About our staff:
Joe Taglia - Owner/Operator
First and foremost, Coach Taglia is a loving husband, father of four, and teacher. Teaching English in the Syosset School District has helped shape Joe into an understanding, compassionate leader, with knowledge in the progression and development of young athletes.
As an athlete, Joe played high-level travel hockey, which contributed to his love of competition and development. This progressed when he found a love for the game of lacrosse and continued to play through high school and into college. Joe was a member of the CW Post lacrosse program as a starting long-stick midfielder and playing on the man-down unit. Joe had a wonderful career there, highlighted as a multi-year starter and starting in the 2005 NCAA Final Four and finishing his lacrosse career in 2006.
As a coach, Coach Taglia has been in the Syosset Braves Lacrosse program for 19 years and counting. Starting with the middle school and working his way through the JV and Varsity, Coach Taglia has learned what it takes to be successful, and how an athlete grows and develops the necessary skills needed to have success through high school and into college. Coach has been a member of the Syosset staff since 2006 and with the varsity team since 2019, participating in 3 Nassau County Championships and winning the Championship in 2021.
Lacrosse Staff
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Andrew Giovinco
Andrew was a standout player his entire lacrosse career. He was a four year member of the varsity team at Syosset High School, a Nassau County Champion in 2016, an Academic All-Conference selection, highlighted by being named an All-County selection before graduating in 2019. Throughout his varsity career Andrew posted 104 goals and 96 assists. Andrew was also selected to the Nassau County Long Island Showcase team three times, and was a member of Team 91 Orange in 2019.
Andrew moved on to the United States Air Force Preperatory, where he graduated in 2020 before moving on to play at Stony Brook University, where he is currently playing; splitting time as both an attackman and midfielder.
Andrew brings an unparalleled knowledge to the game. Through all of his experience and time as a student of the game of lacrosse, his skills and ability to reach players is unmatched.
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Jack Monfort
Jack had an illustrious high school career, prior to graduating in 2019. Jack was a four year member of the Syosset Varsity Lacrosse team, of which he served as captain for his Junior and Senior seasons. During his career, Jack was named All-County three times, Nassau County Midfielder of the Year his senior season. At the end of his senior season, he was also recognized with the high honor of being named a high school All-American. Jack also served as a captain of the Varsity Soccer team his senior season.
Jack is currently a Senior at Yale University, where he helped the team to the NCAA Quarterfinals this past season.
Most recently, Jack was selected to be a member of the Team USA Under 21 Lacrosse team which was held in Limerick, Ireland. During the tournament, Jack was a standout player, helping Team USA win the Gold medal.
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Christian Lyons
Christian is a 2019 graduate of Syosset High School, where he was a three year member of the varsity lacrosse program and served as Captain his senior year. As a senior, Christian was named an All-County selection, as well as receiving both the Fran McCall Unsung Hero Award, and the James Metzger Leadership Award. He also played club lacrosse for Team 91.
Since graduating, Christian currently plays for NCAA Division 1 Manhattan College, where he helped the Jaspers win the 2022 MAAC Championship. He is majoring in Physical Education.
Christian has a wonderful rapport with athletes who have a chance to work with and learn from him. His passion for sports and dedication to education, and giving back to the community, make him a valuable asset to the program and to all young athletes.
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Alexandra Di Chiara
Alexandra was named to the MAAC All-Academic Team as a Graduate Student at Marist where she appeared in 15 games. She finished the season with 14 goals and assisted on 16 (Tied for 2nd on the team) and caused one turnover, had five ground balls and one draw control
Di Chiara was a transfer junior from Denver University. She was named to the Big East All-Academic Team in 2018-19.
In high school, Di Chiara was a Newsday Top 100 Lacrosse Player for all four years. She was named All-County Honorable Mention and Under Armour Uncommitted Team in 9th grade. As a sophomore, she was named to the Long Island Metro Team, and then was named to the All-County team as a sophomore and junior. Her careers totals included 150 goals and 120 assists. She also played soccer and basketball in high school, winning All-Class all three years in soccer and twice in basketball. She was twice voted team captain in soccer, and once in basketball.
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Kelly George
Kelly was a standout player at Marist where she was honored with All-MAAC Rookie Team, MAAC Rookie of the Week and named to the MAAC Academic All-American team multiple times
Kelly then spent a graduate season with Stony Brook where she was named IWLCA Honor Roll.
In high school, George won consecutive state championships at Garden City in 2016 and 2017. In her senior year she led her team in assists with 39. Her 73 points that season put her in the top 15 in Nassau County. She was named to the All-County and All-Tournament State teams. George earned All-Long Island and All-Metro Honorable Mention and was recognized as an Epoch Lacrosse notable player. She was an All-County honoree in basketball and won county, Long Island, and state championships in soccer.
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Sara Stephens
Sara had a wonderful career at LIU where she dominated on the field throughout her entire career. During her career at LIU she was named IWLCA Division I Academic Honor Roll.
In high school, Sara was a four-year varsity lacrosse player at Plainedge High School where she was a Three-time All-Conference selection, received All-County Honorable Mention praise in 2015. She was the recipient of the Coach's Award and Blue Collar Hustle Award as a junior and helped the Red Devils to a Conference IV Championship in 2015. Sara tallied 111 points (92 goals, 19 assists) in her career at Plainedge.