Seaford belongs in title conversation

Posted

After a season playing stepped-up competition in a higher enrollment league, Seaford is back in its longtime Class C home for 2015 ready to challenge for a county championship.

The Vikings went 9-7 in Class B last year and were toe to toe with Carey in the first round of the playoffs before falling 7-5. Seaford lost six starters, but with five senior returnees leading many newcomers, coach Mike Corcoran sees potential for a playoff run.

“A lot of guys are playing in bigger roles than they are used to,” Corcoran said. “We want to get better every week.”

Seaford’s five captain leaders include midfielder Bobby Buell, attackman Matt Simone, midfielder James Ragland, defenseman John Schaller and goalie Ryan Gibbons. Simone, Gibbons and Raglin have committed to play at Division II power Dowling College next year.

“They are different personalities but are high energy guys doing a great job,” Corcoran said of his captains.

Corcoran is looking at Buell to be an offensive leader. The senior attackman, who also starred on Seaford’s football and basketball teams, tallied three goals and two assists in a season-opening 11-8 win at Division. “He draws a lot of attention,” Corcoran said of Buell. “He is an all-around great athlete.”

Junior attackman Danny Connell is also a focal point of Seaford’s offense and registered six goals in Seaford’s victory against Division. Corcoran is also looking for offensive contributions from seniors Nick Frederick and James Duncan.

On the defensive end, Schaller is the lone returning starting close defenseman. Junior Dan Boulukos will also be a key component of the defense as a long stick defensive midfielder. Gibbons steps in as starting goalie after recording 24 saves as a junior while playing behind all-county goalie Andrew Sappia.

“He is ready to step in,” Corcoran said of Gibbons, who recorded 11 saves in the 2015 opener at Division.

Looking to bolster Seaford’s offensive positions is freshman faceoff specialist Mike Anderson, who played on junior varsity as an eighth grader last year. Anderson helped key a comeback from a 6-3 deficit at Division with dominating play at the faceoff X down the stretch.

Seaford entered the 2015 season seeded fourth in Class C behind Cold Spring Harbor, Locust Valley and Mineola. The Vikings are looking to end a string of four straight defeats in playoff openers, which included an overtime heartbreaker to Friends Academy in the 2011 semifinals.

“If we keep improving week to week, we should be in position to compete for a title,” said Corcoran.

After facing Oyster Bay in its conference opener, Seaford is next in action at home on Thursday morning, April 2, for a non-league game against Half Hollow Hills East starting at 10 a.m. The Vikings are also scheduled to face Mepham in another home non-league game on April 9 at 10 a.m.