Wantagh looks for strong finish

Wantagh’s girls’ soccer team is looking to find its footing early in the 2016 season as it seeks another deep playoff run.

The Lady Warriors entered the last week of September at 1-2-2 in Conference A-1, but sixth year coach James Polo is pleased with how his young team is developing. Wantagh graduated three senior tri-captains from last year’s  9-4-5 team that fell to South Side in the county semifinals and is looking to many younger players to step up on the pitch.

“We have a lot of young players in big roles,” Polo said. “We’ve had some flashes of really good play and we have had some inconsistencies.”

The Lady Warriors brought back an experienced defense featuring seniors Ally Murphy, Julia Fazio and Amanda Lynch. Sophomore Casey O’Connor has also stepped up on a backline that has held opponents to one goal three times and posted a 5-0 non-league win against Cardozo on Sept. 6.

“That’s the strength of the team,” Polo said of the defensive unit. “They have done a solid job.”

Junior goalkeeper Julianna King entered her second full season as starting in net after earning the job midway through her freshman campaign. King registered 13 saves in a 2-0 loss at South Side on Sept. 21.

Junior midfielder Julianna Kissane has been a major focus of opposing defenses early in the 2016 season as the returning leading scorer from last fall. Kissane has drawn many double teams, but has used her distribution skills to register five assists early in the season including two in a 4-2 win against Manhasset on Sept. 19.

“She is getting through that adversity of constantly having two defenders on her,” Polo said of Kissane. “She is our playmaker.”

Polo has been impressed with passion of midfielder Amanda Adia in her senior season. She tallied an assist in the win against Cardozo and Polo said her effort in going after 50-50 balls is contagious to the rest of the team.

“She is not the biggest girl, but she has the biggest heart,” Polo said of Adia. “She is our workhorse.”

Forward Ashley Gendels has provided an offensive spark for the Warriors with five goals in Wantagh’s first seven games. Chelsea Kingston has also generated scoring chances in the central midfield.

“What she brings to the table you can’t teach,” Polo said of Kingston. “She brings the passion to want to win.”

Wantagh is next in action on Wednesday, after press time, at defending county champion Garden City, which took the first meeting 1-0 on Sept. 16. The Lady Warriors then return home to face powerhouse South Side on Oct. 5 at 4:30 p.m.  

Wantagh has made major strides since Polo took over as coach in 2011 with quarterfinal appearances his first three years behind the bench and semifinal trips the last two years. The Lady Warriors are fighting for one of the top seeds in the second half of the season and Polo hopes his team will be peaking in October.

“This group is motivated,” he said. “They feel like they have a bit of unfinished business.”