Valley Stream boasts experienced youth

This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the Valley Stream District boys’ lacrosse team’s last postseason appearance.  

And while not inclined to predict any imminent vault back into the playoffs, third-year Eagles head coach Dan Kraemer – whose teams finished 2-9 and 3-12, in 2015 and 2016 respectively – is confident that his current club can at least maintain the upward trend in season wins that has characterized his young tenure.

Youth, indeed, is no insignificant factor for Valley Stream, which fields a starting lineup composed principally of juniors, as well as two underclassmen. But aside from faceoff specialist Nick Romano – the only newcomer and lone senior to figure prominently in its game plan – most of Valley Stream’s young starters are returning varsity players, a distinction Kraemer says should not be overlooked, as the Eagles mount their Nassau Class A campaign.

“We have a tenth and eleventh grade core that now has a full year playing in the varsity system,” Kraemer said. “They’ve seen significant minutes at the varsity level and grown a lot.  Because of that I think we can make some strides.”

Chief among returning juniors is the Eagles’ dean, 2016 Academic All-Conference goalie John Ruddick, now a three-year starter, who shares team co-captain honors with three other juniors: defensemen Ryan Sabini and A. J. Bellomo, and converted offensive midfielder Chris Maggio, who spearheads the defense at long-stick middie.

“Chris has probably the best stick skills on the team,” Kraemer said. “A.J., as a sophomore, had a solid year for us. He’s really grown into his role as a leader.  Ryan is a tall kid with good feet, good on the ground ball.”  

Kraemer added: “Our guys know they’ve got a good goalie behind them.  John Ruddick is a good stopper.  We just played a ton of defense last year, so the goals-against average looks out of whack.”

Heading Valley Stream’s project of reducing time spent on defense this year will be junior attackmen Nick Patti and Andrew Peik, both promoted from JV, and junior returning attacker Nik Tartamella, supported at midfield by returning sophomores Christian Rodriguez and Aidan Duggan, with junior offensive middie Sean Nertney.

“All those sophomores who are now juniors understand the best defense is a patient offense,” Kraemer said. “If we possess the ball on the other end of the field we keep our defense fresh.”

Stamina will be in order this year as Valley Stream faces a schedule offering little opportunity to coast – from its March 31 conference opener at home against Uniondale, to its regular-season finale on May 11 hosting two-time defending conference champion Syosset.

“We play some really good teams,” Kraemer said. “Our guys have learned that the key will be to value each possession, give our defense a break. If we’re patient and work the ball in, we’ll get the looks at the cage that we want.”