Senior Nick Bosted has gone from steady progress to huge improvement this year.
As a freshman for the Lawrence High School boys’ lacrosse team, Bosted scored a goal in his first varsity game and didn’t tally for the remainder of the season. As a sophomore, he jumped to 12 goals, and last season, despite missing time with injury, he tallied 17.
If his scoring was put on a graph, the line would be sky rocketing upward. In the Cardinals’ first five games, Bosted had 22 goals.
“This year has definitely been a big improvement for me,” he said. “I’m looking to contend for the top spot on the New Jersey leaderboard throughout the season.”
Not only has Bosted improved, so too have the Cardinals, who won their first three games and held a 3-2 record as of April 15.
“Our early success came from work in practice to come together as a unit and develop a fast-paced style of play,” Bosted said. “Our ability to score in transition and to move the ball around quickly are keys to breaking down many of the defenses we face during the season.”
One of the biggest keys in doing that is having a player with Bosted’s abilities. Coach Anthony Ammirata calls his senior an extension of the coaching staff on the field and lauds his lacrosse IQ as being “very high.”
“He makes my job easier,” Ammirata said. “He can attack anywhere on the field. He can attack with either hand. His passes are very sharp and crisp. The only problem is that a lot of kids start standing around watching him, so I’m encouraging them not to do that.”
Bosted is one of those rare players with the ability to make things happen when play hits a lull for the Cards.
“When things break down we get the ball to him immediately, and generally speaking he makes something happen,” Ammirata said. “He can break a defense down and create opportunities for other guys.”
Bosted began playing the sport in third grade with the Lawrence Recreation league, which he praised for having an experienced coaching staff that was able to pique players’ interest in lacrosse. The majority of his stick skills, however, came from shooting in the backyard with current Cardinal teammate Geoff Altman.
“It takes a lot of practice outside of any team to become a more confident and skilled player on the field,” Bosted said. “This past summer, with the recommendation from Coach Ammirata, [Cards captain] Alex Finan and I played for New Jersey Lacrosse Club, a travel team that plays in various tournaments on the East Coast. Alex and I greatly benefited from the faster paced club lacrosse game.”
One of Bosted’s best attributes is that he understands what it takes to get better.
“Lacrosse is a difficult sport to develop and refine,” he said. “Like all players, I’m still working to better my skills.
“The most important thing is to stay positive and not work on your best shot, or favorite dodge, but the weakest aspects of your play. By doing so you can become well rounded and adapt to any situation in the game.”
Bosted applied that philosophy over the years, making himself a dangerous scorer from numerous areas on the field.
“Personal success has come to me from improved dodging skills as well as lots of practice shooting on goal,” he said. “We have a great goalkeeper, Pat Kelly, who challenges me every day in practice to improve on shot placement and stick fakes.”
“He’s really worked on his shooting and honing his shot,” Ammirata said. “He’s got a lot of speed and a lot of tempo on his shots. He can go high, he can go low. He can do everything.”
Bosted’s value to the Cardinals became apparent last year when he separated his shoulder in the preseason and missed the first part of the regular season. Lawrence started 1-5 without Bosted. But the Cardinals rebounded with Bosted back, and finished the year 7-7.
“Him not being with us really limits us, to say the least,” Ammirata said. “He’s very versatile and diverse.”
As tough as it was on the team, it was equally difficult for the player himself.
“At the time I was devastated because I couldn’t play in the first several games, and when I did come back I was pretty shaken up,” Bosted said. “Thankfully I’ve made a full recovery with help from our trainer, Mike Stewart, and it does not hinder my game at all.”
According to Ammirata, Bosted’s “game” is a combination of desire, physical ability and a strong mental make-up. He is able to break down the nuances of what it takes to score, and then apply it on the field.
“Being able to put the ball in the back of the net is not easy,” Bosted said. “It has taken a lot of work with an emphasis on accuracy and fakes to improve my goal scoring. Luckily this year I have a great supporting attackman, Jacob ‘Izzy’ Irrizary, who sets picks and gives great feeds. Our midfield leader Alberto Santiago is also a major component in setting up our offense.
“My biggest improvement this year has been dodging ability. Going to goal is something players tend to struggle with, but is a necessary skill to draw slides and set up goal scoring opportunities.”
Bosted says his goal for the team this year would be to win a Colonial Valley Conference banner and defeat such nemesis as Hightstown and New Egypt. He feels the program has been building toward a successful year for him and his fellow seniors.
“Over the years the Lawrence lacrosse program has had some great individual players,” he said. “I think what makes this year’s team unique is the bond between players. We have great junior and senior classes that have worked together for several years.
“Last year, we peaked towards the end of the season with a great team effort win over New Egypt. This year we play some tough teams at the end of the season. If we get a strong win again, like the one at the end of last season, I’d say we’ve come a long way. Beating Hightstown, who I don’t think I’ve ever beaten, and New Egypt again, and competing for the banner would definitely be a career highlight.”
As for his future, Bosted plans on sticking with lacrosse. He is attending Mercer County Community College next year on a New Jersey STARS scholarship, and will try and play club lacrosse for two years. From there he is looking into playing for a Division III program, as he has received interest from those coaches.
Whatever Bosted does, Ammirata knows he will be a success.
“He’s just a nice kid, in the classroom, off the field,” the coach said. “He doesn’t get overly emotional, he’s real steady. He’s just a great kid. You don’t see this quality of kid as often as you’d like.”
And that quality has been an integral part of an improved Cardinal lacrosse program.
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