Freeport discovers winning ways

The Freeport boys’ lacrosse team is in the midst of a rebound season and will be fighting for a postseason berth down the stretch.

The Red Devils entered the week at 2-3 in Conference A and 8-4 overall a year removed from a 1-11 campaign. With five games remaining on the schedule, Freeport is in the mix to earn one of the eight available playoff spots in its 13-team league. 

“The chemistry is very good, which is a very important thing for a team,” said 49th-year Freeport coach Harry Mohrman. “We’re a hustling team and we never give up no matter what the score is.”

Freeport earned its eighth victory of the season last Saturday with a 12-11 non-league home victory against Lawrence paced by five goals and two assists from senior midfielder Caleb Mann. Freshman goalie Malik Groover registered six saves in a game played in a driving rainstorm. 

After a season-opening 13-12 loss to Clarke, Freeport won four in a row capped by a dramatic 16-15 come-from-behind victory at Great Neck North on March 31. The Red Devils trailed 13-9 entering the fourth quarter before out-scoring Great Neck North 7-2 in the game’s final 12 minutes. 

“It was a barn burner,” Mohrman said. “For a spectator it must have been a great game to watch.”

The Great Neck North comeback featured five goals apiece from seniors Matthew Drayton and Mann. Drayon, an attackman and Mann, who transferred from Long Island Lutheran, have emerged as leaders on offense while also providing veteran leadership off the field.

“They are two very different types of players,” Mohrman said of his offensive duo. “Caleb is a very good shooter and Matthew is very deceptive as a midfielder with very good speed and he puts the ball in the hole.”

Drayton also shined in Freeport’s dominating 10-2 win at Sewanhaka with two goals and two assists while Mann registered a hat trick. Senior attackman Alec Bastien also stepped up in the non-league win with two goals and an assist. 

The defense has excelled at times this season, holding opponents in the single digits during four games led by a senior unit that includes Isaiah Curtis, who earned All-Conference honors last year, Brian Marino and Ryan Retlaff.  The goalie position has been spilt this spring between Groover and senior Austin Patience.

After a May 2 game against Uniondale, Freeport will host Oyster Bay Friday for a 5:15 p.m. faceoff before facing a challenging test at Farmingdale on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. The Red Devils are scheduled to conclude the regular season on May 13 against Hicksville in a Saturday morning home game at 10 a.m. 

Whether Freeport is able to punch a ticket to the postseason or not, Mohrman said his 2023 team is one of the most enjoyable he has coached. 

“It's a good team as far as attitude goes,” Mohrman said. “They are just really nice kids.”