Section 4 is home to a number of star-studded and state-recognized high school lacrosse players from top Southern Tier schools; namely, Corning, Vestal, Maine-Endwell and Chenango Forks.
These four schools represented the best of Section 4 lacrosse in the New York State Public High School Sports Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) boys’ lacrosse tournament last season. Similarly, Ithaca, Vestal, Owego and Windsor took their shot at bringing a state title to Section 4 in last season’s NYSPHSAA girls lacrosse tournament.
With the start of the 2026 season and a fresh start for the top Section 4 teams to bring home a sectional, regional and state title, here’s a list of some of the top Section 4 boys and girls lacrosse athletes who have the potential to make waves this season:
Top Southern Tier Lacrosse Players – Boys
Top Southern Tier Lacrosse Players – Girls
10 Boys’ LAX players from top sectional teams
Kohl Hogue (Corning, junior): Hogue scored three goals in Corning’s dominant 11-2 victory over Ithaca in the Class A final last season, landing him on the New York State Sports Writers Association’s (NYSSWA) all-state sixth team last season in Class A. Hogue also made the Section 4 Division 1 all-star first team (attack) and the Elite 20 boys lacrosse team last season. The attackman has scored eighteen goals since the start of the 2026 season.
Michael Lutton (Corning, senior): Lutton was named to the NYSSWA all-state eight team in Class A and Section 4 Division 1 all-star first team (defense) last season. Corning’s defensive line, led by Lutton, has held Southern Tier opponents to an average of less than four goals per game for an undefeated 4-0 start to the 2026 season.
Thomas Howley (Ithaca, senior): The 6-foot-4 goalie recorded a .683 save percentage at the start of the 2025 season and is on track for a similar start to the current season, having played an integral role in Ithaca’s defense, holding Southern Tier opponents to an average of three goals per game so far. The senior was also named to the NYSSWA all-state sixth team last season in Class A and the Section 4 Division 1 all-star first team last season.
Finnegan Grace (Maine-Endwell, junior): Grace contributed to the Spartans’ fourth section championship in five seasons after a 16-7 victory over Johnson City in Class C finals last season, leading to the defenseman’s nomination on the NYSSWA all-state third team in Class B and Section 4 Division 2 all-star first team (defense).
Colin Barrett (Johnson City, senior): Barrett was named to the NYSSWA all-state fourth team last season in Class B, as well as the Section 4 Division 2 all-star first team (defensive midfield).
Lucas Chanecka (Maine-Endwell, junior): Chanecka helped Maine-Endwell reach its first-ever state final four last season as a sophomore, which led to the junior’s NYSSWA all-state fifth team nomination in Class B. He was also named to the Section 4 Division 2 all-star second team (midfield) and was named to the Elite 20 boys lacrosse team.
Brogan Sullivan (Horseheads, sophomore): Sullivan, a freshman at the time, scored three goals in Horseheads’ 11-10 overtime loss to Vestal in the Class B final. Sullivan was named to the NYSSWA all-state sixth team in Class B and the Section 4 Division 1 all-star first team (attack) last season. The now sophomore has scored nine goals for the Blue Raiders since the start of the 2026 season.
Boe Briggs (Horseheads, senior): Briggs was named to the NYSSWA all-state seventh team in Class B and Section 4 Division 1 all-star first team (faceoff) last season. The senior achieved his 400th career face-off win this season against Scranton Prep and has hit over 300 ground balls in his career, as well as scored five goals since the start of the season.
Liam Spalik (Chenango Forks, junior): Spalik was a part of the defensive line that held opponents to less than four goals in the 2025 postseason, leading CF to the NYSPHSAA Class D final. Spalik was also named to the NYSSWA all-state first team in Class D and Section 4 Division 2 all-star first team (defense) last season. He also made the Elite 20 boys lacrosse team as a sophomore.
Michael Hogan (Vestal, senior): Hogan scored three goals against Horseheads in the 11-10 overtime victory for the Class B title and was also named to the Section 4 Division 1 all-star first team (midfield) last season. Hogan scored a game-high six goals to lead the Golden Bears to their first win of the season against Binghamton.
10 Girls’ LAX players from top sectional teams
Sage Bliss (Ithaca, junior): Bliss scored three goals against Corning in a dominant 15-3 Class A title victory last season. Bliss was named to the NYSSWA all-state fourth team in Class A and the Section 4 Division 1 all-star first team (attack), also making the Elite 20 girls lacrosse team as a sophomore last season.
Lauren Kozemko (Horseheads, senior): Kozemko hit a 100th career-goal milestone after a seven-goal performance against Union-Endicott in May, capping off a junior season that also named her to the NYSSWA all-state fifth team in Class B and Section 4 Division 1 all-star first team (midfield). The University of Albany D1 commit also made the Elite 20 girls lacrosse team last season.
Elsie Conway (Windsor, sophomore): Conway scored nine goals in a 15-12 victory over Chenango Forks for the Class D title last season, beating the school record for most goals in a single game. She was also named to the NYSSWA all-state second team in Class D, named to the Section 4 Division 3 all-star first team (attack) and made the Elite 20 girls lacrosse team last season as a freshman.
Kate Thomas (Ithaca, senior): Ithaca’s defensive line, led by Thomas, held Southern Tier opponents to an average of less than four goals a game last season. Thomas was also named to the Section 4 Division 1 all-star first team (defense) last season and to the Elite 20 girls lacrosse team.
Alley Crowley (Vestal, senior): Crowley scored five clutch goals in Vestal’s 7-6 rivalrous victory over Horseheads in last season’s sectional final to bring the Golden Bears to states. Crowley was named to the NYSSWA all-state third team in Class B and Section 4 Division 2 all-star first team (midfield) last season. She also made the Elite 20 girls lacrosse team last season as a sophomore, is a member of the New Balance All-American 2026 Upstate team, and is a D1 commit at Boston University.
Brynna Walsh (Corning, freshman): Walsh is another up-and-coming underclassman who was named to the Section 4 Division 1 all-star second team (attack) as an eighth grader. The freshman has scored 13 goals for the Hawks since the start of the 2026 season.
Avery Pufky (Maine-Endwell, junior): Pufky was named to the NYSSWA all-state sixth team in Class C, named to the Section 4 Division 2 all-star first team (attack) and made the Elite 20 girls lacrosse team last season as a sophomore.
Claire Beattie (Windsor, junior): Beattie scored two goals in the 15-12 victory over Chenango Forks for the Class D title last season, showcasing a versatile skillset that also helped bring Windsor to the NYS final four. She was also named to the NYSSWA all-state third team in Class D, named to the Section 4 Division 3 all-star second team (midfield) and made the Elite 20 girls lacrosse team last season as a sophomore.
Jenna McEvoy (Owego, sophomore): McEvoy had a hat trick in Owego’s 13-6 victory over Johnson City for the Class C title and then went on to score five goals in Owego’s 15-8 state quarterfinals victory. McEvoy was also named to the Section 4 Division 2 all-star second team (attack) as a freshman.
Molly Spalik (Chenango Forks, freshman): Spalik was named to the Section 4 Division 3 all-star second team (attack) as an eighth grader. Spalik scored two goals in a 12-7 win over Chenango Valley, giving the Blue Devils their first win of the 2026 season.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Ten Section 4 boys & girls lacrosse players to look out for in 2026
Reporting by Aniya Sumner, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
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