East Islip boys lacrosse scores strong win over Massapequa
Sean Hannigan of East Islip makes his way to the net during a boys lacrosse game against Massapequa on Thursday, April 17, 2025 in East Islip. Credit: Dawn McCormick
Junior long-stick midfielder Grant Weiss stood in the middle of a pack of swarming bodies, holding down his zone. Suddenly he burst forward and intercepted a pass, taking it downfield before dishing it to senior Ryan Parker who then flipped the ball back to senior Jack Kalinowski for the score.
It might read like a football highlight, but that’s just East Islip boys lacrosse. A simple miscue gets turned into a play that gets spectators on their feet, and there were plenty of examples in East Islip’s 13-6 home win on Sal Ciampi Field over Massapequa Thursday at Boomer Esiason Stadium.
The non-league game between the Nassau and Suffolk powerhouse programs marked the first time Massapequa (6-2) had allowed more than nine goals in a game all season despite the talents of star senior Michael Jannotte (15 saves) in the cage.
Midfielders Parker and Kalinowski were terrific on both sides of the field, providing physical defense and while consistently contorting themselves to fire the perfect shot as each scored three goals. Senior midfielder Brayden Black added four points while dictating the pace of the offense.
“Ryan is the engine that runs this entire school district,” coach Thomas Zummo said. “He has more energy than anyone. Jack is the happy guy and Brayden balances them out in between.”
East Islip led 6-2 at halftime, scoring six unanswered goals after Massapequa’s Matthew Pettis opened the scoring less than three minutes into the game. East Islip, now 6-1 overall, responded with five unanswered goals and held at least a two-score lead for the rest of the afternoon.
Weiss added a goal of his own as a long pole, scooping in a terrific feed from sophomore Sean Hannigan.
“It’s the best feeling in the world,” Weiss said. “Celebrating after, there’s nothing like it.”
Weiss, Kalinowski and senior Vincent Fantauzzi all had two caused turnovers while senior defender Brendan McCaffrey and Brandon Rizzuto provided smothering defense all afternoon. Senior Drew Walendowski made 13 saves in goal.
Hannigan led a first-line offense alongside two freshmen, Owen Madden and Connor McIntee, as senior captain Ethan Benardos sat due to injury. Hannigan (two goals, three assists) supplied a wonderful goal through contact with 9:32 remaining in the game, falling to the turf as spectators rose to applaud.
“I went to my right, got by my guy and rolled inside,” Hannigan said. “The rest is history.”
It’s that toughness that makes East Islip such a tough opponent, and it’s the trait that will matter the most come May and June for the reigning Suffolk Class B champions who look to earn a trip upstate.
“I think there’s not a team on Long Island that’s going to work harder than us, put more time in the film room or put more time on the field,” Weiss said.
