Boys lacrosse: Drew Cornax and Evan Giachinta headline the Journal's 2023 All-Stars

Co-Player of the Year

Drew Cornax

School: Our Lady of Lourdes

Grade: Junior

Position: Midfield

Vital stats: Cornax had excelled quietly while this rebuilding team sought to gain its footing. A talented offensive weapon, blessed with athleticism and size, he also worked diligently to better himself and impact other areas of the field and be a greater contributor to the growth. The puzzle pieces came together this season as Cornax flourished and led the Warriors to the Section 9 Class C championship, the program reaching a final for the first time.

The Marist College commit totaled 112 points, including 87 goals, and was impactful on the defensive end as Lourdes enjoyed a breakout campaign. He tied a career high with nine goals in a section final upset of Red Hook.

"All year he faced double and triple teams, but he still produced," Warriors coach Chris Malet said. "It shows how talented he is, but also how much he's worked to get to this point. He elevated his game throughout the last three seasons."

Co-Player of the Year

Evan Giachinta

School: Haldane

Grade: Junior

Position: Attack, midfield

Vital stats: Giachinta has steadily improved, and so has his team, both enjoying stellar seasons this spring. The three-time Journal All-Star is a do-it-all dynamo on offense, with the strength and physicality to create matchup problems along with excellent skills as a scorer and feeder. Giachinta racked up 53 goals and 41 assists ― surpassing 100 in both categories for his career ― while leading the Blue Devils to the Section 1 Class D semifinals.

Haldane had its best season since 2019, and that 13-5 record was impressive given its strength of schedule. The Blue Devils earned non-league wins over large-school opponents including Arlington, Wappingers and Hicksville (Long Island), and was competitive with CBA-Syracuse. 

"Evan was again a big part of our offense and he delivered in big games against some of the best teams around," coach Ed Crowe said of Giachinta, who was voted all-section.

The rest of the first team

Patrick Faughnan, Lourdes, Jr., M: Best recognized as a basketball star, he put the 6-foot-5 frame and athleticism to good use as a converted long-stick midfielder, anchoring a defense that thrived down the stretch. In his debut at the position in April, Faughnan blanketed an All-American in a rout of Roundout, which set the tone for Lourdes' season. The Section 9 all-star also forced 15 turnovers and had 10 points.

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Jordon Hankel, Haldane, Jr., G: The goalkeeper starred, despite facing several talented offenses. He made 163 stops with a .600 save percentage, helping lead the Blue Devils to a sectional semifinal. Hankel earned all-Section 1 honorable mention.

Liam Gaugler, Haldane, Jr., A: He had a breakout season as a scorer, helping alleviate some pressure on Giachinta, and proved himself a solid orchestrator of the offense. Gaugler had 43 goals and 31 assists and was voted all-Section 1 honorable mention.

Brady Kelly, Red Hook, Fr., A: He has instincts and a lacrosse IQ belying his age and that, combined with his natural abilities as a playmaker, make him a "dangerous offensive weapon," coach Rich Saulino said. The freshman often was trusted to lead the offense and he did it well, sparking a high-scoring unit. Kelly had 41 goals, 43 assists and scooped 71 groundballs, earning first-team all-Section 9 honors.

Matthew Krauza, Lourdes, Sr., M: A three-sport star committed to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Krauza's leadership, protean skills and knack for delivering in the clutch were crucial in the Warriors' turnaround. He had 29 goals, 30 assists, secured 190 groundballs and won 52% of his faceoffs, earning first-team all-Section 9 honors.

Brayden Kuczma, Wappingers, Jr., A: A three-time Journal All-Star, he again had a stellar season, demonstrating his talents as a playmaker. Kuczma combines excellent vision and savvy as a facilitator with quickness and nifty shot-making. He had 29 points and 32 assists, earning all-Section 1 honorable mention.

Luke Mackin, Arlington, Jr., A: With a combination of physicality and shot-making skills, he blossomed into a versatile offensive weapon. Mackin had 42 goals and 25 assists, leading the Admirals to the Section 1 Class A quarterfinals.

