The Long Island Lizards are a Major League Lacrosse (MLL) professional men's field lacrosse team based in Hempstead, New York, USA, located on Long Island. They are original members of the MLL and lost in the league's inaugural game on June 7, 2001 to the Baltimore Bayhawks (now Chesapeake Bayhawks), 16-13. From the league's inception in 2001 through 2005, they were in the American Division. From 2006 to 2008, they were in the Eastern Conference.
[edit] History
In the MLL's inaugural season in 2001, the Lizards split their home games between Hofstra Stadium, now James M. Shuart Stadium, and EAB Park (now Citibank Park). For the 2002 season, they used Hofstra Stadium as their home field. As of 2003, the Lizards played all home contests at Mitchel Athletic Complex, in Uniondale, New York until 2008. The team will return to James M. Shuart Stadium for their home games in 2009.[1] The Lizards have won American Division championships in 2001, 2002, and 2003, and Major League Lacrosse titles in 2001 and 2003. The team made the playoffs in 2005 as a wildcard despite a losing record. The team's name and logo are based on the Italian wall lizard, a small reptile that was imported to Long Island (which has no native lizards) in the 1960s and which populate areas of the team's home town of Hempstead.
[edit] Rivalry
The Lizards main rival is the Chesapeake Bayhawks. Between them they hold five of the 10 MLL league championships (Chesapeake has three and Long Island has two) and in all five instances the other team was the opponent.
[edit] General Managers
[edit] Current Coaching Staff
- Head Coach - Jim Mule
- Assistant Coach - John Espey
- Assistant Coach - Todd Esposito
- Assistant Coach - Matt Schomburg
- Assistant Coach - Tony Resch
- Chief Scout - Gordon Boone
[edit] Current roster
[edit] Retired numbers
[edit] Current Season
| 2009 Long Island Lizards Season |
| Date & Time |
Away Team |
Score |
Home Team |
Score |
Game Notes/Scoring Leader |
| May 16 @ 7 PM |
Long Island |
9 |
Boston |
8 |
- |
| May 21 @ 7 PM |
Washington |
14 |
Long Island |
13 |
Overtime |
| May 29 @ 7:30 PM |
Long Island |
13 |
Toronto |
9 |
- |
| June 5 @ 7 PM |
Boston |
13 |
Long Island |
14 |
Overtime |
| June 13 @ 7 PM |
Long Island |
9 |
Denver |
16 |
- |
| June 20 @ 7 PM |
Chicago |
14 |
Long Island |
15 |
- |
| July 4 @ 7 PM |
Long Island |
7 |
Washington |
14 |
- |
| July 9 @ 7 PM |
Boston |
10 |
Long Island |
11 |
- |
| July 18 @ 8 PM |
Toronto |
19 |
Long Island |
9 |
- |
| July 25 @ 7 PM |
Long Island |
7 |
Denver |
12 |
- |
| August 1 @ 7 PM |
Denver |
13 |
Long Island |
9 |
- |
| August 8 @ 7 PM |
Long Island |
13 |
Chicago |
11 |
- |
[edit] Season-by-Season
| Long Island Lizards |
| Year |
W |
L |
Regular season finish |
Playoff results |
| 2001 |
10 |
4 |
1st in American Division |
Won semifinal 13-12 over Rattlers
Won championship 15-11 over Bayhawks |
| 2002 |
9 |
5 |
1st in American Division |
Won semifinal 19-11 over Pride
Lost championship 21-13 to Bayhawks |
| 2003* |
8 |
3 |
1st in American Division |
Won semifinal 20-14 over Cannons
Won championship 15-14 (OT) over Bayhawks |
| 2004 |
6 |
6 |
3rd in American Division |
--- |
| 2005 |
4 |
8 |
2nd in American Division |
Won semifinal 19-14 over Cannons
Lost championship 15-9 to Bayhawks |
| 2006 |
5 |
7 |
4th in Eastern Conference |
--- |
| 2007 |
5 |
7 |
4th in Eastern Conference |
--- |
| 2008 |
5 |
7 |
5th in Eastern Conference |
--- |
| 2009 |
6 |
6 |
3rd Overall |
Lost semifinal 14-13 to Toronto Nationals |
| 2010 |
7 |
5 |
3rd Overall |
Won semifinal 16-12 over Denver Outlaws
Lost in Final 13-9 to Chesapeake Bayhawks |
| 2011 |
5 |
7 |
5th Overall |
--- |
| Totals |
70 |
65 |
Regular Season Win % = .519 |
Total Playoff Record 7 - 4
Playoff Win % = .636 |
* August 17 game against Baltimore canceled due to rain
[edit] References
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| Active Teams |
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| Defunct Teams |
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| MLL Articles |
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