New York Lizards


The New York Lizards, originally the Long Island Lizards, were a Major League Lacrosse team based in Hempstead, New York, located on Long Island. They are original members of the MLL. They lost the league's inaugural game on June 7, 2001 to the Baltimore Bayhawks, 16–13.

History

In the MLL's inaugural season in 2001, the Long Island Lizards split their home games between Hofstra Stadium, now James M. Shuart Stadium, and EAB 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 returned to James M. Shuart Stadium for their home games in 2009. The Lizards have won American Division championships in 2001, 2002, and 2003, and Major League Lacrosse titles in 2001, 2003 and 2015. 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 in the 1960s and which populate areas of the team's hometown of Hempstead in Nassau County.
On December 14, 2012, the Lizards changed their name to the New York Lizards.
Prior to the 2015 season, the Lizards made a trade with the Boston Cannons for Paul Rabil. In exchange for Paul Rabil and Mike Stone, the Cannons received Max Seibald, Brian Karalunas and three draft picks. That season, the Lizards won their third Steinfeld Cup and first in 12 years by defeating their instate rival Rochester Rattlers 15–12. The Lizards won the game at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia before a Steinfeld Cup-record 8,674 fans.
Prior to the 2019 season, Rabil and his brother Michael formed the Premier Lacrosse League, which would compete directly with Major League Lacrosse and lead to an attrition in talent. In the Lizards' first season after the pro lacrosse landscape changed vastly, they lost a franchise worst 11 games in 2019, and posted their second-worst winning percentage. In 2020, a week-long, quarantined tournament thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Lizards joined the 2006 Chicago Machine as the only two teams in league history to post a winless season.

Rivalry

Chesapeake Bayhawks
The Lizards' main rival were the Chesapeake Bayhawks. Between them, they hold 8 of the 15 MLL league championships awarded through the 2015 season. The two teams have played in the championship game five times, with Chesapeake winning 3 of those 5.
Boston Cannons
The Lizards have found a new rival in the Boston Cannons after they traded their All Star Mid Fielder Paul Rabil to New York in January 2015. That season the Lizards faced the Cannons in the MLL semi-finals and the game resulted in a dramatic overtime victory for the Lizards. The tension of that game continued into the 2016 MLL season when the Cannons came to James M. Shuart Stadium, which resulted in another intense over-time victory for the Lizards.

General managers

Current coaching staff

  • Head coach – BJ O'Hara
  • Assistant coach – Ted Garber
  • Assistant coach – Mike Gongas

    All-time head coaches

Most recent roster


- captain

  • MLL Award winners

Most Valuable Player
  • Jay Jalbert: 2003
  • Greg Gurenlian: 2015
  • Rob Pannell: 2018
Rookie of the Year
  • Matt Gibson: 2012
  • Rob Pannell: 2013
Coach of the Year
  • John DeTommaso: 2001
  • Jim Mule: 2010
  • Joe Spallina: 2012
Offensive Player of the Year
  • Rob Pannell: 2016, 2018
Defensive Player of the Year
  • Nicky Polanco: 2005
  • Joe Fletcher: 2015
Goalie of the Year
  • Brian Dougherty: 2003
  • Drew Adams: 2010, 2011, 2015
Most Improved Player

First round selections