Weapons. Tools. Options.
Rye boys lacrosse coach Jeremy Guski is flush with all of them.
They’re called “athletes.”
After a lopsided 14-3 victory over Horace Greeley (4-5) Thursday on Senior Day, the Garnets (6-3) have now won five straight, officially broadcasting a clear message to the balance of Section 1: they’re a pretty darn good team.
“Things are definitely starting to click,” said Guski, Rye’s first-year coach. “At the start of the year, I was new, we had hockey players and basketball players coming off tremendous postseason runs. We just needed some time. In the last two weeks, the guys are working harder than any group I’ve ever been around and it’s paying off.”
On offense, these Garnets are ruthless. Sophomore Will Niejadlik has a cat-like first step. He’s as dangerous with the ball as any attackman in the northeast. His four goals and one assist led all scorers.
Junior Henry Gilroy (three goals) can create from anywhere. Seniors Carson Miller (two goals, two assists) and Henry Shoemaker (one goal, three assists) present a smattering of obvious challenges for any defense. Junior Charlie Brady lurks around the net like a gunslinger looking for a fight. And senior do-it-all middie Thomas Goldszer – like Neo in the Matrix – is starting to believe.
Defensively, it starts with senior captain Nigel Strazzini. His intensity and leadership are the core of the Garnets’ back end.
“A few weeks ago, we were coming out a little sleepy at the start of our first few games. That’s definitely changed,” Strazzini said. “I think we’re starting to play to our potential now, we’re playing with more confidence with every game. This team has tremendous upside. We’ve just got to keep it going.”
Strazzini, a long pole defenseman, happened to score Rye’s 14th and final goal of the game. It’s not often a big defenseman gets loose with the ball within firing range, but Strazzini’s goal was like a lightning bolt in the Rye bleachers.
Next up is a game at 3 p.m. Saturday against Don Bosco Prep, historically one of the top lacrosse programs in New Jersey.
