After Chris Jones — who won the Riverhead News Review Athlete of the Year before heading to run for SUNY Cortland — the boys cross country team no longer had that low 17-minute runner to bring the team average down, regardless of what the other four runners would produce. With Jones on the roster, Riverhead made it to the New York State qualifier for three consecutive years. Without him, they needed a new formula in order to make it again. 

“It emphasizes the importance of every single athlete on this team,” Riverhead cross country coach Tyler Lobenhofer said. “We might only have 24 boys on the team, but 18 of them can run competitive times. That’s why we’re able to compete head-to-head against a lot of teams. This is the strongest pack I’ve ever had here. They’re all separated by just 10 to 15 seconds, and they have been continuing to push each other all year long.”

All-League award recipient Lester Soyos crossed the finish line first for the team with a time of 19:03.60. Grady Moore followed him with a time of 19:10.60. Dwayne Morgan, in his first year running cross country after already being one of the best hurdlers in the county, finished up at 19:24.20. David Dubon completed the race in 19:43.10 and Franz Ortiz-Galdamez rounded out the team’s performance chugging through at 20:58.70. The average of all their times was good enough for their fourth consecutive appearance at the New York State qualifiers. Riverhead was also racing without their All-League runner Darryl Austin, who suffered an injury.

“Would I have liked to get our time down to qualification standards earlier in the season?” Lobenhofer questioned. “Yes, of course. But I love to see that in the biggest moments, this team stepped up as a group. Last year, most of these boys could barely break 22 minutes on this course. Now we have just about everyone breaking 20 minutes, which is a testament to the hard work they have put in.”

All summer long, Lobenhofer emphasized winning a league championship this season. But after losing the first race of the season, effectively ending their chance at a championship, Lobenhofer witnessed what he feels was his proudest coaching moment of his career. 

“We talked about having the mentality to run with pain,” Lobenhofer said. “That’s what cross is really about. Being able to persevere through pain. Push when you don’t think you can push anymore. We lost touch with that a little bit. The day after the loss, we did 1,000-meter repeats on the track with active recovery. They ran all practice, pushing themselves. I’ve won county championships at Commack. We’ve sent athletes to states every single year since I’ve been here. That was by far my favorite coaching moment, seeing how that group responded when they were kicked down. From there on our goal was to make it to state quals and we did it.”

The group is only going to get stronger as they all return next year.

On the girls’ side, Riverhead hasn’t had an individual girl runner make it to the state qualifier since 2019. Sophomore Julia Chycherska wanted to change that. And she was so close to making the time needed coming into the final day of the regular season.

“This is what Julia has been working towards ever since she joined the team in eighth grade,” Lobenhofer said. “She’s a tremendous athlete, and I think her best days are right ahead of her.”

She was .9 seconds away from qualifying coming into the divisional race. 

“I told her at the start of the summer that she’s running with the boys,” Lobenhofer said. “I’ve never seen her smile so hard. She was up for the challenge. That really changed her training and mindset overall, I think.”

Chycherska, who earned her third straight All-League recognition this year, needed to break a 22:30 time to make the state qualifiers. She shattered it by 20 seconds and secured a top 10 finish overall in the race. 

“She’s got a different confidence this year,” Lobenhofer said. “You saw it today. She stayed up front the entire time and set a PR. That’s what she’s capable of doing every time out.”

Riverhead will compete in the New York State qualifier on Nov. 6.

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After Patchogue-Medford (3-3) got on the board first with a field goal, Riverhead (0-6) quickly answered back, taking the lead on a Josiah Rodney 38-yard touchdown pass to William Stackevicius to bring the raucous crowd to their feet. It was an answer that Riverhead struggled to make all season long – showing the fight that everyone knew they had.

The Raiders were able to knock through another field goal before half to make the score 6-6 at halftime. The 6-6 score was the closest they’ve been against an opponent since week two in Central Islip when they went into halftime leading 6-0 before losing that game, 13-12.

In the second half, Riverhead’s resolve was challenged again when Patchogue-Medford’s Brett Rupolo connected on a 20-yard touchdown pass with Andrew Johnstone to take the lead 12-6 following a failed extra point. 

