With the sixth seed in the Suffolk County Class B bracket, they were tasked with taking down No. 3 East Islip at East Islip Middle School in the quarterfinal round, a team they lost to earlier in the year, 2-0. In that game, East Islip got ahead with two goals in the first half. On Tuesday, however, it was a true battle of possession throughout the entire game.

Corner after corner, each team had chances to score through four quarters. Before the penalty, goalies came up with clutch stops and defenses reigned supreme.

“I think if you look at it from a full team standpoint, individually, I think we played our best game of the season today,” Shoreham-Wading River head coach Zoe Norton said. “When you look back at all the opportunities we had and the way we played defense and controlled the ball, it was easily our best performance of the season.” 

There were breakaways on both sides where a defender was able to trek back and stop an open opportunity in the howling wind on a teeth-chatteringly cold day in East Islip. Madison Herr, who was hounded all day by the defense after being one of the top goal scorers in Suffolk County this season with 20, made multiple runs forward and crossed the ball in front of the net but just could not find a teammate’s stick. With the few that did get through, the final shot was just not accurate enough. 

Every quarter ended at 0-0, and the game was forced to go into a seven-versus-seven overtime period, which only increased the stakes of the game, leaving no room for error.

With around four minutes left in overtime, the ball trickled over a stick and out of the circle on a Shoreham-Wading River corner attempt, eventually finding an East Islip player making their way back to defend the corner. After getting the ball and turning around, they had nothing but open turf ahead with no Wildcat in sight.

Sophia Giangreco, the SWR goalie, waited patiently as the attacker sprinted her way, and decided on a diving attempt in the final moment, missing the ball, and forcing the referee to call a penalty stroke. Disgruntled Wildcat fans immediately griped at the call of a penalty in a pivotal moment of the game.

“As tough as that game ended, I agree with the call that it was a stroke,” Norton said. “The goalie went for the ball and didn’t get the ball and a player obstructed the play coming back stick and fouled her intentionally as she was trying to shoot the ball. I don’t like the call, but I agree with it.”

East Islip’s Emily Mooney then came up and delivered the game-winner to send East Islip to the semifinals.

“That was the absolute worst way to end a season,” Norton said. “For four quarters, we were up at our end the whole time. Sophia was amazing in the goal, keeping them off the board. We made so many plays but just couldn’t score the ball. I just feel for the seniors that gave their all for this program.”

There’s not much to say after a loss so heart-wrenching like that, but Norton spent a good amount of time addressing the team post-game.

“I know how it feels because I’ve been there before as a player,” Norton said. “There’s nothing that anyone can say that would let it sting less. I’m just so proud of them. We deserved to win that game. I have a lot of kids that this isn’t their main sport but they make it their main sport for the season. They all worked so hard this season. It’s just unfortunate that it had to end the way it did.”

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The team has steadily improved since 2022 — a season in which the Blue Waves mustered only two wins. The three seniors on the team today were freshmen in 2022, just trying to find a way to rebuild a program that had suffered mightily following austerity that saw all sports cut for a year. Kyleigh Lennon, Abigail Maaiki and Emma Kennedy took their lumps and bruises that year but it was the first true step in the rebuild.

In 2023, the team improved its win total to three and last year they finished the season 5-8-1. If Copiague had shown up on time Tuesday afternoon for the final game of the season at Pulaski Street Sports Complex, Riverhead would have had a chance to finish their season 7-7 on Senior Day, but instead the matchup ended in a tie because the game was called due to darkness. It left their final record at 6-7-1.

“I’m super upset that this is how our senior game went,” Walsh-Edwards said. “These three girls deserved more than a half of a game in their last game of their careers. They worked so hard for the program. I couldn’t have asked for more out of them during their time playing here.”

Though playoffs weren’t really in the equation on the final day of the season, with Riverhead positioned 12th in the standings coming into the day, it could have been a proper farewell to the three. But had a few games over the course of the season gone a little differently, playoffs would absolutely be in the picture.

“The game that still bothers me to this day is the loss against Huntington,” Walsh-Edwards said. “We had so many chances to win that game.”

