High expectations for Long Beach

Long Beach boys’ lacrosse coach Jim Kaspar is looking for experience and depth to help the Marines make a deep playoff run a year after winning 10 games and reaching the Nassau Class B quarterfinals.

Last spring marked the ninth consecutive season Long Beach won at least one playoff game, Kaspar said. It was eliminated by eventual county and Long Island champion Lynbrook, which is among Kaspar’s long list of title contenders this year. “We’ve got a good shot to go far,” he said. “I think a lot of teams feel the same way. Lynbrook, Manhasset, Garden City, Carey, Wantagh, South Side, Bethpage…a lot of very good teams.”

The Marines lost three starters but return experience and talent all over the field, beginning up top with senior attackman Matt Varian and in the midfield with senior Chris Parler. They give Long Beach a one-two punch that’s difficult to match, Kaspar said.
“Matt and Chris are two of the best players we’ve had in my 10 years here,” Kaspar said. “They’re both game-changers.”

Varian, who is headed to Drexel University, opened the campaign with a bang by scoring eight goals and assisting on two others in a 14-9 win over Hicksville on March 21. He netted almost 50 last year when he earned All-County honors. “He’s going to draw everyone’s best defender, but he can score so many different ways,” Kaspar said. “He’s a great shooter with great vision.”

Parler, who battled a knee issue in 2014 but still managed 30 goals, is a two-time All-County recipient. “He was about 60 percent healthy last year,” Kaspar said. “He’s just a phenomenal athlete. When the ball is in his stick, anything can happen. He just blows by people.”

Sam Brown, a 6-foot-3 sophomore, returns to the attack after starting every game and scoring 20 times as a freshman. “He’s good inside and can go behind the cage,” Kaspar said. “His footwork is improved and he’s got really good size.” Junior Tommy Nicpon brings an accurate left-handed shot and is always working to get open, the coach said.

In the midfield with Parler, who takes the majority of face-offs, senior Tom Sculley plays an important defensive role and can also ignite the transition game. Junior Owen Sculley is being counted on to chip in offensively, as is junior Austin Gibbons, a converted attack with a solid skill set and field awareness. Junior Cain Tagliagambe, up from JV, is aggressive to the goal, and Caleb Monzon is only the second eighth-grader Kaspar has coached at the varsity level in 45 years.

In the back, seniors Nick Nigro and Luke Gelfand serve as Long Beach’s defensive anchors. Both are bound for the University of Tampa. Nigro will get the toughest assignment, Kaspar said, and can be a force with his physical style and strong motor. The 6-1 Gelfand has a long reach and can push the ball upfield. Senior Ryan Lynch cracked the starting lineup, and junior Kyle Christie and sophomore Vinny Gonzalez will contribute with the long pole.

Goaltender Brian Manning, a senior, emerged down the stretch last spring and looks to pick up where he left off.