Behind the legs of Kavion Hobbs, Riverhead had an instant response the following drive. The shifty running back came in motion and took a reverse handoff crossfield and outran the entire defense before just stepping out of bounds on the five yard line. Hobbs collected 124 yards over the course of the game. Rodney then connected with Billy Healy on a crossing route to tie the game at 12-12 with just 1:45 remaining in the third quarter.

“We played our hearts out,” Riverhead head coach Don Nelson said. “I truly believe we played 48 minutes of football out there. We knew that we were about the same in terms of talent. Our mistakes have hurt us all year and I felt like for the first time we were able to minimize them. There were just a few things here and there. They didn’t beat us up or anything.”

The fourth quarter, however, was all Patchogue-Medford. After bottling up Aidyn Modeste most of the game, the Patchogue-Medford running back ripped off a 80-yard touchdown on the opening play of the fourth quarter. But this time Riverhead didn’t have an answer. Modeste scored again late in the fourth to put the game away.

“We really wanted this one for the kids, the fans, the parents, the coaches and for the program as a whole, but we just fell a little short,” Nelson said. “I thought we played one of our best games this season. We’re doing our best with the depth that we have. Take away a few of their big plays and it’s a different ball game. We’re going to keep working, though.”

Riverhead has two games remaining on the schedule in search of their first win of the season. On Oct. 25 they will travel to Walt Whitman (4-2) and they will close out their season with a home game against Bay Shore (0-6) on Nov. 1.

“We’re building a program again,” Nelson said. “We’re not going to fix this overnight. We all know that. Sure, getting some wins would have been nice but the main part is we haven’t stopped fighting. Each week we are actively trying to get better and I think it’s showing in our games. We’re going to keep recruiting, keep building up these kids in strength and fitness and most importantly raising their confidence. We’ll be fine. It’s just going to take some time.”

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Oct. 14: Shoreham-Wading River 3, John Glenn 2

In a matchup of two major soccer programs in Suffolk County, Shoreham-Wading River escaped with a 3-2 victory in overtime to seal the league championship and a perfect 15-0 record so far this year. After John Glenn scored in the first half, Zach Makarewicz scored to answer before half. The Knights took the lead again in the second half before Matthew Thomsen nailed the equalizer. In the overtime period, it was Makarewicz again that buried the game-winner from a picture perfect pass from John Zoumas. The clear number one seed heading into the playoffs, the Wildcats will await their opponent.

Oct. 11: Central Islip 4, Riverhead 2

Riverhead is still looking for their first win of the season under new coach Nic DeZenzo. In the loss against Central Islip, Riverhead scored twice for the first time this season but Jeysson Maldonado stole the show netting a hat trick in the win. Riverhead (0-11) will travel to Newfield on Friday, Oct. 17, for a 4 p.m. game in hopes of that elusive first victory. 

Field Hockey

Oct. 14: Riverhead 1, North Babylon 0 

Riverhead kept their playoff hopes alive with an overtime thriller over North Babylon. After a scoreless regular time, Julianna Kramer found the goal unassisted in overtime to seal the victory for the Blue Waves. Casey Hubbard made eight saves in the victory. Riverhead (6-6) will travel to Walt Whitman (7-4) on Thursday, Oct. 16, in a game that may make or break their season. Game time is slated for 4:45 p.m.

Oct. 9: Bayport-Blue Point 4, Shoreham-Wading River 1

After starting out the regular season 6-0, Shoreham-Wading River has struggled of late, losing their last four of five matchups. Smithtown West (10-3), Eastport-South Manor (10-1), East Islip (9-2) and now Bayport-Blue Point (12-0) have landed the Wildcats in the loss column. Cate Leonard scored the lone goal for Shoreham-Wading River (7-4). That’s their first goal in three games. The Wildcats will try to right the ship on Friday, Oct. 17, against Greenport/Southold/Mattituck. 

