Oceanside's goal is more goals

Oceanside boys’ lacrosse coach Jim Gillis is looking for last year’s growing pains to pay off this spring with not only a return to the Class A playoffs but a trip to the semifinals at Hofstra.

“Most of our impact guys were young and we’ve got a lot more experience this year,” Gillis said. “We’re aiming for a home playoff game and to win it and get into the semis.

“We’re trying to establish an identity and define the team,” he added. “We’ve been strong defensively for a while now and our goal is to generate more offense.”

The Sailors are experimenting with key returnees in new positions, starting with Honorable Mention All-County midfielder Derek Cruz. After handling 99 percent of draws last spring as a junior, Cruz will take about 1 percent this season, Gillis said, so he can instead add to the attack. Cruz scored three goals in a 10-7 loss to Lynbrook on March 24. “We might miss him on draws, but we need him more on offense,” Gillis explained. “He’ll be much more dangerous when rested. He has great speed you just can’t teach and is a lights-out shooter.”

Junior midfielder Joe Kiesche added size and muscle during the offseason and is someone Gillis said the Sailors will rely on for consistent offensive contributions. Kiesche missed a handful of games due to injury a year ago but enjoyed a strong March. “He’s got speed and a great lacrosse IQ,” Gillis said.

Junior Liam Artus and freshman Tom Flavin bring plenty of grit to the midfield group and are being asked to ignite the transition game. Flavin found the net twice against Lynbrook. “Those guys work both ends of the field,” Gillis said. “They’re old-school middies.”

Up front, the coach is trying to find the right combination to create more production than last year when Oceanside was limited to four wins and missed the playoffs. Junior attack Luke Hickam, who scored a pair of goals in a season-opening defeat at Hewlett, looks to recapture his All-Conference form from 2016. Sophomore Gunner Johnson is a talented lefty shooter up from JV, and a rotation at X includes seniors Ryan Downing and Jack Forbes, as well as junior Connor Hartman.

“We have the pieces, but it’s going to take some time to get into a groove,” Gillis said.

Defensively, senior captain Joe Dougherty is the anchor of the unit. He earned All-Conference honors last season and is a physical player the coach plans to use to pressure the ball behind the cage and shut down passing lanes. “Joe loves to throw checks and can run down anybody,” said Gillis, who moved senior Charlie Ward to in-close defense from long pole middie and also has junior Ed Mannone back in the fold.

Sophomore Kevin Carlson returns as the starting goalie. “His save percentage was good and he’s smart with outlet passes,” Gillis said.

The Sailors are ranked fifth in Class A and will have had seven non-league games under their belt leading up to the Conference I opener April 20 against Massapequa.