Nyack Lacrosse Aims for Turnaround, Starting Tonight

The Nyack High boys lacrosse team hopes to begin a turnaround from last season when it challenges North Rockland on Friday at Torne Valley Sports Complex in Hillburn.

Game time is 4:15 p.m.

“Record-wise we should be a lot better (this year),” said longtime coach Eamon DePeter, in his fifth season at the varsity level and 10th overall.

The Indians went 6-11 last season, battling injuries and with a group of juniors just up from the junior varsity, who gained experience as they went along.

“We took our bumps and bruises along the way, but we have a lot of seniors… we lost a few seniors, but have a ton of seniors who were juniors when they walked into starting positions,” the coach noted.

Among the senior returnees are goalie Ryan Westbrook, and defenseman Ryan Slattery.

Westbrook missed three scrimmages with a freak foot injury, but is expected to be tending the net on Friday.

“Because we didn’t have him (scrimmages), without a goalie it’s hard to get a true gauge of just where we are right now,” DePeter said.

DePeter is counting on Slattery to lead a defense that shows potential.

“The more they play together, they will get better,” DePeter said. “Our defense is getting better, and it just might end up as one of our strong points,” he added.

Offensively, attackman Evan Ramos, yet another key to the senior corps, will be complemented by senior midfielders Mark Castellano and Anthony Accardi, whose brother Mike is playing at Dominican College.

Accardi, already looking to possibly continuing his playing career at Utica, is also Nyack’s premier guy for the all-important face-offs.

“He’s my face-off guy,” stated DePeter. “Our success with lacrosse depends on face-offs; if you win face-offs you can stay in games even against better teams. This could be a key for us, and he’s also a good offensive player.”

Asked to provide an impromptu scouting report on the Red Raiders, DePeter said North Rockland has been rebuilding the last two years after a stretch of five or six good years.

“They’ll be strong,” he said.

Nyack High varsity boys lacrosse roster

Rob Schwartz, D, sr.; Aaron Schwartz, M, sr.; Ryan Slattery, D, sr.; Evan Ramos, A, sr.; Brennen Ramos, A, so.; Chester Reyes, DM, jr.; Ryan Westbrook, G, sr.; Nick Williams, A, sr.; Chris Woodburn, D/LSM; so.; Dylan Staub, M, sr.; Ali Thaqi, D/G; sr.; Peter Turner, D, so.; Will Fleming, DM, sr.; Joe Lafemina, M, sr.; John Luiza, M, sr.; Anthony Accardi, M, sr.; Mark Castellano, M, sr.; Brandon Clavell, DM, sr.; Kevin Nugent, M, jr.; Turner Peter, D, so.; James Quigley, LSM, sr.; Tyler Mancini, A, sr.; Nick Minunni, A, sr.; Paul Mitchell, DM, jr.