2011 HERALD High School Lacrosse Preview
VALLEY STREAM
Schedule BOYS March
Top scorers return to lead way By TONY BELLISSIMO
W
ith all but two starters back in the fold, including top scorers Henry Waslo and Connor Sciacca, and following a strong offseason of workouts, Valley Stream District is primed to improve on its three-win 2010 campaign on the boys’ lacrosse field. “Everything is going well,” coach Dan Achatz said. “We have seven more players on varsity than we did last year and the JV is up to 33 kids. We should be much more competitive.” A quick, athletic defense that will be tested often, and scoring punch from players who didn’t contribute as much a year ago, is two keys to Valley Stream’s success. Only Hempstead is ranked lower in Nassau Class A. “We’re well-rounded,” Achatz said. “We have a bunch of guys back, but overall it’s a pretty young team.” Waslo, a senior, scored more than 30 goals last spring and leads a promising midfield. Achatz said the team is prepared for Waslo to garner a lot of defensive attention and will look to take advantage of someone else being open. “Henry can score and feed,” Achatz said. “He can go left or right and dodge and get to the cage.” Juniors Jesse Oppenheimer and Terry Gagstetter bring tenacity to the midfield. Oppenheimer, a county wrestling champ, is quick and tough as nails, Achatz said, while Gagstetter is scrappy after loose balls and difficult to solve on draws. Sophomore Victor Huezo will be asked to provide an offensive spark, and junior Justin Cooper will also contribute. Up front, Sciaccia, a senior, had 25 goals and features an accurate shot as well as playmaking skills. Sophomore Zach Silverstein is stepping into a full-time role, junior newcomer Eddie Dietrich could do the same, and senior Dylan Faughey is in the mix to play attack and midfield. The defense in front of sophomore goalie Nick Miller is led by sophomores Gerg Jurcsak and Bobby Madramootoo. Junior CJ Byron will be a physical presence in the back.
Tougher schedule to present challenges
C
oming off a breakthrough season that saw it win 11 games and qualify for the playoffs for the first time in n history, Valley Stream’s girls’ program is set to battle in Class A. “It’s going to be a challenge and we’re up for it,” coach Rafaela Nikas-Doherty -Doherty said of competing against large schools. chools. “I think it might take three or four games for us to get up to speed, but we’ve got ot a great group of kids who work very hard and want to do well.” A dominant midfield steered the he ship in 2010, and senior Catherine Powell ll is back to lead the charge. A fifth-year varsity rsity player and All-County selection, Powell owell can help control the center with tremendous mendous stick stills and better-than-average ge speed. “Cat is the heart and soul of this his year’s team,” Nikas-Doherty said. Senior Nicole Mercado, an integral egral part of the defense in recent years, might be joining Powell and junior Nicole le Riggio in the starting midfield. Riggio was the team’s leading scorer a year ago, averaging three goals per game. Junior Kim Riley has a nonstop motor and sound fundamentals, amentals, while freshman Cali Demas willl also get some minutes. On defense, juniors Shannon n Mincey and Christine Rivera are quick to lockdown opponents and have the ability to force turnovers and jumpstart the fastbreak. Junior Sarah Santos ntos is another speedy defender sure to help elp freshman goaltender Tatyanna Gregory y become comfortable at the varsity level after fter making the leap from middle school. Nikas-Doherty said she’s “looking forward to great things from thee attack.” Sophomores Deirdre Tierney and d Heather Alexis had no trouble meshing after fter working together on last year’s JV, and nd senior Nicole Montana has starting experience. perience. Senior Nikita Chan and junior Alexandra Barrero provide depth up front. Nikas-Doherty said she’s excited xcited to see how Valley Stream stacks up p against the new competition in Conference ence A-2
31th @ Malv/ER
4:30 p.m.
April — MacArthur, Long Beach, East Meadow, Plainview-JFK, Herricks, Freeport and Hempstead. “I’m confident we’ll hold our own,” she said.
1st 6th 9th 12th 15th 26th 29th
@ Calhoun @ Uniondale @ Freeport East Meadow @ Port Washington MacArthur @ Hempstead
4:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 10:00 a.m. 4:45 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 4:30 p.m.
May 4th Herricks 14th Long Beach 17th Plainview-JFK
4:30 p.m. 10:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m.
GIRLS March 29th @ MacArthur
4:30 p.m.
April 5th 8th 12th 15th 29th
Carey @ Syosset @ East Meadow Plainview-JFK Long Beach
4:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m.
May 2nd @ Herricks 5th Freeport 11th @ Hempstead
4:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 4:30 p.m.
HENRY WASLO CATHERINE POWELL
Photos by SUSAN GRIECO
Have A Great Season! Golden Rule Jeweler Since 1948
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March 31, 2011 — LACROSSE PREVIEW - HERALD COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
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