Since he was hired, Dan Spallina has been at work, trying to change a community that was seen as ‘unremarkable’ and turn it into a place of prestige — striving to convert a culture from being stuck in the middle to contending for the top prize, the coveted Section XI Division II championship.
Spallina, the head coach for Miller Place girls varsity lacrosse has only been on the job for a month, but the results of his coaching have already shown, with many players attending late-night workouts, dozens of showing up to watch film and many parents showing up to hear to what he had to say regarding the upcoming season.
“I kind of knew there was something special in this community and that is what we are building. The way this community has backed me so far has been tremendous, I’m talking film sessions that had 30 girls, parent meetings with 60 parents and shootarounds where I have 25 girls.”
Spallina is the brother of Stony Brook University women’s head coach Joe Spallina and their mother, Anna, recently coached Rocky Point to the UCA National Cheerleading championship in Orlando.
When the first draw occurs on March 16, Spallina will already be in his third month at the helm of a Panthers team that looks to improve after finishing last season with a 7-9 record. He joins Miller Place after coaching at nearby Rocky Point for several years.
From his first day with the Panthers, Spallina has led with a mantra quoted by many, including New York Islanders coach Barry Trotz;
“If you want to go somewhere fast, go alone. If you want to go somewhere far, go TOGETHER.”
This is the mantra Miller Place will play by this season. It is a mantra of unity, teamwork, and effort together. That is how a championship team’s made: together, not individually. When talking about his current roster, Spallina would not mention one player alone, barely speaking about the talents of any individual, but instead what the team is capable of doing as a whole.
“I do believe it is strength in numbers. Winning games is going to be seven strong with whoever you have out there. We have great pieces, and I think this is going be a special group as long as we’re working and pulling on the same rope in the same direction.”
Miller Place’s roster is said to be stacked. “Top to bottom, it is athletic as anything, it is unproven and untapped,” Spallina said. The unproven part comes with the preseason rankings placing the Panthers at 13 out of the 25 teams in Section XI Division II.
“I don’t see us being a 13 seed, I’m not going to push a number, but I think we are going to be better than what our preseason rank is,” said Spallina, adding “ It’s my job and my staffs job to spoon-feed these kids into learning how to win in the tight wins and putting them into positions we don’t belong in.”
Leading the team are five people who have lived their lives in Miller Place led by Spallina and assistant coach Mike Hall, “four of my five coaches live, die, breathe and sleep Miller Place” Spallina said adding that the fifth, his middle school coach, has family connections to the school through her father who has worked for 25 years in the Miller Place district. “Miller Place’s ties in the staff are very strong, and I believe the strength in us is to come together as a community and show them (the community) what winning is about.”
On his expectations come regular season play Spallina mentioned his two goalies. Chloe Anderson and Natalia Altebrando, both of who will lead the defense with the communication needed to compete against the more powerhouse teams.
I am optimistic but only optimistic by the way the girls have come to work. We are shifting the norm in Miller Place lacrosse because the girls want more. It is cool to see, but it’s even better to be a leader of the pack that’s kind of shifting the norm.”
Miller Place 2020 regular-season schedule:
The Panthers start the season at home against Long Beach on March 16. Spallina will face his old team when Rocky Point visits the Panthers on April 23.
In the middle of the season, Miller Place has a five-game road series followed by a six-game homestand. Those 11 games take place from April 2 through May 12, which is Miller Places Senior Recognition game. The Class C runner ups in Mount Sinai visit the Panthers on May 8.
Miller Place closes out the regular season with a game against Div. 2 Class B defending champions, Eastport South Manor, on May 14, followed by an away match against Babylon on the 18.
