Youthful Hewlett full of potential

To say Steven DeNapoli had a pretty good 2015 on the lacrosse field would be an understatement. In the pro ranks as a midfielder, he helped the New York Lizards capture the Major League Lacrosse championship. As a high school coach on the sideline, he guided Hewlett to a first-round playoff victory and a trip to the Nassau Class B quarterfinals.

This spring, DeNapoli’s Bulldogs are thin on seniors but not without experience. They opened with a 10-8 non-league defeat against Oceanside before putting together impressive back-to-back 8-7 wins over Hicksville and Port Washington.

“I’m optimistic the younger roster won’t hurt,” DeNapoli said. “We have a bunch of juniors in their third year on varsity, so they’re experienced. We also have some younger guys up for a reason. They’ve got potential for the future or the ability to help us right away.”

Sophomore Alex Arad converted a feed from junior Wyatt McMahon for the game-winning goal with 3:07 left to lift Hewlett to a come-from-behind victory over Port on March 29. The Bulldogs scored three unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to win it. Sophomore Alex Vardaro had four goals and two assists, and McMahon added two goals.

Vardaro, who scored 24 goals as a freshman, will see time in the midfield and attack. He had five assists, including one on senior Justin Hillsberg’s winner against Hicksville on March 22. “We’ll have Alex play as much midfield as he can,” DeNapoli said of the Honorable Mention All-County choice. “He’s our go-to guy on offense. There’s nothing he can’t do.”

The midfield lost a key piece for the remainder of the season in the Hicksville game when senior Jake Grill suffered a torn labrum in his shoulder. “Jake’s a smart and steady player, so it’s a big loss,” DeNapoli noted. “Until someone steps up, we’ll fill the spot by committee.” Arad, fellow sophomore Justin Fliegel (two goals in each of the first two games), and freshmen Sam Rovner and Rob Levitz will look to pick up the slack.

Junior Jake Levitz, who had an important goal against Port, returned to the midfield after an All-Conference campaign. He’ll handle the majority of faceoffs and provide an offensive spark. “He’s a hard-working player who can change the momentum of a game,” DeNapoli said. Sophomore Josh Dana, one of the biggest surprises during tryouts, is working as a long pole middie and brings a physical element.

The defense in front of senior goaltender and captain Noah Cohen is relatively young, but talented. Junior Zach Bromfeld comes off a huge season on the basketball court and has great size and footwork, DeNapoli said. Junior Max Rovner has a hockey background and is learning quickly as a first-year starter, while the coach expects sophomore Gavin Adler to raise his game a notch after gaining valuable experience last spring. Cohen, an All-Conference selection, is a pure shot-stopper. “Noah bails us out at times,” DeNapoli said.

In addition to Vardaro, junior Ethan Grossman is back in the fold at attack. “Ethan can have a big year,” DeNapoli said of Grossman, who had six assists through three games.