LI Lacrosse Journal
March 9, 2026
2 min read
No. 9 Ranked West Islip Lions Team Preview
March 9, 2026
2 min read
West Islip found themselves in the Suffolk County championship again in 2025 finishing with a 14-4 record. Despite a sour taste in the team’s mouth after losing to their bitter crosstown rival East Islip in the title match, the Lions are focused on continuing their winning culture this year under first year Head Coach Sean McAleavey. Tom Corcoran retired this offseason after serving seven seasons at the helm, setting the stage for the 2x Suffolk County JV Coach of the Year to get his deserved promotion to lead the varsity team. With this stock of returning talent at his fingertips, McAleavey is well equipped to make a run in the Class B playoffs in his inaugural season.
The Lions scoring attack will be built around their stud returning Division I commits, senior attackman Chase Busking (Sienna) and junior attackman Will Schwarz (Maryland). Busking was the team’s primary goal scorer in 2025 with 54 goals, while Schwarz was highly effective as the unit’s offensive spark as a sophomore, finding the back of the net 42 times with 24 assists. This pair should occupy most of the attention from opposing defenses, allowing other capable players like senior middies TJ Sonnenberg and Michael Hazelton (Wesleyan) to make immediate impacts in their opportunities. Sophomore Anthony Gentile is also a name to watch out for down on the Lions’ attack and fellow sophomore Lucas Drummond at the face-off X. Coach McAleavey should feel inspired with the tools he has to work with on his defense this year, featuring the likes of senior defenseman Max Tate and junior defenseman Angelo Lanteri (Air Force). It also doesn’t hurt to welcome back an experienced goalie who’s seen his fair share of varsity action, which senior Brendan McMahonn has, while they also return fellow senior Bruno Basile and sophomore Jackson Olfano. Continuity is always a strong suit for any contending team, and the Lions should have enough of it on their back end to get back to the postseason and contend with the league’s best. The head coaching debut for Sean McAleavey and 2026 season opener for the Lions will take place on the road at Bayshore on March 28th.