Football

Oct. 11: Longwood 36, Riverhead 0

Riverhead’s tough year on the gridiron continues with a 36-0 loss to Longwood on Saturday. Don Nelson’s first year as Riverhead’s head coach hasn’t exactly gone according to plan. Longwood’s Kyon Sarwari led the team in the victory with 159 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. Riverhead (0-5) will host Patchogue-Medford (2-3) for homecoming this Saturday, Oct. 18, at 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 10: Miller Place 38, Shoreham-Wading River 14

After Shoreham-Wading River went into halftime leading 7-6, following a 14-yard touchdown pass from Noah Gregorek to George Greene, Miller Place took over in the second half. Miller Place’s Camryn Hardy took over the game running for 233 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Panthers to victory as they scored 32 points in the second half. Shoreham-Wading River (2-3) will travel to John Glenn (3-2) on Saturday, Oct. 18, for a 2 p.m. kick off.

Girls Soccer

Oct. 9: Islip 4, Shoreham-Wading River 3

Despite Mia Mangano’s hat trick, Islip got the better of Shoreham-Wading River in the battle of two Division III giants. The game needed overtime to decide it and it was Shea Lagiglia who found the back of the net for Islip to seal the winner. The Wildcats have already secured a playoff spot despite the loss and will finish out the regular season to determine their seeding. Shoreham-Wading River (8-2-2) will host Amityville on Saturday, Oct. 18, for a 10 a.m. game time.

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With a proven leader in new head coach Dani Braga, the Wildcats have stormed to a 12-0 start in regular-season play — and show no signs of slowing down.

“I think these guys needed a strong voice,” Braga said. “The talent on this team is unmatched. We have the ability to play with anyone, but I felt like maybe the accountability was lacking. We quickly took care of that this season.”

Since that playoff loss, SWR hasn’t dropped a single match, including summer competition in the Town of Brookhaven league, where they won the championship.

“Nobody liked how our season ended last year,” midfielder Andrew Stiene said. “That’s probably one of our worst losses in the history of the soccer program here. Every one of us that returned vowed that wouldn’t happen again.”

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The Wildcats opened the season with five consecutive shutouts, outscoring their opponents, 19-0. 

As the competition stiffened, they continued to deliver. On Sept. 27, SWR faced perennial powerhouse Garden City in a non-league matchup. Garden City, the reigning Class AA state champion, entered the game having lost just twice in four years — but left with a rare defeat after Matt Thomsen converted a penalty kick late in the first half for a 1-0 SWR victory.

“It was a major win for the program,” Braga said. “But I told the boys it doesn’t mean anything really. We want a championship. There’s no time to celebrate. We have bigger goals to accomplish this season.”

The biggest test of the season came three days later against Kings Park — the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season. Feelings of revenge flowed through every player’s veins, vividly remembering the loss they suffered just a season ago.

“We all remember that like it was yesterday,” forward Zach Makarewicz said. “We wanted nothing more than to beat them and to prove that we were a better team this season.”

But early on it was a case of same-old, same-old. The Wildcats gave up two goals in the first half and were unable to find an answer — oftentimes hitting the post or sailing their shots past or over the net.

At halftime, Braga’s fiery speech echoed through the stadium. He encouraged the boys to play within themselves and make the right play. He screamed for effort, and he got it.

Makarewicz scored twice in the second half — the first goal off of a throw in that he nonchalantly tapped with his foot past the keeper and then later scored off a header following a free kick in the Kings Park zone. 

“We’ve been playing with each other since we were little kids,” Makarewicz said. “We all had trust in each other to get back in the game. I got my opportunities, and I took advantage of them.”

That was Makarewicz’s 14th and 15th goals of the season

“Makarewicz is that perfect blend of athlete and soccer player,” Braga said. “He can do things that a lot of people can’t just with his pure athleticism. His speed puts him in a position to make a play and his soccer IQ allows him to find the goals.”

The game went into the golden goal overtime. In the second ten minute period, Makarewicz rolled the ball over to Stiene, who found space and buried it in the corner of the net for the victory. Stiene ripped his shirt off in celebration and ran over to the student section to get embraced.

“Incredible moment for us,” Stiene said. “We fell behind, but nobody quit fighting. We all believed we could still win the game. I’m glad we found a way to win, but we don’t want this to be the highlight of our season. We want that championship.”

The team followed up its dramatic victory with a 7-0 rout at Sayville on Thursday, Oct. 4. Makarewicz netted a hat trick to give him 18 goals on the season, putting him second in Suffolk County.

With three games remaining on the schedule this season, the Wildcats are eyeing the Class A playoffs — and possibly the school’s first-ever state title.

