Undefeated Seaford secures playoff spot

After a number of seasons of finishing at the top of its conference with no reward to show for it, Seaford field hockey is poised to experience postseason action this fall thanks to a new format and a team clicking on all cylinders.

An unbeaten 8-0 September record already clinched Seaford’s first playoff berth in more than a decade with six league games remaining long before the regular season sunsets in late October. After placing atop Conference II in previous seasons with no reward to show for it, the Vikings are now assured of at least one playoff game thanks to a new Nassau County set-up that guarantees any Conference II team with at least a .500 record a spot in the play-in round.

“It was pretty difficult in the past to make the playoffs and I’m glad that they changed the layout,” said sixth-year coach Elizabeth Waterbury, who two years ago saw her team miss out on the postseason despite winning Conference B. “I have to give credit to the girls because they're all so dedicated and motivated and really want this.”

Waterbury credits a lot of the team’s success this season to her senior tri-captains: forward Emma Masie, midfielder Kate Young and defender Ava Caruso, who each provide critical leadership to their respective positions.

Masie has become the team’s offensive leader with seven goals and 11 assists in September. She registered three goals and two assists in Seaford’s season-opening 6-0 win against Long Beach on Sept. 5.

Sophomore Madison O’Hagan has also emerged as a scoring threat after making varsity as an eighth grader last season and takes the team's free hits along with Young. O’Hagan, who also thrives on the Seaford girls lacrosse team, has tallied five goals and three assists so far.

“She has an incredible drive down the field,” said Waterbury of O’Hagan. “It's unlike anything I've ever seen.”

Junior midfielder Jessica Reiter has also thrived on the offensive end of the field with five goal and two assists. She tallied a hat-trick in a 6-0 victory at Great Neck South on Sept. 10.

Caruso anchors a Seaford defense that has recorded six shutouts along with fellow seniors Emily Scimeca and Umera Shahid.

The defense is further cemented by the strong play of senior goalie, Taylor Jebaily, who made eight saves in a 1-0 win against East Meadow on Sept. 20. She was also instrumental in a dramatic 2-1 overtime win versus New Hyde Park on Sept. 12 with six saves followed by another nine stops in a penalty shootout.

“Taylor was MVP of that game,” said Waterbury of Jebaily. “We've been working on diving and it just came so natural to her during the game and she was diving all over the field.”

Seaford hosts Port Washington on Oct. 17 at 5 p.m. before traveling to Baldwin for a Saturday morning march two days later. The Vikings close the regular season with a home match against North Shore on Oct. 23 and at New Hyde Park on Oct. 25 before its first taste of postseason in recent memory.