Garden City Ends Greeley’s Run, Extends Long Island’s Dominance

For a program trying to take the next step, the regional round can often serve as both a measuring stick and a wake-up call. On Saturday afternoon at Charlie Murphy Field in Yorktown, Section 8 powerhouse Garden City reminded Horace Greeley, and Section 1 more broadly, just how high the bar is set in New York's Class B lacrosse landscape.   Greeley's best season in recent memory came to a halt with a 14-7 loss to the Trojans in the NYSPHSAA Class B regional final, closing the book on a historic 16-4 campaign for the Quakers. It was a matchup that pitted a surging Westchester County team, fresh off its first sectional title ever, against a perennial Long Island juggernaut with state championships in its DNA.   The early stages of the game suggested a competitive battle. Greeley freshman attackman Luke Dessi opened the scoring with a juice goal, continuing a season in which he emerged as one of the most exciting young players in Section 1. But Garden City wasted no time responding, capitalizing on faceoff wins and unsettled situations to generate a three-goal burst that flipped momentum in the Trojans' favor.   Greeley clawed back late in the first quarter, with Dessi netting his second goal to cut the deficit to 4-3. At that point, the Quakers appeared to be within striking distance. But what followed was a sequence that would define the game: a four-goal Garden City run, powered by dominance at the faceoff X and rapid ball movement in transition.   That surge stretched the lead to 8-4 and gave the Trojans a cushion that only grew as the second half unfolded. While Greeley opened the third quarter with a goal from [player_tooltip player_id='16156' first='Jake' last='Gashi'], briefly cutting the deficit to 8-5, Garden City quickly responded with another wave of scoring. By the midway point of the third, the lead had ballooned to 13–6, effectively putting the game out of reach.   At the heart of Garden City's success was control at the faceoff stripe. Luke Cascadden went 20-for-25 on draws, giving the Trojans consistent possession and limiting Greeley's ability to mount sustained offensive pressure. With the shot clock now a factor in high school lacrosse, repeated faceoff wins translated directly into scoring chances, and Garden City made the most of nearly every one.   [player_tooltip player_id='126883' first='Ben' last='Smith'] led all scorers for the Trojans, finishing with four goals and two assists in a complete performance. James DeBusschere added two goals and four assists, while [player_tooltip player_id='123459' first='Anthony' last='Asaro']i chipped in with two goals and two assists of his own. Dan Medjid also contributed a strong all-around showing with two goals and two assists, rounding out a balanced attack that overwhelmed Greeley's defensive unit.   Despite the loss, the Quakers' run to the regional final marks one of the most successful seasons in school history. The 2024 team won 16 games, captured the Section 1 Class B title, and brought Greeley back into statewide relevance for the first time in years. While Garden City's firepower proved too much, the experience of playing in a regional final against one of the state's true heavyweights will serve as a building block for the program going forward.   Dessi's performance stood out for Greeley. The freshman finished with six of the team's seven goals and was the clear focal point of the offense from start to finish. His off-ball movement, shooting efficiency, and toughness in traffic gave Garden City's defense problems throughout the game, even when the outcome was slipping away. Gashi added one goal and one assist, while Matthew Byrne facilitated the offense with five assists, including several feeds to Dessi from behind the cage.   In goal, [player_tooltip player_id='122949' first='Luke' last='Kaplow'] made six saves for the Quakers. He faced a high volume of quality looks, as Garden City's ball movement and physical dodging created consistent pressure in the half-field. While Greeley showed flashes of defensive organization, the volume of possession time they faced, fueled by the faceoff discrepancy, ultimately wore them down.   The Trojans, now 19-2, head into the state semifinals as one of the favorites in Class B, armed with elite depth, playoff experience, and the kind of cohesion that defines championship teams. With multiple contributors and one of the state's most consistent coaching staffs, Garden City continues to set the standard in public school lacrosse.   Meanwhile, Section 1 continues its climb. While Somers gave the region its first win over Long Island since 2019 earlier in the day, Greeley's loss served as a reminder of how difficult it is to break through at every classification. Still, the presence of multiple Section 1 teams in regional finals is itself a positive sign for the health of lacrosse in the lower Hudson Valley.   Ultimately, Garden City advanced, and Greeley exited, but not quietly. The Quakers proved they belonged in the conversation. They just ran into a team that's been writing the blueprint for decades.    