Demeireles Goes From Alternate to Action

BUFFALO – Everyone who plays at the Empire State Games, New York's Olympic-style festival, comes away with a defining moment.

What was Alirio Demeireles' Empire moment? How about the time after practice last Thursday when Long Island coach Jay Mauro pulled him aside and told him he made the 20-man travel roster?

That's right, the Syosset rising senior had been penciled in as an alternate until last week, when it became clear one of his teammates would have to bow out due to illness. Even then it wasn't a given that Demeireles, a defensive force, would take his place. He was locked in a battle with another talented defenseman until the Syosset star enjoyed a breakthrough performance at a tournament in New Jersey.

Still, Mauro didn't make the call until five days later. 

"[Being an alternate] was a pretty bad feeling, I'm not going to lie,'' said Demeireles, a three-year starter for the Braves who has committed to Yale. "But after that, I figured I'd keep working. I wasn't going to pack it in. Coach told us the story about how two players got hurt right before the last Empires. I wasn't wishing someone would get hurt. This isn't how I wanted to make the team. But now that I'm here I'll make the most of it and do my best to get out on the field."

Demeireles has been in heavy rotation on defense for Long Island, which opened play at the Empire State Games on Thursday at Canisius College with a pair of impressive wins. The scholastic boys lacrosse team beat host region Western, 10-4, and always-scrappy Hudson Valley, 13-7.

"We came out with that swagger that we need to win," Demeireles said after the Island turned a 3-2 halftime lead into a decisive win over Western. "It was close on the scoreboard. But in everyone's minds we were dominating."

Long Island has two more games on Friday. It faces Adirondack at 11 a.m. followed by the highly anticipated showdown versus Central under the lights at 8 p.m. With two winnable games left on the schedule–Adirondack and New York City–Long Island may have already positioned itself to reach the gold medal game.

Just as he's done all along, figure on the 6-foot, 175-pound Demeireles to make the most of his opportunities.

He's already surpassed what his mentor/older brother managed. Marco Demeireles, who recently graduated from Williams College, tried out for the 2005 Empire team. He made it to the round of 50 before getting cut. 

"I always wanted to be on this team,"  said Demeireles, whose parents are from Portugal. "I looked up to my big brother, who made it to the top 50 game and got cut. You always hear about how great the Empire team is. All the great players aspire to play on this team."

A twist of fate and an unrelenting attitude made all the difference. Now the Syosset teenager is realizing one of his biggest dreams.

"This is the most fun I've had in a long time,'' he said. "This is one of those experiences you remember for the rest of your life."