The Lady Vikings opened the spring season where they left off the last one, winning their first '04 quad meet against Friends Academy, Malverne and Roosevelt by an impressive 32 points. The team's record is now 3-0.

First-place finishes were achieved by Randi Zukas in the 100 hurdles, Maria Wolkow in the 200, Melissa Papasidero in the 800, Brooke Cohen in the high jump, Allyson Gordon in the triple jump and Christina Galati in the shot put. A great way to kick off a season!

North Shore went two and one in its season opener last week with a home meet loss to Roosevelt but victories over Malverne and Friends Academy.

Chris Bauer had two outstanding performances, winning the 400-meter intermediate hurdles with a great time of 62 seconds and the 800-meter run with a dramatic finish. With 100 meters to go, two runners had passed Bauer, but he turned on the afterburners to swing around the pair, who occupied lanes 1 and 2. He was running from behind in lane 3, so his opponents wisely shifted to lanes 2 and 3, forcing him to run further by making him move into lane 4. With only 20 meters to go, he passed one of the runners. The other runner made a great - but unsuccessful -- sprint to the end. With an athletic lunge, Bauer won by a lean across the finish line. His two first-place finishes sealed the Vikings' victory over Malverne.

On Saturday, the squad competed at Carey High School in the annual Ron Lane Relays. The team of Anthony Bastardi, Jeremy van der Heiden, Brian Cai and Johnny Chang had an impressive 52-second time for the Vikings in the 4 by 100 meter relay. These athletes had never worked together before in a relay, and the rest of the season looks promising for their 4 x 1 squad.

It was a tough start to the '04 season as the Vikings faced the conference's No. 2 ranked Division Blue Dragons Saturday afternoon and were outscored 18-7.

North Shore got on the board in the second quarter on a shot from Joe Valasiadis and then went on to score six more times in the contest, led by junior Matt Brancaccio with 3 goals and 2 assists. Also involved in the scoring were Bobby Lynn and Chris Palliser with a goal each and Matt Dictor with a goal and an assist. Without the incredible play by North Shore goalies Mike Gerbush (13 saves) and Adam Volpe (11 saves), the Vikings could have lost by more than 11 goals.

The Vikings started their 2004 season with a statement in a 15-3 win against Massapequa. Amanda Longobucco and Ashley Lopez stepped up with 4 goals apiece, and Adrienne Koslow added 2.

North Shore continued its outstanding play against Garden City, barely losing a 7-6 game. The Vikings scored the first goal and then turned up the intensity. Callie Breen scored 3 for North Shore and Lopez assisted twice. Caroline Ogilvy created several turnovers that helped the team set the tone. The entire 60-minute game was played within one goal for either team, and the second half began with a 3-3 score. Sara Longobucco had an amazing game in goal with 18 saves. The Vikings play this week and then are off to the Orlando Spring Training Tournament the week of April 3-8, where they will compete against teams from Colorado, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York.

The Lady Vikings rose to 4-0 overall and 2-0 in league play with a pair of victories last week. The first win was against preseason conference favorite Wheatley (1-0), and North Shore scored in the bottom of the first inning when Keira Sheehan drove home Sierra Neal with two outs. Christie Swiezbin and the defense held Wheatley off the scoreboard the whole day, with Swiezbin striking out 13 batters for the second consecutive game.

On Friday afternoon, North Shore won a hard-fought game against Cold Spring Harbor, 4-2. After Cold Spring had tied the game at two, Swiezbin (3 for 4) led off the sixth with a towering ground-rule double. She then scored on a bunt single by Liz Muscarello (2 for 3). The Vikings scored an insurance run in the seventh when Kelly Henry singled and later scored on an overthrow. Swiezbin earned the win and struck out 10 batters, giving her 47 K's in four games.

The season got off to a quick start with a 1-0 scrimmage victory over neighborhood rival Glen Cove. Will Kunkel delivered a clutch two-out single in the third inning for the game's only run. Mike Capozzi and Matt Schmiemann gave a stellar defensive effort for the shutout.

"Even though only a scrimmage, the victory builds our confidence. This was a team that manhandled the young Vikings last season," Coach Gatti said.

North Shore has been battling the weather as well as the opponents this spring. The season opener at New York Tech against St. Mary's was snowed out, as were five other scrimmages. In between snowflakes and raindrops, the team managed two scrimmages, playing Seaford to a 4-4 tie and dropping a 3-1 decision to last year's defending county champion, Clarke High School.

"It is always tough to start the season outside and then be forced inside by inclement weather," senior captain Doug Chaputian said. Nevertheless, the team has maintained its enthusiasm and work ethic and was looking forward to contests this week against St. Mary's and Locust Valley.

Jonathan Bunce recorded a hole-in-one last week at the par 3 third hole at Christopher Morley Park, where the Viking golf team has been tuning up for the season. The first match of the year will be against East Meadow on April 14.

Go to www.northshore.k12.ny.us for more sports and other district news.