Junior Jake Cabble is a Lax Rat

For the Sachem North boys lacrosse team, goals can come from every possible angle and from anyone listed in the scorebook. Jake Cabble knows his role and is more than happy to play it. However, it's no secret that the Flaming Arrows' aspirations are high.

Their dreams take them beyond the boundaries of Suffolk County. Somewhere along the line, crunch time will require that the ball will be in Cabble's crosse, and North has faith that its star middie will deliver as he so often has.

The track record is there. He's been playing at the varsity level since his freshman year and developed into a big-time producer for Sachem. Earlier this month, Cabble scored four times during the Arrows' 13-12 upset of West Islip, which at the time was ranked No. 1 in the country. Of his goal quartet, three tied the game. Every one of them counted as the game went to sudden death overtime and Sachem eventually prevailed.

"We just worked hard and tried to just listen to the coaches," said Cabble, who recalled having just one goal in two meetings with West Islip last year. "The first couple minutes were so nerve-wracking. [Winning] was definitely one of the most unbelievable feelings I've ever had. I'll never forget it." 

Cabble's multi-point efforts came against Copiague (1 goal, 1 assist) and Potomac (3 goals). On the season, he had registered 10 goals and two assists heading into Monday's clash with Riverhead. However, he's less interested in his own accomplishments than he is the team's, and as much as he's looked for in the boxscore, head coach Jay Mauro tells the program's up-and-comers to look at how Cabble plays the game.

"He's worked hard to get where he is," Mauro said of his junior middie. "A stick's always in his hands. He always has a ball in his stick and is shooting, passing, playing wall ball. He's a lax rat. He's a great kid."

Cabble combines the speed to create his own shot, marksmanship when he gets it, and also the ability to find his teammates. Mauro can also appreciate that, as a midfielder, Cabble tends to his defensive duties as well.

He's a part of a fantastic junior class that consists of UMass-bound Mike Andreassi, Timmy Lang, Alex Harris, Angelo Armine, Jesse Scanna and several others. Every member of the Arrows squad has put in long hours to make a special season possible.

"We've worked so hard to get here," Cabble said. "In the winter, we did shooting clinics, played indoors. We know what each other can do. If someone has a mismatch, we let take control. We all love each other, too. We're with each other all the time."

Cabble verbally committed to Robert Morris, an independent Division I program outside Pittsburgh. Among those on the Colonials' schedule this year is No. 3 North Carolina and top-ranked Virginia. More than anything, Cabble said he felt comfortable when touring the school.

"When I was there, there was never one moment that I felt uncomfortable," said Cabble, who also considered Loyola and Sacred Heart. "The whole team was great, the coaches were great. It just felt like the right fit."

Although they'll be in the thick of the Division I race again next season, this year's juniors are still conscious of the task at hand – sending the seniors out the right way. He's enjoying every minute.

"I love being here," Cabble said. "I'm cherishing every moment. I even love coming to practice. If we come out off the whistle and play as one, we have a great chance to accomplish something great at the end of the season."