Zone Defense, Crisp Offense Key Seaford Boys Lacrosse Romp

Capitalizing on a stingy zone defense that stymied their visitors, the Seaford boys lacrosse team ran up a 14-1 score in three quarters of boys lacrosse action, and coasted to a 16-4 home win over Mineola in a Nassau County Conference IV contest Tuesday.

The win, which allowed Seaford to even its league record to 2-2 (6-2 overall), came against a Mineola team that is now winless in four conference games, and 4-7 overall.

Joe Kirincic (four saves) split goalie duties with freshman Andrew Sappia (six saves), but were scarcely tested as Seaford’s defense kept the visiting Mustangs from mounting anything resembling a meaningful offensive challenge.

“I don’t know how many people see a zone defense,” said Vikings coach Mike Corcoran after the game.

But it wasn’t the defense that put 16 points on the board for Seaford -- ball control on offense and a potent shooting game for the Vikings spelled disaster for Mineola. “Our defense fell off after the first quarter,” Mineola coach Mike Perro acknowledged. “It just evaporated today.”

Leading the way for the Vikings was Anthony Marino, with five goals on the day. Joe Richards, Bryan Graziose and Tommy Curren followed with two goals apiece, and six other Seaford players put the ball in the net -- including Danny Speicher, William Montgomery, Dan Arena, Kyle Kolodinsky, Glenn Kennedy and defender Pat McGrath late in the fourth quarter .

The scoring did not come easily at first -- in fact, things were knotted at 1-1 with only a minute or so left in the first quarter before the Vikings offense came alive. Two quick goals, the first on a feed from Marino to Graziose with :54 on the clock, and another on a fast break for Arena, put Seaford up by a narrow 3-1 margin after the first frame.

But the second quarter was all Vikings, and the goals came fast and furious as the home team amassed another ten points on the board while completely suppressing the Mustangs offense going into the half.

If there was any thought of a comeback on the Mineola sidelines as the third quarter opened, Graziose quickly put that to rest with the Vikings’ 11th goal of the game on a nice feed from William Montgomery in a man up situation.

From that point on, the game was a chance to give the bench players on both sides a chance to show their stuff. “Every player got in the game,” said coach Corcoran. “And every player did what we asked them to do.”

Seaford takes on another middle of the pack team in Locust Valley  this Friday, before visiting two of the top teams in the conference -- 2-1 Floral Park on May 4 and on May 9 against Cold Spring Harbor (4-0, 6-4 overall). Seaford's next home game is scheduled for May 14 against Clarke.