When [player_tooltip player_id='123459' first='Anthony' last='Asaro'] first stepped onto the field, he looked more like an SEC-level tight end than a sophomore midfielder, and he played like one. Asaro is a highly skilled, deceptively fast, and physically dominant athlete. Standing at 6'2” with a powerful frame, Asaro brings an elite blend of size, speed, athleticism, and tenacity that makes him nearly impossible to match up against at the high school level. He finished with 2 goals and 2 assists in the regional final, showcasing his ability to explode past defenders with speed while absorbing contact. His downhill dodging and ability to draw the pole speak to his all-around midfield value, not just as a dodger and as a big-framed player, but also as a scoring threat in general. A two-sport standout football player who uses his endurance, toughness, and grit to beat his opponent, whether it's an LSM or a Close Defender. Asaro will for sure be a high-ranked 2027 midfield prospect during the recruiting time and will for sure land at a high-end D1 powerhouse.     A 6'1” lefty attackman in the Class of 2028, Smith finished with a team-best 4 goals and 2 assists in the regional final. A regular contributor throughout the season, his line production has shown steady growth. He displayed both finishing touch and field vision under pressure. As a freshman who starts for Garden City's varsity team, Smith should soon become a high-priority target for Division 1 colleges.     A class of 2026 attackman, DeBusschere scored 2 goals and 4 assists, serving as a primary playmaker and facilitator in Garden City's offense. As a multi-year varsity player, he consistently makes high-quality reads and finds open teammates in transition. His ability to impact the game as both scorer and distributor shows that he is a well-rounded attackman.     In the New York Class B Regional Finals, Medjid contributed 2 goals and 2 assists in the final, demonstrating his ability to serve as a high-IQ transitional midfielder. With reliable decision-making and strong situational awareness, he creates opportunities off the ride and in unsettled moments. His dual-threat potential makes him a valuable player in a high-powered offensive system.      In the New York Class B Regional Finals, Berkery chipped in with 2 goals, showing off his knack for finding the back of the cage and finishing in tight spots. Berkery maintains steady in-line production and makes smart cuts within Garden City's structured offense. His consistency and off-ball intelligence show his dominance as a midfielder.      The Lehigh University commit added 1 goal in the Regional final, functioning as a reliable threat in the offense. As one of Garden City's high-IQ field players, his spatial awareness and finishing precision stand out. He projects to be a great player at the DI level thanks to his steady two-way contributions.     Dominating the face‑off X, Cascadden went 20-for-25, establishing control of the possession throughout the entire game. His win rate dictated transition opportunities and kept Garden City on offense, showing him as an elite college-level FOGO.     A freshman phenom, Dessi exploded for 6 goals in the regional final, nearly single-handedly keeping Greeley competitive early. His aggressive shooting, off-ball movement, and natural nose for goals signal a high ceiling over the next 3-4 years. Already a Section 1 standout, his freshman showcase is likely to generate serious recruiting buzz.     In the New York Class B Regional Finals, Gashi contributed 1 goal and 1 assist, earning his points during a brief Greeley run in the second half. As a versatile offensive player, he showed strong positioning sense and efficiency near the crease. His multi-positional skill set and physical-to-stick presence fit the profile of a late-game rotational talent.     The quarterback of the offense, Matthew Byrne, had 5 assists, demonstrating his elite vision and field-handling as Greeley's primary playmaker. His passing range and tempo-setting ability were on full display throughout the first half. As a midfield facilitator, he projects to a high-end recruiter if he adds goals to his game.     In the New York Class B Regional Final, Blakeslee recorded an assist in the first half, showing early chemistry within Greeley's offensive sets. While his stat line was modest, he consistently drew top defenders and early slides, creating space and opportunities for his teammates. He demonstrated strong field awareness and quick decision-making in finding the open man.     In the New York Class B Regional Finals, Kaplow recorded 6 saves, going up against a relentless offense and making saves under pressure. He stood tall in one-on-one situations and kept his composure in high-pressure moments. His resilience, positioning in goal, and his patience during the clear reflect qualities needed for any college team.

For a program trying to take the next step, the regional round can often serve as both a measuring stick and a wake-up call. On Saturday afternoon at Charlie Murphy Field in Yorktown, Section 8 powerhouse Garden City reminded Horace Greeley, and Section 1 more broadly, just how high the bar is set in New York's Class B lacrosse landscape.