Brendan O'Keefe nets five goals in Farmingdale's non-league win over West Islip

There are differences between the Farmingdale team that walked off feeling ecstatic after the Nassau and Long Island Class A title games last year on the way to the state final and the one that walked off feeling good after Saturday’s 13-6 home win over West Islip.

There are also similarities that lend hope for another strong run, namely a talented base of lacrosse players headed by an All-America attackman. Senior Brendan O’Keefe delivered five goals and four assists, helping the Dalers move to 3-2.

“I think everything is a work in progress,” coach Eric Dunne said. “We’ve got some nice pieces. We’ve got to figure out some of our supporting players. We lost a lot of guys who played major roles for us a year ago. We’ve got a lot of young guys that are willing to step up into bigger roles.”

Dunne stepped up to a bigger role this season after Mike Hungerford retired.

“I enjoyed being an assistant coach,” Dunne said. “... I had a great opportunity to work and learn from two great coaches [Hungerford and previous coach Bob Hartranft]. But I love Farmingdale. I’ve been here for the last 12 years. It’s a great opportunity to coach a program that has such a legacy and a history.”

Jimmy Caputo stopped eight shots in this non-league victory. He’s another difference. The senior was a backup goalie in 2023 behind All-Long Island first-teamer Mike Ippoliti, who’s now at Syracuse.

“I feel great taking over for him because I know that I have big shoes to fill and it makes me very happy to know that they’re his to fill,” Caputo said. “… He’s taught me a lot and definitely made me better.”

Farmingdale led, 7-5, at halftime.

Then O’Keefe scored from about 12 yards out with a straight-on rocket. When the Albany commit fed Cuinn Sunde for a man-up goal late in the third, it was 11-6.

J.J. Damo also scored in the quarter. The sophomore’s fine work at the faceoff X throughout the game, winning 15 faceoffs, led to a possession advantage.

Junior Dean Kott contributed three goals to the cause, too.

“Thirteen goals against a pretty good West Islip defense, that’s pretty impressive,” Caputo said.

O’Keefe scored three goals and set up another in the first quarter when the Dalers grabbed a 5-0 advantage.

“We lost a lot [from last season], but we’ve got the guys, I think,” O’Keefe said. “We’re a young team, but as the season goes on, everyone’s getting used to the play style.”

West Islip, the defending Suffolk Class B champ, went to a zone and sawed the deficit to 5-1 after one and 6-5 in the second.

Chase Busking scored three of his four in that stretch. But the Lions ended up falling to 0-3.

“We’ve got to get our offense the ball more,” said acting head coach Scott Mattera, the assistant who’s filling in while Tom Corcoran recuperates from neck surgery. “… This one counts on the loss [side], not power points or anything. But we’ve got to get back to the drawing board after this."