Albert Paniccia Wins James C. Metzger MVP Lacrosse Award

Friends Academy of Locust Valley defeated Northport High School 15-14 in double overtime at the boy's high school lacrosse Long Island Championship D level game on Saturday at the East Islip School District Sports Complex. Senior midfielder Albert Paniccia, who won the James C. Metzger Leadership Award at the Nassau County Championship game earlier in the week, led the Quakers to this thrilling victory and captured the James C. Metzger MVP Award for the game.

The award was presented by 1970s Long Island lacrosse star and local lacrosse benefactor James C. Metzger, who set assist records (82 in one season) and won many awards during his days at Half Hollow Hills East High School in Dix Hills, including All-American honors and the 1977 Lt. Ray Enners Award for outstanding Suffolk County lacrosse player when he scored 102 points. Metzger played lacrosse for two years at Hofstra University.

Metzger is a member of the Hofstra Athletics Hall of Fame and the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. He is the founder and CEO of The Whitmore Agency, a leading insurance services and estate planning company in the New York metropolitan area that is headquartered in Garden City.