Oceanside seeks a positive finish

Victories have been few and far between on the lacrosse field at Oceanside this spring. The combination of a very young roster and an unforgiving schedule has made things difficult for the Sailors. 

After Saturday’s 9-5 loss to Scotch Plains-Fanwood (NJ), Oceanside is 3-8 overall, 1-3 in Nassau Conference I. Junior Jack Egan had three goals for the Sailors, who led 4-3 at the half. Andrew McDougal had 18 saves in the loss. Oceanside has lost six of its past seven games.

Despite the team’s record, head coach Jim Gillis is optimistic. “We’ve struggled, but things are starting to click for us,” Gillis said. “We’re very young, our league is tough, and we play a real tough non-league schedule. But, we wouldn’t have it any other way. We’re hoping to make a nice run at the end of the season, and hopefully carry it into the playoffs.”

Over the past two weeks, the Sailors have played games against Syosset, Massapequa, Port Washington, and Hicksville, the four teams that comprised the 2015 Final Four in Nassau County. 

In a 13-12 loss to Hicksville, Oceanside got three goals and an assist from Egan, and a pair of goals and a helper from junior Riley Graham. The Comets, who are undefeated in league play, scored the game winner with a little over two minutes to play.

The Sailors exacted a little revenge when they hosted Port Washington in mid-April. The Vikings knocked off Oceanside twice in 2015. The second time the teams met, Port Washington ended the seasons for the Sailors in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs.

This time around, Oceanside took a commanding first half lead only to have to hold on for a narrow 13-12 victory. Senior Kevin O’Keefe scored a career-high five goals and added an assist, and freshman Luke Hickam found the back of the net four times to lead the offensive attack. McDougal had 14 saves.

Like Hickam, sophomore Derek Cruz is a huge part of the present and future of lacrosse at Oceanside. Cruz handles all the faceoffs for the Sailors, and is a scoring threat as well. In a 15-13 victory over crosstown rival Baldwin, Cruz scored two goals, had an assist, and won 25 draws. Egan, O’Keefe, and Hickam each had five points in the game. 

The Sailors play a run-and-gun style, so their young defensive unit has had its work cut out for them. Gillis believes the defense is starting to play its best lacrosse. Juniors Jim Montgomery and Jake Denaro, sophomore Joe Doherty, and freshmen Liam Artis and Jack Forbes are coming into their own.

“We have four games to go against Plainview, Uniondale, Farmingdale, and Hempstead,” Gillis said. “If we can win three of the four, we’ll be in good shape. If we win all four, we’re in great shape. We just need to play the way we can and see where it takes us.” 

The Sailors are back in action when they welcome in Uniondale this Friday at 7 p.m.