Oceanside looks to build momentum

The Oceanside boys’ lacrosse team is quietly putting together a nice season, sitting at 6-4 after featuring in victories against Hewlett, Valley Stream, Hempstead, and a comeback win against MacArthur.

“I think we’re in good shape heading into league play,” Sailors first-year coach Kevin Anderson said. “The games we were supposed to win, we're winning and in the games that we think the opponent might have a little bit more depth, we’re hanging in there with the depth of our own, and just trying to figure it out.”

The Sailors are led by senior captain and Middlebury commit Nicky Cairo. “[Cairo] definitely brings the team together. He definitely exemplifies good leadership on and off the field,” said Anderson. “He’s a pick me up type of leader. If any of our student-athletes are having doubts he lifts them up and tells them to refocus and keep striving hard. He’s been very instrumental for us.”

Two key offensive players having great seasons for Oceanside are Jake Perinchief, a SUNY Geneseo commit and Cole Parker the primary faceoff man, who committed to play at LIU. Perinchief has already tripled his point total from last season with 30 and leads the team in goals with 21, while Parker has been dominant in the face-off X, winning over 70 percent of his faceoffs.

“[Parker]’s another guy that's having a big year for us,” said Anderson. “He’s keeping us in games with his possession of the ball and has been a very big contributor there.”

The defensive unit is young, featuring mostly freshman and sophomores. The two stars on the backend for the Sailors have been sophomore Dylan Bender and freshman Chase Bier. Bender has been the best long pole on the team and dominant when it comes to close defense.

“It’s looking like Chase is going to be our rookie of the year,” said Anderson. “He’s the only ninth grader I pulled up because I knew he would excel at the varsity level and he hasn’t missed a beat. Our defense is very young right now, but two years down the line when they’re juniors and seniors, it’ll all pay off.”

Between the pipes for Oceanside is senior Andrew Cagno, who is getting the job done. “He’s keeping us in games, making saves when he needs to in most of the games this year and that’s all you can really ask for,” said Anderson

With Conference A games against Planview and Plainedge coming up this week, Anderson’s hope is Oceanside can build some momentum going into the playoffs.

“If we can get one on Port Washington, we'll host a playoff game. If not, then we'll be on the road for the quarter finals of Class A,” said Anderson. “I'd like to go to Hofstra and make the final four, that’s our goal. The last couple years we've been making the playoffs, we just need to get over the hump and make it past the quarterfinals.”