Behrman displayed elite skills
Was prolific at both scoring, playmaking for Silver Warriors
The National Lacrosse Federation ranks Behrman as the No. 12 player nationally in the Class of 2022. The junior attack, an oral commit to the University of Notre Dame, displayed his lofty status among the top players in the country was justified as he delivered 56 goals and 50 assists in his second varsity season for the Silver Warriors.
A key competent to Niskayuna winning a Section II Class A title during his freshman season, Behrman’s 2020 season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. His exploits during his second varsity season proved even more impressive because he competed while playing with an injury.
“It was a two-year jump, not freshman to sophomore but freshman to junior,” Niskayuna coach Mike Vorgang said. “He grew in size and was much stronger than he was his freshman year. He has always had the confidence and the skill set. That was never questioned. This year, he was so much stronger and played with an injury. He just had shoulder surgery (June 24) on a torn labrum. He played the whole season with that, so he is a pretty tough kid. The thing that never seems to change with him
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is his competitiveness.”
Behrman, selected as Niskayuna’s Most Valuable Player, and sophomore attack Greyson Vorgang proved to be the area’s most prolific scoring tandem. The two always practice together during the offseason and their tight bond and chemistry manifested itself during games as each standout produced big numbers.
“(Greyson) is the most efficient player I have ever coached with regards to the number of shots he takes and the shots that go in or off the post,” Mike Vorgang said. “When you take that and couple it with Brock’s dynamic abilities as a playmaker, you have a special combination.”
Behrman’s speed, remarkable change-of-direction abilities and crafty stick work set him apart. The junior adding 15 to 20 pounds of muscle since 2019 further aided his development. The season, however, did not end the way Behrman and the Silver Warriors wanted. Shaker stunned Niskayuna 9-7 in the sectional semifinals, denying the program an 18th straight trip to a Section II final.
“I think we have a lot to build on and I am hoping what happened to us lights the fire under each guy on the team,” Mike Vorgang said. “I know Greyson and Brock are not going to stop working. They get up at 5:30 in the morning and go shoot together. They are best friends and are always trying to get better, so I can only imagine what they are going to do next year.”
“We took that loss really hard,” Behrman said. “We wanted to send the seniors out the right way. It was really heartbreaking not to see them go out with a win, so I think our goal is to do everything we can now so that when we hit (the field for the 2022 season) there is no doubt we will be sectional champions.”
First team
Attack
Brock Behrman, Jr., Niskayuna: The standout, who will play his college lacrosse at Notre Dame, dazzled in earning team Most Valuable Player honors and U.S. Lacrosse AllAmerican plaudits. Kevin Carney, Jr., Burnt Hills: Committed to play his college lacrosse at Canisius, Carney became the first player in program history to be named as a U.S. Lacrosse All-American after generating 61 goals and 43 assists for the Section II Class B champions. A Greyson Vorgang, So., Niskayuna: Suburban Council first-team all-star, Vorgang registered a school record average of 7.4 points per game as he produced 65 goals and 46 assists. A lefty shooter, the sophomore tallied 11 goals and totaled 16 points — both school records — in a 19-5 win against Bethlehem.
Faceoff specialist
Rocco Mareno, Jr.,
Burnt Hills: A vital element to the Spartans winning the Section II Class B championship, Mareno earned Suburban Council first-team honors as he won 230 faceoffs. Headed to play next at Towson University, Mareno also produced 15 goals, 12 assists, 40 ground balls and caused 26 turnovers.
Midfield Erik Gottmann, Sr.,
Ballston Spa: Selected by U..S. Lacrosse as an AllAmerican, Gottmann also garnered Suburban Council first-team honors and the team MVP award as he delivered 24 goals, 23 assists and 36 ground balls. Set to play next at Virginia Military Institute. Caleb Jacobson, Sr., Guilderland: Named to the Suburban Council first team, Jacobson (32 goals, 21 assists) came through in the big moments in helping lead the Dutchmen to the Section II Class A title after previously being a key contributor to the school’s first sectional football crown. Landed U.S. Academic All-American plaudits and is headed to play at Adelphi. Caeden LaPietro, Sr., Burnt Hills: The veteran standout provided leadership and production in helping Burnt Hills capture the Section II Class B title. Headed to play at the University at Albany, LaPietro earned Suburban Council first-team honors as he tallied 35 goals, 30 assists and 57 ground balls for the Spartans. Matt King, Jr., Ballston Spa: Earned selection as a Suburban Council firstteam all-star after producing 25 goals, 19 assists and 25 ground balls for the Scotties. King was named Ballston Spa’s Offensive MVP, helping the team advance to the Section II Class B final.
Long stick midfield
Ben Fiori, Jr., Guilderland: The junior’s work proved vital during Guilderland’s run to the Section II Class A championship. Named to the Suburban Council’s first team, Fiori tallied six goals and six assists in addition to his strong defensive work. Fiori, who competes during the summer for the Albany Power, has drawn interest from multiple Division I schools.
Defensive midfield Owen Muller, Sr.,
Burnt Hills: Named as a Suburban Council all-star as a first-team selection, Muller finished with 10 goals, 16 assists, 67 ground balls and 17 caused turnovers in helping his team win the Section II Class B championship.
Defense
Riley Hegarty, Sr., Shaker: Bound for Stony Brook, Hegarty turned in a stellar senior season that ended with the Blue Bison reaching the Section II Class B final. The first team Suburban Council all-star landed team defensive MVP honors as he recorded 86 ground balls and 31 caused turnovers. Calvin Hicks, Jr., Shenendehowa: Named to the Suburban Council first team, Hicks produced 40 ground balls, 10 caused turnovers and added two goals for the Plainsmen. He will be one of the area’s top players for 2022. Owen Scannell, Sr., La Salle: Headed next to play at Canisius, Scannell landed team defensive MVP plaudits for the Cadets as
he delivered 114 ground balls and 41 caused turnovers.
Goalie Ryan Mazzariello, Jr., Shaker: Landed U.S. Lacrosse All-American honors for a season in which the junior made 186 saves (69 percent) and allowed only 5.5 goals per game in helping the Blue Bison advance to the Section II Class A final. Mazzariello will plqy next at UMass.
Coach of the Year Tom Schwan, Burnt Hills: The veteran mentor led the team to a 14-1 record with the lone loss coming in an 18-14 setback against perennial power Niskayuna. The Spartans outscored opponents 27789, culminated with a 15-9 triumph over Ballston Spa for the Section II Class B
championship.
Second team
Attack
Liam Manion, So., La
Salle JD Townsend, Sr., Burnt
Hills Tyler Tyksinski, Jr., Guilderland
Faceoff specialist
Dillon Blanchard, Jr.,
Guilderland
Midfield
Lucas Klokiw, So., Niskayuna Michael LaCoutre, Jr.,
Shaker Dan Macchiarella, Jr., Guilderland
Leo O’Brien, Sr., Niskayuna
Long stick midfield
Noah Watso-Hanson, Sr.,
Niskayuna
Defensive midfield
Copper Wilson, Sr., Niskayuna
Defense
Holden Comley, Sr.,
Burnt Hills Andrew Haight, Jr., Ballston Spa Pat Lenden, Sr., Bethlehem
Goalie
Tyler Manning, Jr., Burnt
Hills