“We are never going to look past the next game,” Braga said. “We’re never going to get too high or too low. To be a champion, you have to take it one game at a time. I’ve done it before as a coach, and I know what we need to do. As long as the boys buy in, which they have, the sky is the limit for this group.”

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Sept. 26: SWR 52, Hampton Bays 18

Shoreham-Wading River came back with a vengeance this week after losing 48-0 to Bayport-Blue Point the previous week. Noah Gregorek was the star of the show against Hampton Bays as the sophomore threw for 218 yards and five touchdowns. He also had 97 yards rushing to help Shoreham-Wading River lift its record to 2-1. Shoreham-Wading River hosts Kings Park Friday, Oct. 3, at 6 p.m.

Sept. 27: Lindenhurst 45, Riverhead 12

It’s been a tough season so far for Riverhead as the loss against Lindenhurst now marks three in a row for the Blue Waves. They trailed 21-6 after the first quarter when Tatum Funn returned a kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. Riverhead made the final score respectable as Billy Healy hauled in a 34-yard touchdown pass from Josiah Rodney in the fourth quarter. The winless Waves seek their first victory on Saturday, Oct. 4, at Brentwood (0-3). Game time is slated for 2 p.m.

Field Hockey

Sept. 29: SWR 3, Comsewogue 0

After losing their first game of the season to Smithtown West, 3-2, Shoreham-Wading River notched its seventh straight win with a 3-0 victory over Comsewogue. Madison Herr continues her hot start to the year, nailing two goals in the victory. Emma Korchma scored the other goal for the Wildcats. Herr leads all of Suffolk County in points scored with 17 goals and six assists. SWR plays host to Eastport-South Manor Saturday, Oct. 4, at 2 p.m.

Sept. 30: Smithtown East 6, Riverhead 1

Through the first four games of the season, the Blue Waves were sporting a 3-1 record with nothing but green grass ahead of them. But they’ve struggled since, dropping their fourth straight game with the loss to Smithtown West. Riverhead will need to win some games down the stretch if they want a shot at the playoffs. The Blue Waves (3-5) face off against Newfield (3-5) Monday, Oct. 6, in a game both teams desperately need. 

Boys Soccer

Sept. 30: SWR 3, Kings Park 2

In a matchup of two undefeated teams, it was Shoreham-Wading River that fell behind early, going into halftime trailing 2-0. But the Wildcats fought back and tied it with two goals from Zach Makarewicz before winning it in the second overtime period on a strike from Andrew Steine. Shoreham-Wading River’s record improves to 11-0 this year with the victory over Kings Park. The Wildcats visit Sayville Saturday, Oct. 4, for a 2 p.m. game.

Sept. 29: Walt Whitman 5, Riverhead 0

The boys soccer team at Riverhead remained winless under new coach Nic DeZenzo. After keeping it close in the first half, trailing, 1-0, Whitman exploded for four goals after the break to put the game away. Riverhead’s Damian Zelayandia made seven saves. Riverhead travels to Copiague (0-6-2) Friday, Oct. 3, for a 4 p.m. game.

Girls Soccer

Sept. 30: SWR 7, M/S/G 0

Shoreham-Wading River continued its dominance within the conference with a lopsided win over the Tuckers. Mia Mangano led the way with four goals and two assists for the Wildcats. Olivia Pesso scored a goal and collected two assists. Also finding the back of the net were Alexis Cordano and Brenna Molinelli. Mangano now has 16 goals and eight assists in her final season as a Wildcat.

Boys Golf

Sept. 30: Riverhead 9, Hampton Bays 0

The Blue Waves continue to dominate the local scene, improving their league record to 8-0. Colby Baran, a senior, has held his No. 1 spot in the lineup since joining the varsity team. The two-time state tournament participant is looking to lead Riverhead to its first Suffolk County championship in school history.

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“I had to put aside my ego for an opportunity to grow the program,” Mandery said. “Here, we’re able to work on things in practice and actually implement them into the game. It’s hard to get better when you’re losing by multiple goals every game.”

Mandery’s decision is paying off.

Riverhead defeated Hampton Bays, 3-2 on Monday afternoon at Hampton Bays High School to improve their developmental league record to 4-1.

