Malverne/East Rockaway offense on upswing

The Malverne/East Rockaway boys’ lacrosse team is beginning to score with consistency, registering a 10-goal effort against Kennedy, 11 against West Hempstead and a dozen versus Uniondale over the past week.
However, the Rockin’ Mules (3-8) are having trouble keeping the ball out of their own net. Whether or not that aspect improves will be the determining factor if they can finish with more wins than the four they posted in 2023.
They snapped an eight-game slide last Friday with a thrilling 11-10 overtime victory over neighboring rival West Hempstead. After the defense forced a takeaway on the opening possession of OT, junior Hudson Arnold won it less than three minutes into the extra session for Malverne/East Rockaway.
“It brought some life back into the season,” coach Andrew Biscardi said. “We needed it. We gave up a late tying goal but then made two big plays in overtime, one to get the ball back and one to score. It’s a good sign that we’re starting to pull more balls in the net.”
Sophomore Matthew Delligatti had four goals, and Arnold and senior Jaden Taylor added two apiece. Taylor also won 16 of 19 draws to help the Rockin’ Mules dominate possession.

Delligatti, who had 18 goals last spring, is up to 26 including 12 in the past three games. He scored five times April 16 in a hard-fought 12-10 defeat at Kennedy and had a hat trick in Monday’s 12-5 home win against Uniondale. “It’s his third year on the team and he keeps building and building,” Biscardi said. “We look to him to be our quarterback and keep the offense moving, and he’s been up to it.”
Aside from Delligatti, who also has 11 assists, and Hudson (7 goals), a large portion of the offense comes from the midfield. Fourth-year varsity performer Cameron Lewis has 10 goals and 8 assists, Taylor has 8 goals and 9 assists, and senior Davion Thomas, who returned to the program for the first time in a few years after transferring back to the district, has chipped in 8 goals. Junior Christian Page had four against Uniondale.
“We try to give Cameron and Jaden breathers as much as we can and save them for the offensive end,” Biscardi said. “It’s a little tough sometimes with only 14 kids on varsity. Some of them are going 40 of the 48 minutes.”
Lewis had 24 goals a year ago and creates plenty of opportunities for himself and others with his slick dodging, the coach noted. “Jaden and others benefit from Cameron’s experience and playmaking,” Biscardi said.
Junior long pole middie Emmanuel Adeyemi was one of the few returnees on the back end and is leading the defense. He forced a huge turnover in the win over West Hempstead and helps in the faceoff circle. The in-close defense is being led by junior newcomer Anthony Grimaldi.
In goal, returning starter Matt Larin, a senior, picked up where he left off last season when he made 190 stops. He’s been great, Biscardi said, but suffered a thumb injury two weeks ago. Junior Brian Christodoulou has filled in nicely and earned his first career victory last Friday
“We’re starting to see some positive results and we have some winnable games on what’s left of the schedule,” Biscardi said.