A New Chapter Begins

The 2025 season for the Penfield Boys Lacrosse team is poised to be an exciting chapter in their storied history. Coming off a 12-7 record in 2024, the team will face the challenge of replacing 18 graduating seniors, including several key players who made significant contributions to last year's success.

Strength in Returning Talent

Despite the losses, the team remains optimistic as they return seven rising seniors, nine juniors, and four sophomores. Among the returning players, several earned accolades for their impressive performances last season. Notably, Brodie Joyce (29g-25a) was named to the All-League 2nd Team Attack, while Mason Schembri (142 saves - 90 GA, 61.2%) secured a spot on the Section 5 (Class A) All-Tournament Team and was the All-League 2nd Team Goalie. Defensive stalwarts Ronan Boyle and AJ Theodorakakos also garnered All-League honors, providing a solid foundation for the team's defense.

Experienced Leadership

Head Coach John Schembri, with a record of 172-103 over 16 seasons, will lead the team into his 17th season at the helm. Schembri's deep-rooted connection to Penfield, having played high school lacrosse there, adds a layer of passion and dedication to his coaching philosophy. 

Resilience and Firepower

The team's performance in close games last year showcased their resilience, with 13 of their games decided by five goals or fewer, including one thrilling one-goal victory against Thomas and a 6-4 loss to McQuaid in the Championship game. The squad demonstrated their offensive firepower by scoring an average of 9.7 goals per game while limiting opponents to an average of 5.8 goals against, greatly influenced by Mason Schembri's 61% save average. However, it's worth noting that 78% of their goals last season were scored by graduating seniors, leaving only 22% of the goals returning. This highlights the significant challenge the team faces in rebuilding their offensive output.

Bright Future Ahead

With key returning players already announcing their college commitments-Brodie Joyce to Providence, Colin Miller to Grove City, and AJ Theodorakakos to USMA-the team's talent and leadership are well-established. The new season will undoubtedly bring opportunities for younger players to step up and fill the void left by the graduates.

As the 2025 season approaches, the Penfield Boys Lacrosse team is set to build on their strong foundation, aiming to make a deep run in the playoffs and contend for the championship. The blend of experienced returnees and promising underclassmen will be crucial in navigating the challenges and seizing the opportunities that lie ahead.

Preseason stories are based on information from SportsFive.NET databases and coaches.

Stories are planned for each of the teams in Section V and will be released, a few at a time, between now and the start of the playing season. The stories will remain on the front page for about one week and then will be available in the NEWS archive. There will be links for all the published stories HERE and a link will also be available on each TEAM PAGE.