Wantagh, Seaford Well Represented in NCAA Lacrosse Tournaments

Wantagh and Seaford are well represented in this year’s NCAA men’s and women’s lacrosse tournaments, which kick off this weekend.

Here is a look at who from the local area is involved:

Division I Men’s

• Brendan Fowler, Duke: Fowler, a Wantagh native and Chaminade High School product, is a freshman midfielder at Duke, which is hosting Delaware in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday at 5 p.m. on ESPNU.
• Justin Bentivegna, Hartford: Bentivegna, a former standout at MacArthur High School in Levittown and a Wantagh native, is a freshman at midfielder at Hartford, which reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time after a 11-10 upset win at Stony Brook in the America East title game. Hartford will be at second-seeded Cornell in its first round game on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU. 

 Division I Women’s

• Natalie Melaniff, Florida: Melaniff, who was a four-year member of the girls lacrosse team, is a sophomore defender at third-ranked Florida, which will host Stanford in the first round of the NCAA Women’s Lacrosse Tournament on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Division II Men’s

• : Gartelman, a former two-sport standout at , is the starting goalie for second-ranked Limestone, which will host Adelphi in the NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Division II semifinals on May 21.

Division II Women’s

• Claire Petersen, Adelphi: Petersen, a former All-County player at Wantagh High School, is a junior attacker for to-ranked Adelphi, which has earned a bye to the Division II Final Four being hosted on it home field next weekend. Adelphi will face the winner of the LeMoyne and Dowling in the semifinals on May 21.

• : Prager, a Seaford High School graduate, is a junior attacker on third-ranked Limestone, which has earned a bye to the Final Four being held this year at Adelphi University in Garden City. Limestone will play the winner of Lock Haven and West Chester in the semifinal round on May 21 in Prager’s backyard at Adelphi’s Motamed Field.

• Meaghan Smith, Dowling: Smith, a 2010 Wantagh High School graduate, is a freshman defender for Dowling, which will host LeMoyne in a first round game on Saturday with the winner advancing to face Adelphi in the Final Four the next weekend.