New York youth lacrosse teams gather at Schreiber HS for Harvey Cohen Lacrosse Tournament

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. — 

Lacrosse Takes Center Stage During Harvey Cohen Tournament

Despite plenty of spring rain that preceded it, the 2022 Harvey Cohen Lacrosse Tournament featured sun-filled skies when it made its triumphant return to Lions Field and Schreiber High School.

“We have had the lacrosse tournament every year since 2017, except 2020 one year during COVID,” said Brian McCormack, president of the Port Youth Activities (PYA) board of directors. “But we did host it last year.”

The genesis of the event was to create a lacrosse tournament welcome to all towns on Long Island to participate in. “The idea was to have the best talent play in this tournament. We have lacrosse perennial powerhouses participate every year,” Brian noted. “Eighty-six teams participated in both the boys’ and girls’ divisions this year. The girls’ tournament was on Saturday, June 4 and the boys’ tournament was on Sunday, June 5.”

The Harvey Cohen Lacrosse Tournament consists of lacrosse players starting in first grade and goes up to sixth grade. “We have really attracted some of the best programs on Long Island. But what is noteworthy about the tournament is there is a high level of sportsmanship among all the teams,” Brian stressed. “And there is a huge sense of camaraderie that we all share as a lacrosse community. The towns all know each other and have played each other at different times. We have teams that come out from eastern Suffolk and New York City to play in the tournament. We really cover a wide scope of geographical locations all over Long Island.”

We have a championship format for third grade to sixth grade where each winner is given a championship tee shirt and acknowledged on our Instagram page, but it is not what the tournament focuses on, Brian asserted. “It is about getting together and having a competitive day. But also, it gives a lot of families their first experience in a tournament setting,” he said. “There is a high level of energy. We have tailgating. There is a huge barbecue all day long. A lot of activities go on throughout the day and there is a true “country picnic-type feel” with a strong emphasis on families and communities having a day to celebrate lacrosse together.”

McCormack added he wanted to thank Chris Shields, Kathleen O’Hara and Nick Schratweiser, director of health, physical education and athletics at Port Washington Union School District, the latter of whom was featured just two months ago in this same feature in Port Washington Living.

“They were adamant about having this tournament back at Schreiber High School because it has always been a Port Washington event,” Brian stated. “The other important reason for having the tournament back at Schreiber is because PYA is are really so connected to Port Washington school programs. We have never been as connected with the high school programs as we are today.”

Brian added the Schreiber varsity lacrosse team went all the way to the Long Island Lacrosse Championship which is their first appearance since 1995. “Isaac Neal, varsity lacrosse coach, would be the first one to say the reason the team was so kids are successful is because of the youth sports program we have here at PYA,” relayed Brian. “One-hundred percent of the kids on that team came through PYA lacrosse.” Some 4,000 Port Washington fans attended the Long Island high school lacrosse championships at Hofstra University to watch the varsity team make its run.

“My boys are in seventh grade and all their friends and teammates are excited about their accomplishments and watching the success of the varsity team helps them to set high athletic goals for themselves,” Brian concluded. “On the other hand, the Harvey Cohen Lacrosse Tournament brings a competitive, social lacrosse atmosphere and opens up the kids’ eyes to the lacrosse community around them. You play multiple games and there are crowds of family and friends to watch your games.  The entire town comes to support it. This tournament is another experience to how great the sport of lacrosse is.”

Named After a Legend

Harvey Cohen is a big name in the world of lacrosse. He was one of the founding members of PYA and started the youth lacrosse and football programs. Cohen also was involved in creating the PAL Lacrosse League of Long Island, which most town teams still play in today, the North Hempstead Lacrosse Club, a post-collegiate travel club team, Harvey’s Lax summer league team and served as general manager for Team USA Lacrosse.

“He was a great ambassador for the sport and Harvey started out coaching his is sons in lacrosse. Even though Harvey passed in 2016, he is still well known in Port Washington, where he lived for many years, as well as throughout the lacrosse world nationally and internationally. He has had a tremendous influence on the sport of lacrosse,” Brian said.

Cohen’s impact went far beyond sports. He served in the Airborne Troop Carrier Division, where he was an air force pilot. Cohen served during the D-Day invasion that honored its 78th anniversary last month.

McCormack has a personal deep connection to Cohen. “My kids all participated in multiple PYA sports over the years and I coached most of their sports. Harvey Cohen was the one that introduced me to the PYA board and he thought it would be a good idea for me to join and that I could add some value,” recalled Brian. “Harvey was a mentor of mine. I played for him after college and he supported me as a player and was instrumental in my nomination for a team USA tryout. He was always there for me so it was an honor to help organize the Harvey Cohen Lacrosse Tournament with Chris Avazis and other PYA board members.

Looking forward, McCormack believes the Harvey Cohen Lacrosse Tournament has that Pride in Port feel, is a great way to place a spotlight on lacrosse and continue to showcase the talent and popularity that exists with town teams on Long Island.  The Harvey Cohen Lacrosse Tournament has established itself as one of the premier town team lacrosse tournaments and we plan to keep it that way.

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