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COPYRIGHT BILL LANDON Sophomore Katherine Gonzalez (left) celebrates her goal with teammates. (Credit: Bill Landon) Riverhead goalie Sky Hervan makes a save. (Credit: Bill Landon) Riverhead’s Brianna Banegas battles for the ball. (Credit: Bill Landon) Riverhead senior forward Ellie Cammarota crosses the ball. (Credit: Bill Landon) Senior midfielder Evelyn Velasquez fires upfield for the Blue Waves. (Credit: Bill Landon) Freshman Maggie Morgan fights for possession. (Credit: Bill Landon)

Katherine Gonzalez opened the scoring before Ellie Cammarota scored twice to seal the game for the Blue Waves. 

The three goals matched Riverhead’s entire total for last season. 

“Division I was really hard for us,” Cammarota said. “We had to face girls that have been playing together since they were kids and play travel soccer and everything. To us, we’re all still learning the game, our teammates and everything, so this league is a great place to do that.”

The developmental league was created for teams that may need more time work on their basic skills before competing in more rigorous, multi-classification leagues.

These teams are not eligible for the standard Section XI playoffs but will rather have just a league winner. It is a two-year commitment for any school that decides to register.

A major measuring stick that the team has improved was their non-division matchup against Southampton this season. Riverhead took a 1-0 lead into the first half before being clipped 2-1. Last year, the Blue Waves were routed 5-1.

“Being in this league is definitely helping us get better,” central defender Kelly Lopez said. “We didn’t enjoy the season last year at all. Every game, we lost by a lot, and it’s hard to want to get better and work on things because every game feels the same. We’re blaming one another instead of trying to get better.”

The size of Riverhead’s girls soccer program has grown over the past few years. Riverhead is able to have a varsity and junior varsity team as well as two middle school teams.

“This is another reason why we’re in the developmental league,” Mandery said. “We’re starting to get more and more interest, and I want our core to be strong once we get back to playing in our actual division. My daughter is in the school district and by the time she gets up here, I want us to be at our best. If that means to sacrifice a few years playing at this level so be it. The fact of the matter is, we have to catch up. It’s hard to do that when you don’t have a chance in every game you play.”

Though it is a two-year commitment to be in the developmental league, Mandery hasn’t completely shut off the idea of staying longer.

“Every year we’re going to have to reassess,” Mandery said. “I know we have tremendous athletes out here on the east end. We just need time to get them coached up to the level these other kids out west are. It’s just a matter of time, but I believe in our girls. I know we have what it takes. They’re working so hard to improve, and I believe the future is super bright for those underclassmen on the team now.”

Riverhead returns to action Wednesday, Oct. 1, at East Hampton — the only team in their division that’s beaten them this year.

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Shoreham-Wading River — a team that has always had success on the football field, making the playoffs just about every season and even winning a few championships along the way — is now having trouble filling its roster. When you look up and down Shoreham-Wading River’s varsity football roster, there’s 35 players — a very healthy number. The problem is, however, there is no longer a junior varsity team. There’s 35 players in total within all of the high school. 

“We have to practice together now,” SWR head coach Aden Smith said. “We bring everyone on the roster to the varsity games but we have around 13 kids that participate in junior varsity game scrimmages on Mondays. We just don’t have enough to run two full teams.”

Smith has seen a trend of dwindling numbers in his own program. Year after year, fewer kids come out for the football team. Part of the season is that some kids decide to focus on one sport. You rarely see the three-sport athletes anymore. But for others, who knows?

“I don’t know what the reason is personally,” Smith said. “I love football and all these kids love playing football. We have a great program. We send kids to college all the time to play football. It’s just a shift. It’s something we have to deal with, and we’re making the best out of what we have.”

Two sides of the coin were seen in the first two weeks of the Wildcats’ football season. They faced off against Center Moriches in the first week of the season — a team with similar enrollment numbers — and they took care of business handily, coming away with a 60-21 victory. Five different players scored touchdowns. Anthony Mullen scored four on the ground himself. But then this Saturday, they took on Bayport-Blue Point, the reigning Suffolk County champions. The Phantoms have a sideline full of players, a lineup dominated by upperclassmen, and both a varsity and JV team to help with development. The Wildcats couldn’t find the endzone and seemingly stood no chance, losing the game 48-0.  