The matchup against Huntington, which ended up making the playoffs, was deadlocked at 0-0 heading into the fourth quarter. Both goalies were unstoppable that day. Riverhead’s Casey Hubbard made nine saves and Huntington’s Kathleen Cocoman came up with eight. But late in the fourth quarter, Huntington was able to make the breakthrough as Cassidy Harris found the back of the net for the game-winner. Had that game gone the other way, Riverhead could have potentially finished the season at 8-6.

“It would have been nice to make the playoffs this year, and it wasn’t because the girls didn’t work hard enough or anything like that,” Walsh-Edwards said, who will be retiring after coaching the varsity field hockey team for 25 years. “We just couldn’t stay healthy. We started the season with only 14 and we ended with 11. We had to play girls in spots they weren’t comfortable with and had to bring JV girls up that were essentially just playing at the middle school. We did the best we could.”

One of those injuries was to Gabriella Rossetti, who will undoubtedly be the main cog within the team in the years to come. She tore her meniscus in the third game of the season.

“If we had a full team all year and won some of those closer games, who knows how things would have ended up,” Walsh-Edwards said. “Playing in the playoffs is a much different atmosphere and we would have been up against teams that practice all year long, with girls playing travel. But it would have been nice to say we did make the playoffs again.”

Even though Walsh-Edwards is retiring from the program she gave so much of her life to, she doesn’t think she can fully step away. After being a perennial playoff team in her heyday, she wanted nothing more to return the field hockey program to prominence.

“I think we made tremendous strides over the last few years,” Walsh-Edwards said. “I’ll be around. I don’t know in what capacity, but after you’ve done something for so long, it’s hard to just fully step away.”

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Sept. 22: Shoreham-Wading River 6, Mt. Sinai 1

The Shoreham-Wading River boys soccer team looks every bit of a championship contender now eight games into the school season. The 6-1 victory over Mt. Sinai marks eight wins in a row for the Wildcats as they continue their dominance on the pitch. Shoreham-Wading River got two goals from Evan DeGroot and a goal apiece from Zack Makarewicz, John Zoumas, Dominic Sencadas and Tyler Nowaski. Makarewicz is currently tied for first in Suffolk County in goals scored with 11. The Wildcats will travel to Rocky Point Thursday, Sept. 25, for a 4:30 p.m. game.

Sept. 20: Connetquot 7, Riverhead 1

It’s been an especially tough season for first-year head coach Nic DeZenzo. Through eight games, the team still remains winless. They’ve only scored five goals all season in facing off against the best of the best in League 1. Riverhead’s lone goal scorer in the game was Ian Rojas, who netted his first of the season. The Blue Waves travel to North Babylon (1-3-3) on Thursday.

Field Hockey

Sept. 19: Huntington 1, Riverhead 0

Playing at home, Riverhead traded zeros on the scoreboard with Huntington for three quarters in a tightly contested game. Huntington (4-3) got the breakthrough goal from Alexa Wasoski with just 3:49 left in the fourth quarter. Casey Hubbard made nine saves for the Blue Waves. With the loss, Riverhead’s record drops to 3-3. Centereach (2-4) comes to town Friday, Sept. 26, for a 4 p.m. game. 

Girls Soccer

Sept. 22: Southampton 2, Riverhead 1

Playing in the alternative league for the first time, the Riverhead girls soccer team has held its own, posting a record of 3-1 within division play. Outside of the division, they have lost all three matches. The Blue Waves got ahead early against Southampton as Gabby Re found the back of the net for the only goal in the first half. Southampton’s Addison Stevens, however, scored twice in the second half to give the Mariners the 2-1 victory. Riverhead will host Rocky Point on Thursday, Sept. 25. Game time is slated for 4 p.m.

Sept. 18: Shoreham-Wading River 2, Bayport-Bluepoint 1

After losing their first game of the season against Glenn, Shoreham-Wading River has now bounced back for two consecutive wins following a late winner against Bayport-Blue Point. The Wildcats trailed 1-0 at halftime before scoring twice in the second half. Olivia Pesso and Cali Greco scored for Shoreham-Wading River (4-1-2). A year after making it to the New York State final four, the Wildcats look poised for another run. They travel to Center Moriches (1-5-1) Friday, Sept. 26, for a 4:30 p.m. game. 

