LI Lacrosse Journal
March 4, 2026
3 min read
No. 20 Ranked South Side Cyclones Team Preview
March 4, 2026
3 min read
The Cyclones were back in the Nassau County championship game a season ago after capping off a 21-1 record and a New York State title victory in 2024. After handling the competition in Class B in their final year in the league, South Side bumped back down to Class C and continued their reputation as one of the Island’s top programs. A 14-5 record last season with a consecutive county championship berth leaves the community with a lot to be proud about, but the lingering memory of their excruciating overtime loss to Wantagh in last year’s final remains on the forefront of the mind for this talented group. This team’s pure determination paired with the veteran leadership of Steve DiPietro, the 19 year head coach, can be just the perfect concoction to get them back into the Nassau County playoffs and beyond.
It won’t be easy for the South Side offense, initially, as they may have some growing pains adjusting to life with Luke Mullen (55 G, 23 A) and Cullen Lynch (44 G, 25 A) no longer apart of the unit. The Cyclones will transition their scoring attack to its returning scoring leaders from 2025, featuring junior midfielder JJ Hawthorne (Bryant) and senior midfielder Brendan Vetter (Geneseo). Hawthorne was a goal scoring machine as a sophomore, showcasing his ability to grip it n’ rip it from distance all year long. Vetter’s two-way ability was crucial for South Side down the stretch in 2025, creating turnovers as a short stick on defense while also contributing as an effective offensive middie. Senior midfielders Jack Muscarella (Connecticut), Tyler Sumrani (Skidmore) and junior attackman Cole Perna (Iona) each had respectable seasons for the Cyclone offense and could be on tap for much more work in their final year, while the one that will be tasked with getting the team the ball is junior FOGO Alec Notaro (Marquette). South Side has a relatively smooth changeover at goaltender entering the 2026 campaign, compared to other local programs. Sure, the elusive Cole Schiefelbein graduated and moved on, but how often do you have another netminder who accumulated nearly 100 saves as the acting back up in the same season? The answer is simple — it isn’t, but this year’s Cyclones are the anomaly. As a sophomore Jack DiSarlo (Utah) was excellent in his minutes played in 2025, racking up an impressive 96 saves as a freshman. The second year goalie will lead a defensive crew that includes stout senior defenseman Jon Muscarella (Connecticut), senior defensive midfielder Colin Kenny, and junior LSM Ryan Madden (Scranton). Coach DiPietro instilled a toughness into the bloodline of his program since his arrival and it’s the identity they’ve carried throughout his entire tenure. When he was asked about what excited him the most going into the season, his answer was reflective of that established identity. “We have a nice combination of youth and experience,” DiPietro expressed. “[I’m] looking forward to seeing the growth and grit this new group shows this season.” The South Side Cyclones look to flip the script after how last year concluded. The first stop on their revenge tour kicks off at home on March 19th against a gritty Friends Academy team.
