Boys lacrosse opener brings milestone win
HUNTLEY — Temperatures were beginning to drop on the season opening night for Huntley’s boys lacrosse season.
But head coach Dominic Saccomanno did not seem to mind. His players had just doused their leader with contents of a jug sitting on the sideline. The wet celebration was on for Saccomanno’s 100th Red Raiders lacrosse coaching victory March 18.
“It feels special because it’s generational,” Saccomanno said. “The kids on this year’s team had older brothers on our first teams. That’s when we established a youth lacrosse program and there are about 140 kids in it.”
The latest seniors to announce their college selections are attackers S.J. Engmann, who will play lacrosse at Iona University in New Rochelle, New York and Bobby Pupich, who has chosen Howard Community College. Also, senior Nick Toman is a comit to St. Ambrose and Giovanni Baggio, a junior forward, has chosen Mercyhurst College. Pupich and Baggio won All-Fox Valley Conference last season. Junior attack Colin Abordo and forward Cam Abordo are back as well.
Saccomanno estimates his total wins as a coach at about 130.
Saccomanno, of Crystal Lake, is proud his sons, Michael, Carter and Patrick, have taken up the sport. The younger boys, Carter and Patrick, could be seen proudly wearing lacrosse helmets after HHS games. Michael Saccomanno played lacrosse for Crystal Lake South.
Saccomanno has guided the Red Raiders since 2018-19. They were 6-12 in his initial season. Since then they have dominated the Fox Valley Conference with four straight titles and won sectional championships in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Saccomanno nearly reached the century mark in Huntley victories last season. HHS had a 16-6 campaign, gained another FVC title, and concluded reaching their sectional final. They outscored their foes by a 328-160 goal margin. Leading the returning players’ statistics are Pupich with 86 goals and 49 assists for 135 points and Engmann had 42 goals and nine assists for 51 points.
Season opener
Things started well for the new spring campaign, a 13-4 win over South Elgin.
The offense was led by Engmann and Pupich, who each scored four goals. Pupich added an assist for five points. Senior Nick Toman contributed two goals. Colin Abordo, a junior, pitched in one goal and one assist for two points. Cameron Abordo, a junior, had one goal. Dom Scarpelli, also a junior, finished with one goal and one assist for two points. Goalie Anthony Taylor, a junior, made seven saves.
The Red Raiders took an 8-2 halftime lead against South Elgin. Saccomanno was happy with the opener.
“The second half was more about working the clock, rather than scoring a bunch of goals, because they had a good keeper,” Saccomanno said.
Upcoming matches are at Deerfield April 1 at 7 p.m. and at Red Raider Stadium April 4 at 6 p.m. against Antioch.
