Schedule to challenge Carey

Despite a 1-3 start to the season, there’s plenty of optimism on the boys’ lacrosse field at Carey. Narrow defeats at the hands of some of the Nassau’s top programs in non-league play has the talented Seahawks prepared for a challenging league schedule, Carey will compete among the likes of Wantagh, South Side, Long Beach, and perennial power Garden City.

After dropping their opener to defending Nassau Class A champion Massapequa, the Seahawks got into the win column with a convincing 15-9 win over host Kellenberg. Nick Spillane scored four goals and added three assists, and senior Matt Robison scored six times to lead Carey, which led 15-4 after three quarters.

Carey coach Tom Aiello believes the tough competition in the early going will pay off in the long run. “We tried to play opponents that would get us ready for the league games,” Aiello said. “Hopefully, we worked some of the kinks out. We’ve got some work to do on both offense and defense, but we’re getting there. We’re going to be fine.”

Spillane is the team’s go-to guy. The junior attacker feeds, dodges, and finds the back of the net with the best of them, and is a ground ball vacuum. Spillane has 13 goals in the first four contests. Junior Tommy Mayer, who started as a sophomore, is a terrific finisher, and is also strong on ground balls.

Aiello has a bevy of talented two-way players at midfield. Robison, who has 11 goals and two assists, leads the athletic group. Seniors Ray Catapano and Dylan DeMeo, and fleet-footed junior Mike De Leo are all solid between the lines. Junior Brett Campos, one the county’s top face-off guys, and sophomore Mike Kadnar round out what should be a formidable unit.

With a year under their belts playing as a group at the varsity level, juniors Kieran Murchie, Tommy Gallant, and Jorge Cerquera return to anchor Carey’s defense. The combination of size and athletic ability gives the Seahawks a solid backline.

Carey has a new starter in the cage. Junior Dom Serio, who is averaging 12 saves per game, is strong with the stick, and does a good job at getting the Seahawks started in transition. Serio had 18 saves in the loss to Massapequa.

Carey enters the league season having lost back-to-back nail biters to Hewlett and Farmingdale, each by one goal. Spillane scored three times in a 7-6 road loss to Hewlett. In the 10-9 overtime loss to Farmingdale, the Seahawks battled back from a 6-0 deficit to force the extra session. 

“We got off to a slow start, but regrouped and evened things up,” Aiello said. “We like this team a lot. Most of the guys have played together a long time. They’re a close group, and they have good chemistry. Hopefully, the sky is the limit.”

Carey will host Long Beach in Conference B1 play on Wednesday, April 9 at 4:30 p.m.