Northport Lacrosse Club

d Spring Harbor High School, and Bob Macaluso, Northport boys varsity coach, took 70 boys into competitive league play. The early youth program fielded teams in combined grades of 3rd & 4th and 5th & 6th and played in the Nassau County league. The originators of the youth program had the vision of establishing Northport as a highly competitive lacrosse program. Dedicated parents and volunteers persevered through those early years with borrowed equipment frequently stored from game to game in the trunks of the family automobile. And it was not uncommon for the field not to be clearly lined or the goals located in some far reaches of the athletic fields. Through the cooperation and support of the Northport High School Athletic Department, the youth program was permitted to practice and hold its home games on the high school practice fields. As the years went by, the Northport PAL (as the program was then known) saw tremendous growth. Not very competitive in the early years, as the players stayed with the program they saw their skill levels increase. As those skills improved, so did their team records. There were more victories to celebrate than losses to ponder. Our program grew and was successful in fielding teams in every grade level from 3rd to 9th. And in some levels, the club supported 3 teams in one grade. As the boys program was in full stride, the girls organized themselves, also under the PAL banner. Maureen Hordy and her neighbor, Marilyn Vucota, started the girls program in 1995. Marilyn Vucota, a standout college player from Hofstra, was the programs first girls coach while Maureen Hordy took care of the administration of the team. The beginnings were modest with the 24 girls on one team. They were a combined 4th, 5th and 6th grade team. Not unlike the development of the boys program, the girls also saw a dramatic rise in interest in Lacrosse in the community. When the Vucota family relocated, Maureen Hordy took over total responsibility for the program. The girls program flourished as well and last year the girls program supported over 150 players on 7 teams and an instructional clinic. The girls and boys programs have thrived through the dedication of many volunteers from the Northport community. Acompora, Sullivan, Amen, Macaluso, Searing, Thompson, Quigley, Marra, Mathison, Devine, Oliva, Borriello, Dahlem, Mancuso , Hergenroeather, DiNicola, Hackeling, Hagadorn, Caretsky, Philapone, Vota, Napolitano, Hordy. These are but a few who have dedicated their time and energy to the program. Seeing the need for an instructional program for the young ones in our community, Northport Lacrosse Club started a clinic for 1st and 2nd graders. Since 1999 the clinic program under the direction of Mike Marra, Roy Mathison and Paul Devine has seen 40 or more players each year develop the skills and sportsmanship values that are needed to make the transition into competitive team play. With cameo appearances from some of the high school players and their coaches, our p*e wee players have learned the rules of lacrosse, fundamental skills and the spirit of good team play. This year the clinic reigns will be taken over by Bill Golden and with over 200 kids in the clinic he has his work cut out for him, but with the armies of volunteers common at the Saturday afternoon clinics it's clear another succesful year is on its way. Additionally, Northport Lacrosse Club hosts the NLC Youth Lacrosse Jamboree. The tournament is scheduled to coincide with the annual Northport HS alumni lacrosse game. Last year we saw over 1,200 spectators and participants with over 20 teams from the surrounding communities.
. Future development and expansion of the youth programs as well as the desire to establish one organization to support Lacrosse interests prompted the separation form the Suffolk County PAL. In its place, the Northport Lacrosse Club has succeeded in enrolling more players than at any time before in the history of the program. With the girls and boys programs working together and buoyed by the successes of both the girls and boys high school teams, we are proud to say the sport of Lacrosse is "hitting on all cylinders" in Northport. The unfortunate and untimely death of Louis Acompora, a one time Northport youth lacrosse player, is well remembered by the community and especially those involved in its lacrosse programs. Northport Lacrosse Club supports the endeavors of the Acompora Foundation.