams commitment to letting him play his style of lacrosse. The Brown commit received national recognition and also was acknowledged by the coaches who had to game plan around him each game as the top defender in Suffolk Division I. McAdorey has been at the top of recruiting lists for years and showed why with his performance this season. About Us | Its harder to work through scoring droughts or losing streaks when youre a No. Bob Liepa is the sports editor for Times Review Media Group, where he has worked since 1992. Aidan Mulholland of Manhasset wants to hear some more from the crowd after his goal during the Wood Stick Classicboys lacrosse game onMay 15in Garden City. Of course, they wanted to go to a school where theyd contend for NCAA championships. Joey is much like me. A big, physical close defender who picked up the task of shutting down the opposition's best offensive threats. That decision was a surprise, perhaps most of all to their dad. The Mount Sinai senior won 19 of 23 faceoffs and collected nine ground balls. Sinai, Spallina is a two-time Suffolk County Attackman of the Year,two-time Newsday first-team All Long Island, and was the first freshman to be named All Long Island, named Newsday player of the year, Long Island Championship MVP, and is a Suffolk County and Long Island Champion. We're on a mission to grow the game on a global scale and inspire the next generation of passionate lacrosse players. The shift in perspective for Pietramala happened this summer and fall while he helped his sons Dom and Nick, fraternal twins and juniors at Boys Latin (Md. Please enable notifications or using normal browsing mode. Credit: Bob Sorensen. ESPN, what else do you want?. He got a feel for how to move people, using his eyes and body language to move defenders and waiting an extra second for the lane to open up. It wasnt easy, but they took it very seriously. As the final schools the Pietramalas were looking at became harder to separate, Nick created a Google Doc to clarify his priorities and help organize his thoughts. Mount Sinais coaches realized they couldnt run a true offense with one player locked, but also knowing that Spallina couldnt come out of the game. At the first day of Boys Latin varsity tryouts in February 2019, Farrell said it was immediately clear he had the talent plus the lacrosse IQ to make an impact in the MIAA. Subscription terms | College Men. Sinai coach Harold Drumm said after the game. Im usually the one telling him hes not doing something today, instead of telling him to go do it. - Joe Spallina on his son, Joey. Like their dad, Nick plays on the defensive end. No portion of this site may be reproduced or duplicated without the express written permission of Syracuse University. 22, especially at Syracuse, Lockwood said, because everything is magnified. Spallina dished out 13 assists, including 12 in the first half, despite not playing the fourth quarter as he led Mount Sinai to a 16-3 win over Hauppauge. The biggest thing for me was to find a product and a company that was about growth and vision and Gait Lacrosse is that. All rights reserved. Recruiting content, player profiles, college commitments, top players, evaluations, game play highlights, high school schedules and scores, and more in the Inside Lacrosse Recruiting Database (RDB). Hes got talent and hes working harder than anybody else, so Im looking forward to seeing what he does on the field.. Spallina worked his way from around the back of the cage, dodging a defender before putting in the games final goal with 2 minutes, 37 seconds remaining. Share Tweet Share Email. Dom hovers closer to 6 feet. Video Platform powered by CBS Sports Digital. He earned a journalism degree from Stony Brook University in 2010. I hope they only saw the second half, said the star attraction, Mount Sinais Joey Spallina, the countrys top recruit in the Class of 2022. The adjustment to playing at Syracuse as a freshman wont be difficult since Spallina played so many older, top players on the travel circuit, said Luke Daquino, an assistant at Spallinas Mount Sinai High School. If youre worried, that means you havent done enough to prepare yourself, Spallina said. SEARCH . Then-head coach John Desko had called him at midnight via his mothers phone to tell him he could wear No. They grew up with these coaches, Farrell said. Long Island; Sports; Things to do; News; Feed Me; Opinion; Business; Events; All; TODAY'S PAPER 76 8/12/2022 Good Evening. But at the top of both their lists was another criterion. who verbally committed to Syracuse. Hes unbelievable. 22 was always on his back as he became the nations best recruit. The Mustangs will defend their Long Island title against Manhasset or South Side Saturday at Hofstra University. But got to give credit to my teammates. What makes Joey's scoring record even more remarkable is that he lost a season due to the pandemic in 2020. His father, Hall of Famer Roy Colsey, is his coach at Ridgefield High School and a middle-school physical education teacher in the district. Youve worked your whole life for this. Copyright 2023 Newsday. That number, IL reported, was about four times higher than it was for the class of 2021. Reh said Spallina could be one of the best college players of all time. If you do not want to select your favorites now, you can continue to Cuse.com and select your favorites later. Gavin Takacs contributed two goals and an assist, Christopher Colantonio had a goal and an assist and James Carretta also scored. Sinai, A, Jr. After being the first freshman to be named to the Newsday All-Long Island team in 2019, it shouldn't surprise anyone that Mt.. He learned how to play off-ball since he was always playing older and bigger players, Joe said. That added another layer to their decisions. The buzz was palpable. Paul Rabil, who jumped over the hood of a car, would take home the top prize. Kids asked for autographs after games that year, recalled Scott Reh, Mount Sinais athletic director. Oh, youre only good because youre Pietramalas son., Oh, its just because of your last name that youre starting.. But his most impressive game of the season came under the brightest light. Sitemap | Spallina recognizes Gait as one of the best lacrosse minds ever, constantly picking his brain. 22. The nations top recruit, someone who can help Syracuse return to its proper spot atop college lacrosse, says hes up for the task. The brand is set to release a full mens line in early 2022. And starting at six years old, Spallina traveled for tournaments, playing kids up to two years older than him, forcing him to develop his game quickly. He finished with what he called Bergers Shot, a diving backhand flick in front of the crease. The agreement will provide Spallina with Gait Lacrosse hard goods for the remainder of his high school career at Mount Sinai High School in Mt. But 12 in the first half was crazy. The other noticeable trend was the volume of commitments despite the dead period the NCAA Division I Council has extended through the end of 2020. Looking to comment on this article? 22 at Syracuse. Spallina joins a list of elite womens and mens lacrosse athletes as well as fifteen college lacrosse programs in the Gait Family. When Spallina moved to the Mount Sinai district the following year, coaches debated if he should play on the varsity team or not. Now that you are logged in, it's time for you to select your favorites! He was in the background saying, Mom, I want it to start Sept. 1.. Laforge scored 27 seconds into the third, cutting it to 2-1. Its just going to show that we are battle-tested and that we are ready to go for crunch time, which is coming up, Spallina said. //