The Hempstead PAL Tigers of seventh and eighth graders compiled a 6-2 record during the lacrosse program’s 2025 season. Besides the winning record, the 13th year for the Tigers also was hailed as a “lucky” one as the program continued to expand, players continued to develop their individual games and several students announced their commitments to pursue quality high school education.
The program is led by Alan Hodish, a former lacrosse and football coach at Hempstead High School. An attorney in Garden City and an East Meadow resident, he has coached youth lacrosse on Long Island for decades. Hodish is a member of the Long Island Metropolitan Lacrosse Foundation Hall of Fame. Assistant coaches for the Tigers are James Ford, L.J. Hough and John Moore.
Significant financial support for the Hempstead program is provided by James C. Metzger, a 1970s three-sport athlete at Half Hollow Hills East in Dix Hills. At the end-of-season ceremony in Hempstead on June 25, team awards were presented by outstanding Long Island high school, college and professional lacrosse players James Pannell and Jack Concannon.
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Hempstead PAL Tigers 2025 Roster And Awards
Patrick Bodkin – Bill Beroza Goalie Award
Find out what's happening in Garden Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Matthew Bucknor – See Special Awards Section
Jayden Butler – Don Ryan Coaches Award
Mikah Butler – Dan Williams MVP Defense Award
Bentley Cannon – See Special Awards Section
Daniel Caroleo - Vincent Louther MIP Defense Award
Chris Collis - Vincent Louther MIP Defense Award
Giovanni DeJesus – See Special Awards Section
K’Shaun Edwards – Jim Brown Award
JaSean Grafton – James Ford MVP Midfield Award
Jawaan “Juju” Johnson – Bell Ringer Award
Justin Jones – Rookie Of The Year Award
Avery Ling – Tim Pratt MVP Attack Award
Hayden Morales – Tiger Award
Juelias Morales – Mr. Hustle Award
Major Simms - Tim Pratt MVP Attack Award
Mark Smith – See Special Awards Section
Tyrell “Ace” Wilson – See Special Awards Section
Special Recognition Awards
The Rob Pannell Award as the team’s outstanding player was presented to Bentley Cannon for the second consecutive season. Pannell is a professional lacrosse player with the Maryland Whipsnakes who formerly starred at Cornell University. He is the fourth leading scorer in men's Division I history and he holds the Cornell and Ivy League all-time scoring records. Pannell attended Smithtown High School in Suffolk County, where he played on the varsity lacrosse team for three years. He led Long Island in scoring during his senior year with a school record 130 points. Pannell was named offensive MVP of the team that season and earned a place on Newsday's All-Long Island second team. He also was named to the 2007 high school All-American team.
The James C. Metzger Award was presented to two players – Mark Smith and Mathew Brucknor – for "their strong work ethic and improvement made throughout the lacrosse season." Metzger received the 1977 Lt. Ray Enners Award for outstanding Suffolk County lacrosse player when he scored 102 points and received All-American honors. An All-American lacrosse player at Hofstra University, Metzger’s support for Long Island lacrosse includes boys high school leadership, MVP and outstanding player awards for teams in Nassau and Suffolk counties. He is the founder and chairman of Whitmore – The Agency, an insurance and financial services firm in Garden City now known as Acrisure. Smith is headed to Brooklyn’s Erasmus High School and Brucknor will attend Iona Prep in New Rochelle.
The Michael J. Piegare Award was presented to two players – Giovanni DeJesus and Tyrell “Ace” Wilson. The Piegare recognition was established in memory of a Cold Spring Harbor High School and Pace University lacrosse player to honor a student-athlete who "best displays the character and outstanding attitude that was demonstrated by Michael Piegare in athletics and throughout the course of his life." The award is offered each season by parents Joe and Theresa Piegare. The family’s Michael J. Piegare Scholarships for lacrosse camp were presented to Bentley Cannon, K’Shaun Edwards and JaSean Grafton.
The Eugene Grant Community Service Award was presented to the Butler Family for contributions to the Hempstead PAL program.