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Sophomore quarterback Noah Gregorek fires to the sides line. (Credit: Bill Landon) Running back Lucas Diamond charges through an opening for the Wildcats. (Credit: Bill Landon) Senior Running back Anthony Mullen bolts through a hole for the Wildcats. (Credit: Bill Landon) Senior wide receiver George Greene lays out for a catch. (Credit: Bill Landon)

Both teams are in the same division based on school size but because of the athletic enrollment numbers, it makes for very unbalanced matchups. Maybe divisions should be based on athletic participation rather than school size alone. 

“I don’t want to make excuses,” Smith said following the loss to Bayport-Blue Point. “We made a lot of mistakes, and we could have been more competitive today. It’s something that we’re going to learn from and get stronger. A game like today shows how much the little things matter. We need to be locked in and know our jobs from the opening whistle.”

Next week, Shoreham-Wading River (1-1) will host another team that struggled with enrollment numbers in the past years. Hampton Bays (0-2) had to take a two-year hiatus from varsity football and only returned back to Section XI play in 2024, posting a 2-7 record last season. The game will be played on Friday, Sept. 26, at 6:30 p.m.

“We need to get back to doing what we do best,” Smith said. “We might be young and we may not have as much experience as the other teams, but we have the athletes to compete with any team. We’ll try to put it all together again for the game against Hampton Bays.”

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Though Riverhead (0-2) came up just short, losing 13-12 at Central Islip High School, they never gave up and played tough, hard-nosed football to the bitter end. 

After Central Islip (2-0) scored a touchdown to make the score 13-6 with just 2:36 remaining in the football game, Kavion Hobbs played the kick return on a hop, changed direction on a dime and started sprinting across the field before eventually getting tackled on the 49-yard line – giving the Blue Waves excellent field position to start their final drive. 

The shifty running back had 78 yards rushing heading into the final drive of the game, splitting carries with Nathan Nentwich to start the game and then taking over the carry load for most of the second half. 

The electric Hobbs sprung a 24-yard gain – to get him over 100 yards on the day – once the Blue Waves earned a 4th down pass interference call that moved the ball to the Central Islip 30-yard line. Then on third and goal on the two-yard line, he cut it up the middle and evaded defenders to punch it into the endzone for his first touchdown of the day to make the score 13-12 with just 58 seconds left to play.

“Hobbs had an unbelievable game,” Nelson said. “He really put the team on his back and gave it everything he had for us. That’s the type of game we expect out of him. He has the ability to do that every week.”

It was something special – that determination that Nelson had preached all summer suddenly had life. That never say die energy was playing out right before their eyes. Riverhead had a chance to win the game and Nelson didn’t think twice.

“We were going to go for the win,” Nelson said. “We felt like this was the best opportunity rather than try to play for overtime. We had all the momentum and we felt like the QB boot would be open.”

Josiah Rodney, the Blue Waves’ QB, scored the game’s first touchdown on a play-action rollout on 4th down from the eight-yard line with nine minutes left in the first half. After featuring Hobbs for most of the second half, Nelson went with that same play-action call that got them the touchdown earlier in the game. This time, however, Central Islip had it covered. Rodney had no room to run and was tackled as he tried to get off a pass, ending the Blue Wave comeback just a point short.

Riverhead lost two starters over the course of the game, including their captain, William Stackevicius, who played tight end and linebacker to injury early in the first half. He suffered an apparent shoulder injury on a tackle. It changed the whole dynamic of the offense and defense.

“We had to change a lot of things up once he got hurt,” Nelson said. “He’s a major part of our team and we had to put people in spots maybe they weren’t fully comfortable with. He’s a two-way player for us and he means everything to our team.”

On Central Islip’s final scoring drive, a Riverhead defender seemingly stripped the ball in a pileup before sprinting in the other direction only to have the play halted by the referees. Trailing by only a point at the time, having that play count would have changed the trajectory of the game.

“The whistle was blown after our guy had the ball,” Nelson said in disbelief. “I don’t understand how that wasn’t our ball there. The play is dead after the whistle is blown. We had the ball when the whistle was blown so I’m not sure how they came up with that call. Nobody could give me a valid explanation.”

