Klein Fills Key Role As Huskies Roll Toward Playoffs

A return to postseason play wasn't a given for the Harrison lacrosse team in 2011, facing a difficult schedule in an always competitive division, the Huskies knew they had their work cut out for them.

But a hot start and a cool finish ended up being just enough for Harrison to qualify with a 6-10 record. The next challenge, however, will be a first round bout with Section I power Fox Lane on Thursday afternoon.

Harrison senior Spencer Klein is happy to make the playoffs, but with a draw against a top program like Fox Lane in the first round he knows advancing will be a difficult task for the Huskies.

“We are looking at the postseason as a new slate,” said Klein. “We went 0-2 against Fox Lane in the regular season. But now we look at it as an opportunity to knock off a powerhouse offense. We see each game as a chance to see just how well we can play when we can put together four quarters of pure lacrosse.”

Klein’s role on the team isn’t as a pure scorer or defender. He in fact prides himself on being able to do nearly everything at every position to near perfection. The senior works diligently and takes the time to learn all aspects of every play for the betterment of Harrison lacrosse.

“I feel that while other players work on strictly their spot on offense for any particular play and run it at 100 percent perfection, it is much more valuable as a team player to learn every position for every play in the book and run it at 90 percent," Klein said. "If the need be, I can step up and play any role on the field at any time and not slow down production to a standstill.”

While the senior isn’t a vocal individual and doesn’t consider himself to be the best player on the team, Klein leads by example by executing the plays with precession and using his vast knowledge of the sport to help out his teammates.

“I always seemed to do the right things on the field, whether it be passing and catching, running the plays, or overall knowledge of the situation and responding in the correct manner,” he said.

Klein is a two-sport athlete at Harrison. Though he hasn’t been a priminent scorer on this year’s lacrosse team, he has undoubtedly left his mark on the Harrison athletic program.

For the last two years not only has Klein been a fixture on the lacrosse team, he has been a key member of the school’s winter track squad as well. This winter he, along with his teammates, finished all-state in the Class B 4x800m relay with a time of 8:28.65.

Next year the senior will be heading to SUNY Buffalo. He is already anticipating staying at the school to complete his M.B.A. The school doesn’t have a varsity lacrosse team and the majority of the focus is on the club team, so Klein is hoping to play there for both the fall and spring seasons.

Best of luck and continued success to Spencer Klein, Harrison Patch’s athlete of the week.

Editor's Note: After publication Harrison's first round game was rescheduled, they will now face Rye on Thursday at 4:30 p.m.