Determined Seaford exceeding expectations

Entering the season with the program's lowest varsity numbers in nearly two decades left eighth-year Seaford boys’ lacrosse coach Brian Horner uncertain how his team would fare in 2023.

The Vikings have more than held their own despite a smaller roster with an 8-6 overall record and 4-3 in Conference C/D with two regular season games remaining. Horner said a season-opening 10-9 loss to Suffolk County power Half Hollow Hills in late March showed him that his players were prepared to compete at a high level. 

“We weren't really sure what we were going to have until we saw ourselves in competition and then after the first game against Half Hollow Hills we were pretty pleasantly surprised with what we had,” Horner said. “The guys are firing on all cylinders and ready to push through the end and get a good spot for the playoffs.” 

Seaford enters the home stretch of the season this week coming off a commanding 15-2 home win against Carle Place/Wheatley in a game held as part of the program’s annual Ryan Bailey Memorial Lacrosse Day in memory of former Viking player Ryan Bailey 11 years after his tragic death in a hit-and-run accident. The dominating effort included eight different goal scorers led by four first half tallies from junior attacker Tim Navin. 

The Carle Place/Wheatley triumph came three days after a heartbreaking 8-7 overtime loss to Lynbrook in which Seaford had rallied from a 6-3 halftime deficit. Navin netted three goals and an assist in the near come-from-behind effort.

Versatile junior captain Jake Anzelone has been a big key in Seaford’s success this season playing on both ends of the field and also dominating at times at faceoffs. He has already committed to play lacrosse on the college level at the U.S. Naval Academy. 

“He's playing defense, he's playing offense with a long pole, he's playing offense with a short stick, he's playing man down, he's playing man up with a short stick and a long stick,” said Horner of Anzelone’ multiple roles. “He's exhausted after games and I don't know how he does it, but he finds a way.”

Junior attackman Dan Barone has also stepped up this season as one of the Vikings’ leading offensive players along with Navin. Barone has tallied 13 goals despite four weeks of the season due a wrist injury suffered in a 12-11 overtime win against North Shore on March 29.

The defense led by Anzalone along with CJ Russo, Alex Maugeti, Paul DiBlasi and Patrick McClernon  has held opponents in the single digits for six straight games. Jon Lent and Ryan Allen have split time in goal depending on who has the hot hand. 

Seaford closes the season with road games Friday at Hewlett and Monday with Manhasset, both starting at 5 p.m. 

“We're grinding out a lot of tough games,” Horner said. “It has been stiff competition but we're finding a way to get it done and it's just making us stronger each time that we're out there.”