South Fork Boys Lax Caps Off Season With Big Win Over Bellport

The South Fork Boys Lacrosse Team’s season might not have ended as planned, but the Islanders are taking solace in knowing there’s a bright future ahead of them.

“Seeing how many young players are on this team is super exciting,” East Hampton sophomore attack Zane Karoussos said. “It definitely motivates us knowing how many of us will be back next year.”

The Islanders (8-8 overall, 7-7 in Division I) didn’t let a missed playoff appearance deter them from giving it all they’ve got in the final game of the season, either, coming away with a 15-10 road win at Bellport last Thursday.

“It was great to end the season on a high note,” Pierson senior Slate Glick said. “Everyone came together and played great for all four quarters.”

Besides Glick, who recorded three goals and had one assist, the rest of South Fork’s offensive weapons in the win were underclassmen. Karoussos finished with a hat trick and six assists, his younger brother, Harry, an eighth-grader, also had three goals, Hampton Bays sophomore Micheal Single added three goals and two assists and East Hampton junior James Corwin tacked on a goal and two assists.

“Going into the game, we knew we couldn’t play down to their level. We had to come out and play our game,” Karoussos said. “It’s about being relentless and fighting until the last whistle; pushing ourselves so that, at the end of the day, we can say we fought harder.”

The Karoussos brothers both scored in the first 10 minutes, and Zane Karoussos and Glick hit Corwin in transition for a 4-2 lead at the end of the opening quarter.

“We came out strong right from the start, unlike some games earlier in the season where we started flat,” Karoussos said. “Over the course of the season, I think we developed a stronger sense of teamwork and resilience.”

He said the addition of his brother also didn’t hurt. Harry contributed five points across the last two games after being called up from the junior varsity team.

“I haven’t had the opportunity to play with him since I was in first grade, so it was a good feeling to see us firing on all cylinders right from the jump,” the sophomore said. “Even then, he was good enough to be playing with people much older than him.”

Karoussos said the Islanders as a whole learned a lot, displaying that even more so since a 14-8 upset of Longwood.

“We showed we could compete with anyone,” he said. “As we got deeper in the season, we moved the ball around a lot better and made a bunch of great plays on the offensive end, and defensively, we began causing a lot of turnovers and shutting teams down. We learned to process our mistakes more effectively by learning from them and focusing on making the next play.”

By halftime against Bellport (4-13, 4-11), South Fork was up, 10-4.

“Everyone did their job,” Glick said. “We were winning faceoffs, moving the ball efficiently and had timely defense. The most important thing on the field was how effectively we communicate and can anticipate each other’s movements.”

The senior said he’s proud to see how the team has matured over the last year.

“It was a super nice way to conclude my high school career,” Glick said. “What’s special about South Fork is it’s a team that combines six schools, so our bond goes beyond our own buildings. The support from my teammates and coaches for my last game was awesome.”

Karoussos said he’ll take way a lot from his time with the team’s senior captain, the only Pierson player and one of three, along with defenseman Aman Chugh and midfielder Brandon Bistrian, who is saying goodbye to the team this season.

“I’ve learned so much from Slate’s leadership and his words of advice on offense and in lacrosse in general,” the sophomore said. “I’m definitely going to use that knowledge in the coming years.”

Glick said it’s been a fun ride and he’s looking forward to seeing what the Islanders can do in the coming years.

“I’ve had a great time with the coaches and players who provided incredible support and guidance. I’ve met great people over the four years that I will be friends with for life,” Glick said. “We learned to play selfless lacrosse, and it showed in that final game. South Fork has a bright future ahead.”