The last season was a difficult one for the Highland boys’ lacrosse team.

The Huskies missed the Section 9 tournament last season with a 4-12 record. Having graduated only two seniors – midfielder Matthew Castellani and attackman Liam Conn – the Huskies will enter the 2024 season with a more experienced squad.

“Many of our younger players were able to get some valuable experience playing at the varsity level last season,” Highland coach Tom Schlappich said.

The Huskies will be led on the defensive side of the field by senior All-American goalkeeper Landon Zehr. The Huskies also will return seniors Mark Cozzupoli (defense) and Andre Coleman (defensive middie). The Huskies also will return freshman T.J. Riley (defense), freshman Luke Weise (middie), freshman Trevor Coates (middie), freshman Mark Cureton (middie), sophomore Eben Yager (middie), sophomore Carson Palmer (attack), freshman Logan Davis (attack), and freshman Maison Bragg (long-stick middie).

New players include senior middies Aidan Anthony and Dylan Dutra, and freshman middies Toma Almodovar and Aubrey Nugent.

The Huskies are hoping to ride some of that experience into a return trip to the Section 9 Class C playoffs.

“We will rely on our defense and All-American goalie Landon Zehr to lead us back to the playoffs,” Schlappich said.

The Huskies were scheduled to open their season on Tuesday morning against the Newburgh Free Academy Goldbacks. They will host their “home opener” on Thursday against the Middletown Middies at Marlboro High School.

The first game in Highland is scheduled for April 4 against James I. O’Neill.