The list of challenges that face any new sports program are long. With Northampton introducing varsity lacrosse for the first time on both the boys and girls sides, it could spell difficult seasons.

But when you talk to boys' head coach Joe Engleby, it's about laying a foundation for the future.

With the K-Kids stepping into the varsity spotlight, Engleby knows he will face an array of difficulties this year, but it's part of the process when you're building a program from scratch.

"We focus on the positive aspects of the game, sportsmanship and effort," Engleby said. "We have our focus on not only today, but the productive evolution of the NAYL program that embraces the creation of a tradition and building a legacy for those Northampton lacrosse players to follow in the years ahead."

The obstacles Engleby and company face are evident by their first two losses, a pair of 19-0 and 16-0 defeats at the hands of Emmaus and Easton respectively to start their spring.

Building a team to compete against programs with players that have more experience will become a battle over time, but seniors Ben Longacre (D) and twin brothers Chris (G) and Eric Tanczos (MF) hope they can be bricks in the foundation of the program.

"We need to improve everywhere," Engleby said. "We have new players and a young team learning fundamentals and playing lacrosse for the first time.

"They have a desire to compete. The positive and very healthy approach we take to embracing the difficulties of facing the aspect of a winless season shows the great attitudes of the players and I enjoy and respect every single one of them. They realize and take pride in the fact they are laying the groundwork for the future of the NAYL."

That starts with competing and the Kids will certainly grow more accustomed to playing at a high level, once they can get past playing against seasoned opponents like Easton and Emmaus.

With Freedom, Liberty and Bethlehem Catholic on the schedule over the course of the next week, the Kids will be playing against opponents with similar backgrounds and pedigrees of being new programs as well.

"We need to focus on those things we can control," Engleby said of early season keys. "Like, proper position play, completing passes and executing basic offensive plays, ground balls and team play."

Working from the ground up is never an easy task, but the perspective the Northampton program has will have them heading into the right direction sooner, rather than later.

This season may just be about learning and taking the bumps that they were destined to confront.

"The challenges are many," said Engleby. "The first step for a young program like ours is to learn how to be competitive on the field. Not with just attitude, but with fundamental skills and the ability to execute them effectively in a game situation. That involves a hierarchy of instruction that teaches the very basics of throwing and catching and evolves into the more expansive parts of the game like offensive and defensive position play and overarching principles of game play perspectives. We know that any high school program needs a successful feeder program and we have our U9 and Lil'Crosse programs up and running this year with the goal of U13 and U15 boys next year, as well as meeting the need for a growing demand for girls teams."