Oceanside sets lofty goals

A year after Oceanside reeled off 13 straight victories and gave Farmingdale a run for its money in a Nassau Class A girls’ lacrosse semifinal playoff game before falling by three goals, expectations are quite high for coach Ken Dwyer’s team.

The Lady Sailors, who went 15-2 last spring, must navigate a difficult landscape in Conference I but are looking to be in the county title hunt come May. “We’re talented, but we have a long ways to go,” Dwyer said. “The girls have confidence in themselves and set a goal to get to the next level. They have loftier dreams than playing in the semifinals.”

Oceanside, which lost one Conference II game in 2014, will face Class A contenders Farmingdale, Massapequa and Syosset during the regular season, as well as Class B powers Manhasset, Garden City and Wantagh. “It’s a different perspective for us,” Dwyer said. “The schedule offers no relief whatsoever but it’ll better prepare us for the playoffs. We’re up for the challenge, especially when it comes to Class A teams.”

Sophomores Christina McCabe and Alison Schwasnick helped make the Conference I opener a winning one by scoring four goals apiece to lead a 15-7 victory over visiting South Side on March 26. McCabe, an All-Conference attack described by Dwyer as the quarterback of the offense, also added four assists.

“Christina’s vision on the field is outstanding,” Dwyer said of McCabe, who after registering 26 goals and 19 assists a year ago is off to a flying start with 15 assists through five games. McCabe and junior Jenna Doherty, who had 17 goals and 17 assists last spring, run the offense from behind the cage. Senior Alyssa Verdino is a physical presence up front, and sophomore Kaitlyn Rapp is making the most of her scoring opportunities so far with five goals.

There’s a lot to like about Oceanside’s starting midfield, which feature’s last year’s leading scorer, junior Cassie Cesario (44 goals, 20 assists), Schwasnick (34 goals) and Kelsey Williams (23), a sophomore who handles the majority of draws. “We’re balanced in terms of scoring,” Dwyer said. “Teams just can’t focus on Cassie.”

Cesario, an All-County selection, is not only a feeder and finisher, but also a key to the defensive side of the field. “We expect a lot from her,” Dwyer said. “She’s tough to contain.”

The same goes for Schwasnick, an Honorable Mention All-County recipient who is off to a dynamic start with 16 goals through five games. “She hardly came off the field as a freshman,” Dwyer noted. “Like Cassie, she plays an important role at the top of our zone and opponents have a tough time keeping up with her.”

Senior Kristen Ekstrom is the heart of a defense that includes juniors Courtney Capobianco, Kerry Flavin and Barbara Pepe, and sophomore Sam Stein. Junior Taylor Passuello is a rock-solid Honorable Mention All-County goalie and one of the team’s captains. “She’s an excellent stopper and vocal leader,” Dwyer said.