But even so, a varsity team with only 27 players registered on it put up a fight that any coach would be proud of.

“I told them after the game we’re that close to winning games,” Nelson said. “The so-called experts had us losing that game, 33-14. A few things go our way and we’re coming out of that game the winners. I’m proud of the kids. We’re only going to get better.”

Riverhead will look for their first win of the season when they play their home opener against Lindenhurst on Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

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Sept. 16: Riverhead 9, Greenport/Southold 0

Behind the leadership of Colby Baran, who has made the New York State individual tournament two years in a row, Riverhead has won all five of its matchups this season. They’ve earned victories over Hampton Bays, Mattituck and Eastport-South Manor so far in their hunt for another league title this season. 

Field Hockey

Sept. 15: Riverhead 3, Connetquot 1

After winning five games all of last year, Riverhead has now three wins in four games this season. Emma Kennedy scored two goals in the victory over Connetquot and Juliana Kramer added another. Kramer also assisted on one of Kennedy’s goals. Riverhead (3-1) kept possession all game and refused to allow Connetquot any possessions going the other way. They forced Connetquot’s goalie Addison Iocca to make 21 saves over the course of the game. Their hunt for the playoffs will continue with a home game against Huntington on Friday at 5:15 p.m.

Sept. 16: Shoreham-Wading River 6, Babylon 0

The torrid pace the Shoreham-Wading River started the season with, continues with a 6-0 win over Babylon. That now marks six wins in a row for the Wildcats who have nothing but a Suffolk County title on their mind this season. The Wildcats featured six different goal scorers against Babylon with Madison Herr, Mary Kilkenny, Isabella Minnion, Alexa Guinther, Mairead Jaffe and Cate Leonard finding the back of the net. Herr now leads all of Suffolk County in goals scored with 15 so far this season. The Wildcats now have a week-long break before they play their next game on Sept. 25 at Smithtown West.  

Football

Sept. 12: Shoreham-Wading River 60, Center Moriches 21

After a down year for Shoreham-Wading River standards last year, the Wildcats came out this season with a statement win over rival Center Moriches. Shoreham-Wading River ripped up the scoreboard behind the legs of Anthony Mullen who carried the ball 11 times for 89 yards and punched in four touchdowns. Lucas Diamond scored two rushing touchdowns. Javon Wright and Noah Gregorek also had one each on the ground. Gregorek also threw for 162 yards and connected on a passing touchdown. The Wildcats will travel to Bayport-Blue Point on Saturday for a 1 pm kick off. 

Sept. 12: Sachem East 35, Riverhead 18

In Don Nelson’s first game as Riverhead head football coach, the Blue Waves fell to Sachem East, 35-18. It was a tough start for Riverhead as they fell behind 35-0 in just the first quarter. Their offense did eventually come around in the second half with a 24-yard rushing touchdown by Kavion Hobbs and two rushing touchdowns by Nathan Nentwich to cut the deficit. In addition to the two touchdowns, Nentwich tallied 127 yards on the ground. The Blue Waves will look to rebound for the next game of the season on Friday at Central Islip. Game time is slated for 5 p.m.

Girls Soccer

Sept. 12: Riverhead 5, Copiague 1

After losing their first two games of the season, Riverhead (2-2) has now won two games in a row including a 5-1 defeat of Copiague. The five goals was their highest output of the season so far. Riverhead scored four goals in the first half. Beibhinn Purcell was the star of the show registering a hat-trick and also an assist in the victory over Copiague. Ellie Cammarota and Carlie Morgan also scored goals for the Blue Waves. Riverhead will travel to East Hampton on Friday for a 4:30 p.m. game time. 

Sept. 16: Shoreham-Wading River 4, Mt. Sinai 0

After their first loss of the season against Glenn, Shoreham-Wading River (3-1-2) bounced back in a big way against Mt. Sinai. Mia Mangano scored all four goals for the Wildcats and was assisted on three by Olivia Pesso, Brenna Molinelli and Alexis Cordano. Mangano now has eight goals this season which puts her among the highest scorers in Suffolk County this season. The Wildcats will travel to Bayport-Blue Point on Thursday for a 4 p.m. game time. 

