North Shore returns full squad

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Rarely do high school programs have the luxury of returning a full team and getting a second opportunity at making a run with a group so familiar with one another.

That’s exactly what the North Shore boys’ lacrosse team will be able to do this year, as the largely young group lost zero players to graduation a year ago. Despite that, the Vikings only field 18 players for 2019.

“We definitely don’t have a big team,” coach Aaron Kozlowski said. “But all 18 guys play and know that they’re expected to contribute. They’re holding themselves and each other accountable.”

Of North Shore’s returnees, senior captains Steve Grabher and Mike Albanese will lead the charge once again for a talented group of lacrosse players.

Grabher, a decorated three-sport athlete, has been the constant for this program since his seventh-grade season. “It seems he’s been around forever,” Kozlowski said. “He’s been exactly what you want from a lacrosse player and a kid, especially in terms of accountability. If you want to play lacrosse or any sport at the next level, follow the path Steve sets.”

Albanese, the senior defensive captain, is a nonstop force protecting the crease. “He is all heart, all go,” Kozlowski said. “He is willing to do whatever we ask of him.”

North Shore’s leading scorer in 2018 was a freshman named Forrest Demetri. The talented attackman returns for his sophomore season with high expectations and goals. Sophomore Dominick Genzale and freshman Will Feldmann will all play large parts in North Shore’s 2019 season. “It is almost as if these guys aren’t underclassmen,” Kozlowski said. “Maybe their lack of varsity experience played a factor in us losing last year, but they are ready for what is to come this season.”

Kozlowski was alluding to North Shore’s first-round 8-9 upset loss against Friends Academy in the playoffs. North Shore was the No. 5 seed team in the playoffs. “We are obviously disappointed in how the season ended,” Kozlowski said. “But we have a strong group of seniors and a good group of younger guys that have worked all offseason. It is a day-to-day process.”

North Shore is looking to diversify its offensive attacking strategy to make itself more dangerous and give it a better opportunity to score at a higher clip. The Vikings will also look to clean up the clearing game on the defensive end. “We need to get our offense into more of a flow,” Kozlowski said. “We’re hovering around 5-6 goals a game in nonleague games so far, and we need more.”

The Vikings open up league play against Mineola, whom they opened up league play against last season. The Mustangs of Mineola ended up rallying back from an early deficit to take a 6-9 victory. That one loss, one that Kozlowski believed North Shore could have won if it had played a full game, came back to haunt the Vikings later.

“That game ended up being the difference between a four seed in the playoffs, which would have been a bye, and the fifth seed, which is where we lost to Friends Academy,” Kozlowski said. “Now its time to play a complete game.”