The Clarke boys’ lacrosse team made big strides this spring nearly tripling its win total from last year and sealing a winning conference record to close the season.
The Rams finished 7-7 in Conference C and 7-9 overall. Seventh-year Clarke coach Joe Hasbrouck said a restructuring of the Rams’ league was beneficial for his young team to gain some confidence after a three-win 2023 season.
“The way they aligned the league certainly helped to keep a competitive schedule and we responded in a bunch of games that could have gone either way to earn a couple of extra wins for us,” Hasbrouck said “I couldn't be happier with how it's played out for us and the way that kids have responded to everything.”
Clarke ended the season with a 7-5 loss to West Hempstead Monday in a game that featured three goals and one assist from freshman standout Everett Barsuaskas. Senior goalie Elijah Richard recorded 16 saves in his final high school game.
Liam Morgan stepped up big this as a junior this season switching to a full-time midfield role after shining at attack as a sophomore. He led the Rams’ offense with 36 goals including four in a 12-5 win at Glen Cove on April 12.
“He got a little bit stronger and a little bit faster, which has really changed his game,” said Hasbrouck of Morgan. “He really stepped up this year.”
Freshman Everett Barsuaskas also emerged as a key part of offense this season and led the team in assists with —---. He tallied six assists in an 8-2 win against Valley Stream District on April 28 and registered four assists to go along with two goals in a commanding 16-1 victory versus Clarke on April 12.
The defense was anchored by senior Rocco Carino, a four-year starter who was tasked with trying to keep some of the county’s top offensive players in check.
“He really stepped into a leadership role and became the defender we thought he could be this season against some of the other teams’ top scorers," said Hasbrouck of Carino, who will play on the collegiate level next year at Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island.
Senior goalie Elijah Richard also took his game to another level this season posting an over 60 percent save percentage. He posted sewerage double-digit save performances including 14 in a 10-4 win against Elmont on April 24.
Hasbrouck hopes the progress made this year can extend into the 2026 season where the Rams will return much of their offense,
“Hopefully with the step we took this year we can take another step into next year and then rely on some of the freshmen step up into some stronger bodies as sophomores and see juniors who have really produced in the season have of the season take another step , “Hasbrouck said. “Hopefully this can be a building block season for us.”