Mikey Mrzyglod, Red Hook, Sr., A: The three-time Journal All-Star served as a foundational beam around which this team was rebuilt, excelling as an explosive scorer who often took over games. Mrzyglod shined in his farewell season, leading the resurgent Raiders to the Section 9 Class C final. The St. Rose commit had 52 goals, 18 assists and 40 groundballs.

James O'Rourke, Wappingers, Sr., A: With his smooth movement and aggressiveness in finishing, O'Rourke emerged as a go-to scorer for the Warriors, helping lead them to the Section 1 Class A playoffs. The Clarkson commit had 38 goals and eight assists, earning all-league honors.

PJ Ruggiero, Haldane, Jr., M/D: Typically tasked with guarding the opponent's best scorer, the two-time Journal All-Star again shined as a lockdown defender and disruptive force on that end. Ruggiero caused 45 turnovers, came up with 48 takeaways and recovered 51 groundballs to lead a defense that held opponents to single digit goals in 12 games. He was voted all-Section 1.

Bryan Stensrud, Arlington, Sr., A: The Springfield-bound senior showed excellent vision and instincts as a facilitator, often drawing the attention of defenses and creating openings for teammates. The two-time Journal All-Star had 23 goals and a team-high 31 assists.

Nate Strassberger, Red Hook, Jr., FOGO: He enjoyed a breakout season as a faceoff midfielder, dominating the circle with his quickness and technique. Strassberger won 76.6% of his faceoffs, collected 178 groundballs and scored 26 goals, helping the Raiders roll through the regular season en route to a Section 9 final.

Landon Zehr, Highland/Marlboro, Jr., G: Despite facing heavy pressure while anchoring a young team, Zehr excelled and put forth a remarkable season that garnered USA Lacrosse All-American honors. He made 281 stops with an incredible .655 save percentage ― including a performance in which he made a whopping 32 saves. "He's quick, instinctive, and a vocal leader on defense," Huskies coach Tom Schlappich said of Zehr, who also was named to USA Lacrosse's All-Academic team. "His understanding of the game is off the charts and he sees the field quite well. He's a fantastic leader who makes everyone around him better."

Second team

G ― Yoav Alperson, Red Hook, Jr.

A ― Alex Crysler, Lourdes, Jr.

M ― Cole Cuppett, New Paltz, Sr.

M ― Gabe Gravino, Red Hook, Sr.

M ― Spencer Hogaboom, Arlington, Sr.

D ― Scott Klosen, Wappingers, Sr.

A ― Nick Miano, Lourdes, Jr.

D ― Charlie Mulcahy, Arlington, Sr.

FOGO ― Brendan Price, Arlington, Sr.

D ― Landon Ramsey, Red Hook, Jr.

M ― Rhys Robbins, Haldane, Sr.

D ― Miles Soper, New Paltz, Jr.

D ― Nate Stickle, Haldane, So.

FOGO/M ― DJ Velsmid, Wappingers, Sr.

M ― Luke Wiese, Highland/Marlboro, 8th

Coach of the Year

Chris Malet, Lourdes: He established the school's boys lacrosse program in 2011 and, this spring, guided the team on its best run yet. The Warriors enjoyed a breakthrough in their inaugural season in Section 9, adding nine wins to their total from the previous year and capturing their first section championship. Lourdes had a turnaround within the turnaround, rebounding after losing their first four games and eventually surging to the Class C subregional.

Honorable mention

Arlington: James Perch, M, Sr.

Haldane: Brody Coreless, M/D, So.; Frankie DiGiglio, M, Jr.; Fallou Faye, A, So.

Highland/Marlboro: Ben Canino, M, Jr.; Logan Davis, A, 8th

New Paltz: Oscar Cline, A, Jr.; Logan Ormand, A, Sr.

Our Lady of Lourdes: Atticus Eglinski, G, Jr.; Collin Irwin, D, Jr.; Patrick Siegrist, A, Jr.; Connor Wilson, D, Fr.

Red Hook: John Macri, M, Fr.; Matt Mulkins, D, Jr.

Wappingers: Ethan Fogarty, M, Sr.; Zac Nurzia, M, Sr.; Andrew Washall, M, Jr.

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4