Boys Soccer

Sept. 13: Shoreham-Wading River 2, Jericho 0

In Dani Braga’s first game as head coach against the school he brought to multiple championships, the Wildcats took home the victory, 2-0. Zach Makarewicz has been on an absolute tear to start the season scoring twice against Jericho. He has eight goals in four games so far. The win marks four in a row for the Wildcats after winning the Town of Brookhaven Small Schools league this summer. Shoreham-Wading River (4-0) will host Wyandanch on Friday at 4:30 p.m.

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For the last 13 years, Adrian Gilmore was a compelling fixture on the sidelines for the Shoreham-Wading River girls soccer team. The beloved coach, who impacted every girl that ever stepped foot in the program, won multiple Suffolk County and Long Island championships and one New York State title. She built the soccer program from the ground up to one of the most elite and feared teams on Long Island. Her passion and intensity for the game she loved bled through every minute she spent with the girls.

And for the first home game in a very long time, Gilmore was only there in spirit. A sign with her picture, honoring her memory, was displayed along the fenceline.

On April 22, while coaching lacrosse, Gilmore, 42, suffered a medical emergency and later died, leaving the Wildcat community grieving. 

“We all were in shock,” SWR assistant coach Brian Ferguson said, who coached alongside Gilmore since 2016. “It took me a very long time to process what happened. She was one of my closest friends. I still haven’t come to terms with it but being on the field again brings a sense of normalcy to my life and it’s what she would’ve wanted me to do. That’s why I decided to come back and continue to coach. I want to keep building what she left behind.”

A month earlier, Lydia Kessel, a former SWR goalkeeper under Gilmore, who went on to star at the University of Vermont, was at the high school preparing a presentation for a job opening and ran into Ferguson by chance. 

“I instantly texted Adrian,” Ferguson said. “I wrote, ‘You wouldn’t believe who I just ran into at the school.’ She instantly texted me back with ‘Who’ with a million exclamation marks. When I told her it was Lydia, we both started brainstorming and thought she’d be a perfect candidate for JV coach.”

“I couldn’t say no,” Kessel said, with a tear rushing down her face. “I never could say no. Adrian was the type of coach you would do anything for. I accepted.”

With Gilmore’s unexpected passing, Kessel was asked to take over the program to continue to honor her legacy. It’s a position she doesn’t take lightly.

“I just want to make her proud,” Kessel said. “She was a major influence on my life, starting as a little freshman. She taught me not only how to be a great athlete but also a great teammate and person. I want to continue her legacy here. She is Shoreham-Wading River soccer.”

A week into preseason camp this season, Ferguson opened up his facebook and a memory came across his screen. It was an article of Lydia making the game-winning save at the University of Vermont, and Gilmore had tagged him in it and said, “’That’s our girl!’ To me that was like her way of saying that she’s watching,” Ferguson said. “Shoreham-Wading River Soccer was always about being a family. That’s what she always placed the biggest emphasis on. And Lydia taking over the program is like keeping it in the family.”

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Junior mid-fielder Shealyn Varbaro scores for the Wildcats.(Credit: Bill Landon) First year head coach Lydia Kessel looks on. (Credit: Bill Landon) Shealyn Varbero fires at the net. (Credit: Bill Landon) Shoreham-Wading River senior Mia Mangano pushes up-field. (Credit: Bill Landon) Shoreham-Wading River senior Mia Mangano shoots. (Credit: Bill Landon)

With Gilmore’s brother and father in the stands for the home opener, the Wildcats, who debuted new jerseys featuring a memorial patch of Gilmore, blanked Miller Place, 4-0. Shoreham-Wading River got goals from Olivia Pesso, Shaelyn Varbero, Cali Greco and Mia Mangano.

“We’re playing for Coach Gilmore this season,” Mangano, a senior striker and captain, said. “It’s bigger than just a game for us. It’s everything. She always wanted us to leave everything on the field each game we played, and that’s the mentality we’re going to continue to bring the rest of the season. The sky is the limit for this group. We want to make it back to the states.”

Shoreham-Wading River went to back-to-back New York State final fours the past two seasons under Gilmore’s leadership. They have the talent to do it again. Gilmore will just have to be cheering from up above — following the journey of the girls she taught, coached and mentored.

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