John Boell

By John Boell john.boell@newsday.com Updated December 16, 2021 1:07 PM NEWSDAY PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Aidan Lodie, West Islip, M, Jr. In a season where a handful of players could have taken home the Newsday Player of the Year award, Lodie stood above the rest, especially in critical moments and the playoffs. He was tied for sixth in Suffolk with 21 goals and added 11 assists.

Jack Flaherty will graduate from Chaminade in the spring. He will also be attending the U.S. Naval Academy and playing lacrosse next season. But the 6-4, 180-pounder, the seniors, and the rest of the 2021 Chaminade boys soccer team left a little something behind for the 2022 group -- a star. Say what? Each year that Chaminade has won a state CHSAA title, the Flyers get a star above the crest on the left side of their warm-up jackets.

There were signs along the way for the West Islip boys soccer team on its run to the program's first boys soccer state championship. Some were within the last few months, others in recent seasons, and — at least one — goes back almost four years. Lions junior varsity coach Dennis Mazzalonga had a bold statement about the current seniors after their ninth grade season.