Jake Slater was lauded this past football season for his consistent play and quiet, yet diligent, approach to the game. The same is happening this spring with lacrosse.
A three-year varsity laxer, Slater plays his tail off from whistle to whistle and then some.
Last season his position changed. He was originally an attackman and was moved to midfield midway through his junior season. He was selected All-Division for his efforts.
This season he is a team captain and has played mainly defensive midfield, on the wings for face-offs and on man-down situations.
“He easily could be playing offense, but we need him fresh for defense, man-down and on the wings,” said Sachem coach Jay Mauro. “He is too important to us.”
Mauro said Sachem is able to shut down teams’ second line offensive midfield options because of Slater, who has committed to play college lacrosse at NYIT.
If you watch any given game, you’ll also see Slater working it between the lines. He’s a jack of all trades and he excels in all of them.
“He really has sacrificed himself for the team and never complains about it,” Mauro said.
Sachem has one more regular season game left before the post-season begins. Catch Slater and the Flaming Arrows in action on Tuesday against Division I rival West Islip starting at 4:30 p.m.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro