Garden City boys lacrosse a well-oiled machine that shows no signs of stopping

It’s a disservice to Garden City boys lacrosse to take for granted just how dominant this program has become.

The Trojans lifted their 10th state title in program history with a 14-5 win over Canandaigua. This isn’t just a team that found the right talent at the right time. Garden City has won three titles in the last four years and represents a well-oiled machine.

“We try to leave no stone unturned,” coach Steve Finnell said, speaking of his assistant coaches in Joe Jacovina, Tim Holman, Mike Lind and Mike Zagari. “But it’s a player’s game when it comes down to it. And I think they played their best game of the year [against Canandaigua].”

When Luke Cascadden wins over 75% of his faceoffs with consistency and two-way midfielder Owen Wuchte dominates contested ground balls, it makes it hard for opponents to even get their foot in the door. It’s how the Trojans marched to massive leads in the state Class B semifinal and final, leading 11-1 and 12-0 in both games by halftime, respectively.

It’s a remarkable 20-man senior class, with Finnell describing Wuchte as “an outstanding wing player.” Midfielders Dan Medjid and Michael Berkery always seemed to provide a needed spark, and goalie Jake Schlipf, long stick midfielder Blake Cascadden and defenseman Luke LeSueur helped a Garden City defense that allowed more than seven goals just once in seven elimination games.

Non-seniors were just as impactful. Sophomore Anthony Asaro is on track to be among the best in his class, logging 58 points in dominant fashion. Ben Smith burst onto the scene as a freshman, finishing even stronger with 13 goals and six assists over Garden City’s final five playoff games. Andrew Dengler and Brayden Robertiello both had strong sophomore seasons.

“Our grade, the grade below us and even the sophomores, there’s always talent,” Blake Cascadden said. “[Finnell] knows how to practice us, he knows how to work us. He’s done a really good job this past decade of keeping the powerhouse going.”

“My senior captains recognized the talents of some of our underclassmen and supported them,” Finnell said. “That’s great leadership.”

And then there’s Charlie Koester, the gritty junior attackman who battled a painful left forearm injury suffered in the state quarterfinal. That didn’t prevent him from totaling six goals and three assists in the state semifinal and championship.

“He was very motivated to try and see this thing through,” Finnell said. “It was little dicey for a few days, and when we got the good news that he was OK, it was kind of a big boost to us.”

Few held a candle to the 2025 Trojans. But the pieces are already in place to make sure 2026 creates even more fond memories for a program that never seems to run out of them.