For the first time in the nearly 80-year history of Buckley Country Day School, three of its lacrosse teams went undefeated in the same season. The boys' seventh -eighth grade team finished 5-0, the girls' seventh-eighth grade team ended their campaign 7-0, and the boys' fifth-sixth grade team wrapped up their season with a record of 4-0-2.
According to boys' seventh-eighth grade Coach Bruce Temple, "The team controlled the play in every contest." Jeremy Koufakis led the attack along with Gunnar Esiason and Brett Phillips. Midfielder Jeffrey Giocondi led the team in scoring, won nearly every face-off, and was also named Most Valuable Player. Providing Giocondi with support at midfield were Nick Hagedorn, Reese Mozer, Chris Sargent, Sam Wechter, Jeffrey Halvorsen and Bill Muran. On the defensive end, Donald Denihan, Matthew Freeman, Matthew Goldstein, Ari Kourkoumelis, and Tucker Shaw anchored a forceful stronghold in front of third-year starting goaltender James Dieterich. Dieterich's acrobatic saves in net were instrumental in each of the team's victories. The team finished the season by defeating Long Island Athletic Association of Independent Schools (L.I.A.A.I.S.) rivals The Green Vale School, East Woods School, and Old Westbury School of the Holy Child.
The girls' seventh-eighth grade Coach John Brady, had the following to say, "They were a great team and an outstanding group of girls to coach! Everyone was a team player!" The team scored a total of 88 goals in its seven games against Green Vale, Portledge School, East Woods, and Holy Child, with the defense only yielding 49. The attack was led by Most Valuable Player Nina Kucharczyk, who registered 30 goals on the season. Complimenting Kucharczyk on the attack were Kelly Sutherland and Maggie Law. Center midfielder Alissa Fromkin controlled the draw in every game, supplementing her prolific scoring touch. (Fromkin had 10 goals in one contest alone against Green Vale.) In addition, Sydney Esiason, Kelsey Gibson, Jenny Chen, Charlotte Otremba and Nicole Soviero provided much support at midfield. Defensive players Bulldog Spirit Award winner Laura Wilsusen, Most Improved Player Katherine Larsen, Jessica Nees, Haley Gahan, Jillian Kupferberg, Amy Yao, and Hannah Duane provided the defense with the speed it needed to shut opponents' attack down.
According to Coach Vincent Valente, the fifth -sixth boys' team was "small in number, but played big throughout the season." Members of the shoestring squad included sixth graders Harry Kucharczyk, Tim Denihan, William Otremba, Ryan Schmitz, Griffith Rogan and fifth graders Travis Burger, Sean Collins, George Gage, Ace Goldstein, A. J. Muran and Kevin Katzmann. Goaltender Kevin Katzmann received the team's Bulldog Spirit Award, George Gage earned Most Improved Player honors, and Captain Harry Kucharczyk was named Most Valuable Player. The squad rounded out its season by defeating L.I.A.A.I.S. opponents Green Vale, Portledge, and Holy Child.
In total, for the soccer, basketball, and lacrosse seasons of the 2004-2005 school year, Buckley fielded seven undefeated teams. Congratulations to all!