Oceanside seeks playoff berth

After falling short of qualifying for the Nassau Class A boys’ lacrosse playoffs last spring, Oceanside’s short-term goals are to stay healthy and reach the postseason tournament.

“We have a core group that’s been together for three years on varsity,” Sailors coach Jim Gillis said. “They’re hungry to get back to the playoffs. We’re focused on staying healthy. Last year we didn’t have a large squad and were banged up.”

Losing Luke Schwasnick for the second half of last season to an ankle injury that eventually required surgery didn’t help Oceanside’s playoff push. The Syracuse-bound standout will primarily plat attack after twice earning All-County honors as a midfielder. “Luke feels good and wants to lead us as far as we can go,” Gillis said. “Athletically, nobody matches up with him. He’ll always draw the top defender and open up other things for our offense.”

That was the case in the Sailors’ 11-2 season-opening victory over Hewlett on March 18. Schwasnick scored once and fellow starting attackers Brennan Segelkin (four) and Shane Clark combined for seven goals. Gillis said Segelkin, who helped lead the JV last season, is fast, shifty and unselfish. He’s developed chemistry with Clark, who works well in tight areas and is an accurate shooter. Sophomore Dakota Swanson is fourth on the depth chart up front and will contribute.

In the midfield, Gillis said the team is mixing things up more than ever. New rules that expanded the box from 10 yards to 20 and call for personnel changes on the fly make depth in the midfield important, Gillis noted. “We’re six strong, if not deeper,” he said of the middie group. “You have to trust players at both ends of the field.”

Seniors Casey Kelly, Ryan Sicker, Tariek Harris and Jesse Platia all bring a combination of speed and stick skills to the midfield. Kelly, described by Gillis as the team’s top all-around middie, has “unbelievable vision and passing skills.” Kelly is also a tenacious defender. Sicker and Harris can get to the cage, and Platia features the hardest outside shot on the team. Sophomore Kevin O’Keefe will handle the majority of face-offs, and junior Mike Checco, up from the JV, works well on the outside and isn’t afraid to go to the net.

Between the pipes, Kevin Lamantia is back for his senior campaign after earning Honorable Mention All-County in 2013. He made 10 saves against Hewlett and followed with 14 stops in an 8-5 loss at Lynbrook on March 21. “He’s tremendous,” Gillis said. “If teams want to shoot from the outside, Kevin is lights-out. He’s consistent in every area.”

Gillis likes the leadership on defense with senior Joe Denaro, a shutdown type who likes to play physical, and junior Connor Johnson, who moves to the back row after spending last season as a long pole middie. Senior Chris Morales takes over the full-time role at pole and is tough to beat on ground balls. Juniors Dean Lynch and Blake Igoe played impressive defense in the first two games, Gillis said.