Experience a key factor for Clarkstown South boys’ lacrosse

BY TONY PINCIARO

WEST NYACK, N.Y. – When Clarkstown South varsity boys’ lacrosse coach Rick Sorkow looks at his roster, a recurring theme surfaces.

The fifth-year South coach has a veteran group highlighted by 10 returning seniors. This vast experience would make any coach envious.

The Vikings plan to parlay this experience into another step in the team’s progression after an 8-9 record in 2013. The Vikings qualified for the Section 1 Class A Championship, but lost in the first round.

“A coach always looks for a senior team,” said Sorkow, the varsity assistant for four years before becoming the head coach. “We have been together for several years now and we have the underclassman meshing well with the seniors.

“The team has worked real hard together. We play as a team. We have good chemistry and we have solid skills.

Ian Danahy is one of the 10 seniors and he returns to anchor the attack line along with sophomore Matt Haggarty. The midfield and defense are overloaded with seniors. The midfield unit is comprised of Trevor Byrnes, Justain Said, Justin Amramboles, Pat Kelly and Dan Delia. Sophomore Nick Delia is a returning midfielder and freshmen Dean Bauman and Tryston Vazquez make the step up from Junior Varsity.

Goalie Chris Loomis will have classmates Aiden Christian, Colin Parrish and Arvin Duran in front of him.

Clarkstown South’s veteran midfield and defense will make it extremely difficult on opposing offenses.

Clarkstown South opened the season Wednesday, March 26, hosting Valley Central. The Vikings will follow that up with home games against Brewster, Saturday, March 29, and Harrison, Wedensday, April 2, before travelling south on Route 304 to face Pearl River, Friday, April 4.

“We need to continue working to get better,” Sorkow said. “Our goal is to take it one day at a time and continue to move our efforts forward.”