Excelsior Games: Class of 2026 Standouts, Part 2

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the Excelsior games earlier in July, all of the regions in New York had some of their top local talent and competed against each other. The 2025's and 2026's played together and here is part 2 players who impressed from Nassau, Suffolk, Hudson Valley, and Western regions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["52184"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669a92655a433"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Gullace is one of the strongest defensive midfielders I've seen this summer. When he provided help defense, he slid with his body and laid the two hardest hits I saw all day. He had a great on-ball presence as he moved well laterally. He got into hips and drove the opposition to the outside, forcing them to move the ball. His ability with the ball is raw, I didn't get to see much of him offensively but he'll be a defensive middie at the next level and has a high upside there. He's going to be an incredible athlete for Canandaigua and he brings a level of toughness and grit that you don't see a ton, proving to match up well athletically. He's a guy to keep an eye on when next spring rolls around as a potential late bloomer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["52186"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669a92655a4e1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The midfielder from Northport was a player I was looking forward to watching. He has some significant varsity experience under his belt and it was evident with how he played. Loiacono was a good decision-maker and played a smart brand of lacrosse. He moved the ball when he needed to, but selected good times to attack towards the cage. Carrying a shortstick defender behind the cage for an invert, he noticed the space he had above the net and used a quick first step to beat his defender. He came around the cage and finished around the goalie for a nice tally. Loiacono is good at getting to the right spots and is constantly a threat with his scoring ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["52188"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669a92655a586"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Manhasset native was one of the most impressive players I saw in this event. Producing in a variety of ways out of the Team Nassau midfield, Harley is a smart two-handed player who can help out any offense. He has some speed and ran by a defender down the alley for a right-handed goal, and also showcased his ability while being inside. He caught a pass with his left hand in traffic and was able to get a quick release and cash in through the contact. And finally, Harley showed off his IQ. While dodging, he recognized the strong help defense and bounced outside but saw the lane to re-dodge before taking it down the alley and putting the ball top shelf.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["52190"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669a92655a615"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When I watched Suffolk take on Western, there was some great offensive talent but the overall MVP was given to Carew, who played excellent lacrosse. He was very disruptive to anybody who he was guarding, but Carew's game really stuck out when the ball was on the ground or in his stick. He did a good job picking up loose balls or helping his teammates win those battles. Carew looked comfortable with the ball and did a good job clearing it over the midline and finding his teammates to get a possession. The defender from Chaminade looked like one of the most reliable defenders for his team at this event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["52192"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669a92655a6a2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Yorktown product was all over the field when I saw him play and did anything his team needed from him. The Hudson Valley region needed a few goals late but they didn't have a faceoff guy on their roster. Carney stepped up late and won a couple of face-offs cleanly to himself and made plays in the middle of the field. Carney's dodging and shooting abilities were also on display. He was a contributor as a sophomore for Yorktown. He is in for a big junior season with a Cornhuskers program that went to the state semi-finals last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["52195"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669a92655a72e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This Nassau County team was great in the middle of the field and Miller was one of the reasons why. The LSM from Long Beach was great on the ground. He was able to pick up GBs and make plays upfield. He moved the ball well to his teammates for an attempt in an unsettled offensive opportunity. Miller was also great in transition. After he picked up a ground ball he threw a perfect skip pass to the attackman on the low pipe for a near assist to his name. Miller registered 15 caused turnovers and 20 groundballs on Long Beach's varsity as a sophomore, and you can expect his production to increase during his next high school season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->