Rebuilds and renovations are always nice. Take an existing structure with all the elements and reorganize it to be more sufficient. That’s what Miller Place is aiming to do after a rough 2019 season saw them go 3-11 in the division (3-13 counting the non-league games) placing the Panthers in 19 out of 23 in the section 11 division 2 standings.
Two of the players that stood out for Miller Place in 2019 was junior attack, Nick Belvedere, last year’s team-leading point scorer with 23 goals and 22 assists. Nick Belvedere recently committed to play lacrosse at D-1 Manhattan College. Another player that opponents should be wary of is sophomore middie Anthony Bartolotto who returns after scoring 18 goals and 14 assists in his freshman season.
After losing only two seniors to graduation last year, head coach Nicholas Belvedere is expecting growth from his younger players. “Many of the boys we have coming back are still underclassman, but they all have played significant roles on our team in the past.”
Returning with last year’s starting lineup mostly intact, coach Belvedere is hoping Nick Belvedere, Bartolotto, junior middie Matthew LoNigro, long stick middie sophomore Max Weisman and senior defender Matt Tomlinson can help lead the Panthers to the top of the division 2 class C standings. “We expect to keep building from the difficult learning experiences and are looking to make positive strides as a team to put it all together and win some games.”
A look at the schedule for the Panthers:
The season opener is March 17 when they travel to take on Eastport/ South Manor.
The Panthers take on defending section 11 class B champs Harborfields on the 27 of March.
Miller Place will host a spring break Matinee when they take on Rocky Point on April 7.
Elwood/ John Glenn comes to town on April 20 for a 4:30 matchup.
Miller Place finishes the home schedule on the 13 of May when they host Hauppauge before traveling to Kings Park to finish the regular season.
