The Long Island Lizards should not hang their heads. In a season where they were described as “rebuilding”, they made the playoffs and had a very solid regular season.
After losing a nine goal lead on the Denver outlaws in the playoffs, however, they might not feel that way.
The season had a tough spot for the Lizards. They traded away Matt Danowski and Stephen Berger to the Charlotte Hounds for Max Quinzani and the top pick in the collegiate draft.
Quinzani never showed up, and left Major League Lacrosse. Their top pick, Rob Pannell, broke his foot with Cornell and he missed the entire season, and will be granted a fifth year of eligibility.  So the Lizards do not even get him until midway through 2013.
Another draft pick, Sam Bradman, went to play in LXM Pro instead. They had a first year head coach in Joe Spallina. Nicky Polanco wanted to be traded. Would anything go right?
Former Cleveland Browns running back and Syracuse lacrosse star Jim Brown bought the team, and the Lizards made a run. They finished with the fourth seed in the league, and made the playoffs in a “rebuilding” year.
Spallina won head coach of the year. Matt Gibson was the top rookie, and Drew Adams the goaltender of the year.
Someday, the Lizards will have Pannell. Gibson has become a great player, Max Seibald had a great year. The Lizards do have a good future.
They might not be feeling good after that loss, and this entire off season, they will remember it. Moves will be made, with supplemental and college drafts upcoming, along with trades.
The Lizards should be dangerous in 2013, once again.
