Thursday, October 1, 2026
Promotion to Nassau’s Power League last year – as reigning Conference B boys’ lacrosse champ – was an honor and an onus for Carey.
Plunged into a slugfest with Nassau’s top teams – including last season’s state Class B champ Garden City, a Conference 1 foe – the Seahawks too often found themselves fighting from the ropes.
Nevertheless, after finishing 5-5 in league, Carey (8-8 overall) closed its spring as a county Class B semifinalist.
Moving to Conference 2A this season, Carey looks to senior stalwarts James McGrath (All-Conference), Ethan Pelzer, and first-year starter Mike Carollo to head its slightly retooled attack after ranking eighth in Power League scoring 9.0 goals per game.
“(Last year) was just a challenge,” said 27th-year Seahawks coach Tom Aiello. “We were in some close games with good teams. We played them pretty tough, had some good wins, but just didn’t have enough to break through.
“This year it’s a better situation,” added Aiello. “We’re a little inexperienced, but our guys are athletic, and there’s experience at attack and midfield.”
McGrath’s 18 assists were tops on the team, while Pelzer’s 16 goals last season ranked fourth on the club (behind No. 3 McGrath’s 17 tallies).
"James McGrath is just starting to peak,” Aiello said. “It’s a completely different level from what we’ve seen. And he and Ethan have great chemistry.”
The Seahawks return a tested midfield tandem in senior Will Cooper (Honorable Mention All-County) and All-Conference junior Jayden Radow (13 goals, 10 assists), with junior Vince Vicari moving up to Carey’s first unit, splitting time at midfield and attack.
“Vince has a high lacrosse IQ,” Aiello said. “He ran mostly with the second string last year, but he’s played a lot of lacrosse and is one of our best shooters.”
Defensively, Carey welcomes first-year-starting seniors Zach Montante, James Steinberg and Jack Leimgruber, with junior transfer Steven Martinez taking over at goalie in the wake of All-County four-year fixture Richie Metzger’s (Marist University) graduation.
“The guys look good and look cohesive,” Aiello said. “That’s hard to coach.”
“That’s one reason we’re excited,” he added.
To read more about Carey Seahawks' 2026 girls lacrosse team, click here. To see more of the Herald’s 2026 Lacrosse Preview, click here.
