Malverne/East Rockaway’s boys lacrosse team is 6-2 overall and a sizzling 5-0 in its conference.
Most any team at this part of the year would sign up for that kind of record. But sitting on top of the League 4 doesn’t guarantee a playoff spot.
In fact, booking a berth in the Nassau Class C playoffs might be an uphill climb at this point, following a 9-6 loss to Wheatley/Carle Place on April 7.
But that doesn’t mean Malverne/East Rockaway is going to stop battling. A postseason berth would be a nice reward for the effort put in, both this year and in the culmination of some long careers with coach Andrew Biscardi.
However, considering the slim margins, the playoffs have essentially started for Malverne/East Rockaway, especially with must-win games on the horizon against fellow playoff hopefuls Mineola and Floral Park at the beginning of May.
“We need a little bit of help from this point on, but if we don't take care of business, then it means nothing,” Biscardi said. “I’m excited to get to those games and see how the boys execute.”
Biscardi hopes his team fares better in those games than against Wheatley/Carle Place, a game in which Malverne/East Rockaway dug an early hole and trailed 6-3 at halftime. The teams played even in the second half, but the slow start and some missed opportunities loomed large.
The response to that adversity came quickly and emphatically, with Malverne/East Rockaway defeating West Hempstead, 14-7, on April 13, followed by an 11-1 victory over Elmont three days later.
If it’s true that defense wins championships, it might be what gets the Rockin’ Mules into the playoffs. It starts in the goal with eighth-grade goalie Rory Murray, who has already made 103 saves and has a save percentage of 68.7.
“He is aggressive in the cage, he’s able to make very good saves some goalies can’t,” Biscardi said. “He really has been playing on his head his entire season.”
Senior defenseman Jethro Jacquet has been rock-solid defensively, scooping up 52 ground balls, a “human clear,” according to Biscardi, who also has three goals and three assists.
Joining Jacquet on defense is sophomore Tristen Rose, a second-year player, as well as Davis Tobia Jr., who is in his first year on varsity. Freshman long-stick midfielder Ryan Esposito has also raised his level this season, and senior short-stick defensive midfielder Stefan Drakopoulos is a four-year varsity player.
Offensively, senior Matt Delligatti leads the way with 19 goals and 18 assists. Junior Brennan Murray, Rory’s older brother, has a team-high 21 goals to go along with 14 assists. And senior Edwin Espinoza has chipped in 14 goals and six assists.
Junior Liam Whitehouse and senior Timothy Yagnisis have put in work in the midfield, and although he’s not put up gaudy numbers, senior midfielder Jayden Jungra has provided valuable leadership.
“This is a year that a lot of guys have come together,” Biscardi said. “I’m hoping they could finish the year doing something great.”
A trip to Sewanhaka is on deck April 28.
