Baldwin gets into win column

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This spring, it’s been a balancing act for Baldwin boys’ lacrosse. The roster features a mix of talented upperclassman ready to win now and young players still adapting to the game at the varsity level. 

“We have a lot of inexperienced players and we’re trying to bring them along,” Baldwin coach Rich Garguilo said. “Our older guys almost have to be like coaches on the field and talk them through it.”

The Bruins struggled early, dropping their first four games. But, on April 5, the club showcased its potential, earning a 17-3 victory over Hempstead. “Once our skills catch up to our athleticism, I think we’re going to be dangerous,” Garguilo said.

Up front the group is led by attackman Dan Pulis. The senior’s exciting style of play has created plenty of buzz. “I hear the other coaches say that he’s fun to watch play, and he really is,” Garguilo said. “He’s very athletic and can shoot the ball on the run.”

This season Pulis has developed strong on-field chemistry with junior attackman Dylan Ferguson. The duo combined for 11 points against Hempstead. “Pulis and him together have a nice little niche,” Garguilo said. “They’re both mature enough where I trust them on the field to be creative with their shots.”

One early season obstacle Baldwin has had to deal with is the absence of junior David Garcia. The experienced midfielder will miss at least a few weeks of action due to injury. With him out of the lineup, the play of senior midfielders Marcus Brown and TJ Salvatore will become even more important. Brown serves as a key energizer for the team according to Garguilo. 

“He’s a little fireplug,” he said. “We ask him to do a lot, and he just says ‘yes coach’.”

Salvatore has showcased plenty of ability in the midfield, and the team hopes to see him grow as a player even more this season. 

“He can shoot it from anywhere, and is good on groundballs,” Garguilo said. “He just needs to be more confident.”

Senior defenseman Mike Conforti has been arguably the Bruins’ most important player this season. Not only does he lead the club’s defense, he has also gotten more involved in the offense to make up for Garcia’s absence. 

“He’s a guy that will play close defense and also play man up,” Garguilo said. “Against Port Washington and Hempstead he scored a goal man up. He’s got great hands.”

With juniors Malcolm Bell and Jorden Arbouet, and senior Isiah Dennis joining Conforti on the backend, defense looks to be a strength for Baldwin. Goaltending should also be a strong point, with returning all-county junior Jared Tiang-Smith in the cage. 

Sophomores Christian Vera and Casey Cummings and freshman Julius Watts are just a few of the key young players getting big minutes for the Bruins. With that being the case, Garguilo says trust amongst the team will be crucial. 

“We have to be a great team from now to the end of this thing,” he said. “Everyone just has to do their job, and not worry about doing someone else’s job.”