Plainedge strives to defend title

Despite losing 13 seniors from the school’s first-ever Nassau County championship team, Plainedge girls’ soccer coach Mike Vitale thinks a repeat is possible. 

An especially strong sophomore class – led by midfielder Avery Peters – has positioned Plainedge as an exciting top contender again after going 10-2-3. 

Two years ago, it coasted to an undefeated record in the conference only to lose in the second round of the playoffs. The Red Devils reversed that 2022 disappointment by winning it all last season, topping Seaford, 2-1, in overtime in the Class A championship game.

The winning goal was scored by Maddison Wade, who returns as a senior to be perhaps Plainedge’s leading scorer this fall. However, this Plainedge group is so diversified, Vitale wouldn’t be surprised if the sophomore Peters leads the team in goals. 

“It’s her knowledge of ball movement and space,’’ Vitale said of Peters. “She has a strong foot and can shoot from 40 yards out, on net. She just knows the game well. She’s smooth – no effort when she’s playing.’’ 

Peter played JV last season because the varsity was stacked with seniors. Now the club is rife with sophomore talent and more success is expected in the new, reshuffled Conference 1A, which pits Plainedge against smaller schools.

“I think we’re going to be up there,’’ Vitale said. “My sophomores coming in are very talented, probably more talented than my seniors of last year with their skills. We’re a little smaller but more talented. I think we’ll hold our own.’’

Joining Wade on the attack will be fellow senior striker Lia Villari. “They’ll both be up there causing ruckus, hopefully,’’ Vitale said. “(Villari) is not as skilled some other girls, but gives 150 percent effort, going after every single ball. She’ll get some goals. She’s also a disrupter She makes defenses make mistakes.’’

The anchors of the defense are senior Mary Rose Varicchio and Michela Netto, a sophomore already earning newspaper accolades as a top 100 Long Island player. And Netto also earned a impressive internal accolade in being named a captain as a sophomore. She played on the varsity as a freshman. 

 “No one’s going to get around her,’’ Vitale said. “The girls look up to her. She’s sweet and smart and is a leader on and off the field. The girls respect her.’’ 

 The conference championship team lost its top player in Conference Player of the Year Lucy Younghans, a midfielder, and the conference’s goalie-of-the-year award winner, Demetra Sideridis.

 But the sophomore midfielders being elevated to the varsity will fill the holes, in the coach’s estimation. 

Aside from Peters, there is much to be enthralled about in sophomore midfielders Allison Younghans, Amanda Martone and Sam Zaccaro. 

“They’ve already proven to be able to move the ball around midfield,’ Vitale said. “Our biggest strength is we move the ball very well - better this year than last year - because of the talented kids.’’

Plainedge opened its season Sept. 3 with a 1-0 non-league victory over Mepham on a Victoria Truncalli goal. But the litmus test was Sept. 11’s rematch versus Seaford, which has a more veteran squad coming off its county-final battle against the Red Devils.

The game ended in a 1-1 tie with freshman Kenly Walsh scoring Plainedge’s lone goal. And that only bodes well for the soccer future in North Massapequa.