Boys Volleyball

Sept. 16: Shoreham-Wading River 3, Hampton Bays 2

Shoreham-Wading River needed all five sets to settle the match against Hampton Bays, pulling out the win 15-9 in the final set. Michael Pfeiffer, who had more than 100 kills coming into the match, added another 31 in the victory. Bubba Kelban had 45 assists. Shoreham-Wading River (4-1) hosts Bayport-Blue Point (3-3) Thursday, Sept. 25, for a 4 p.m. game.

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In 2022, the team posted a 2-13 record. In 2023, it improved to 3-11. Last year, the team played to a 5-8-1 record. And with most of its core returning, this year should feature a massive jump forward.

“I think for the first time in years, we have a real solid group,” Walsh-Edwards said. “They all work super hard and want to get better. And they’re all great friends. We’re still a little young, but the effort and intensity is there, and I expect a lot out of us this year.”

Riverhead returns seven starters from last year, mostly up front in attack. Abigail Maaiki, Kyleigh Lennon and Gabriella Rossetti return in the midfield. Julianna Kramer and Emma Kennedy remain in their forward positions. Carly Golz returns to run the back line, and Casey Hubbard is still the brick wall in front of net. 

Part of success in high school sports is continuity and chemistry within the team. Those two things were on full display in the season-opening 2-0 win over Lindenhurst on Wednesday, Sept. 3. 

“The last two years, we came into the field hockey season not really expecting much,” Lennon said. “We weren’t expecting to do well, but last year was an eye opener for us. Getting five wins and being in almost every game we played, we built a lot of confidence coming into this season.”

Rossetti, who has shifted to more of a forward this season, occupies the middle of the field — front and center to all the action. The sophomore got the scoring started at Lindenhurst Middle School, flipping the ball high and in the upper corner of the net with eight minutes left in the first half.

“I saw a chance to do one of my favorite shots and took it,” Rossetti said. “I knew it had a good chance of going in once I hit it.”

After scoring two goals last season, Rossetti is expected to be a main contributor up front this go around.

“We’re still trying to get her comfortable playing up front after playing the midfield all of last season,” Walsh-Edwards said. “She definitely has that ability to score, so we decided to make the change this year along with the formation we play in as well.”

The new formation Walsh-Edwards went with this season stretches out the field for the Blue Waves. It allows the wing players — Kennedy and Kramer — to move the ball forward with space but it also allows the midfield to trek back and defend if need be.

“Last year, a ball would get through our midfield, and it would likely become a goal on the other end,” Walsh-Edwards said. “Now, we don’t have our midfielders so far forward and can slide back if need be.”

Lennon and Maaiki both control possession on both sides of the field. It’s a lot more running back and forth but as seniors they’re ready for the challenge.

“We want to leave a mark behind for this program,” Maaiki said. “We are ready to do anything we can to help us win. This is our senior year – no better time than now to start turning things back in the right direction.”

Lennon scored on a pileup in front of the net later in the second quarter to make it 2-0, and Lindenhurst never threatened to score the rest of the game. Securing their first win in their first game is a welcome sight to any team trying to make the playoffs.

“It’s a huge weight off of our shoulders,” Walsh-Edwards said. “Now, we have to keep the momentum and continue to believe. Even though we were ranked 13th in the preseason, if we win the games we’re supposed to and steal some that we aren’t, playoffs are absolutely within reach.”

Riverhead varsity field hockey season schedule

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The five-star lacrosse recruit, who mainly makes her presence known on the lacrosse field, is undoubtedly one of the best field hockey players on Long Island as well. Her speed, stick work, shiftiness and overall game savvy make her one of the best players on the field in every single game. Last year, as a sophomore, she finished second in all of Suffolk County in points scored with 26 goals and 16 assists. She commenced her junior campaign with three goals and one assist in the 4-0 victory over West Islip.

“She’s just a coach’s dream player,” SWR head coach Zoe Norton said. “I don’t care if she’s 70 yards out and taking it the length of the field, she’s just that good. And the big thing with Madison is, she’s not a selfish player. If the shot isn’t there for her, she’ll roll a perfect pass to her teammate for the assist.”

The field hockey team has taken a major leap in the past two years and a lot of it has been the effectiveness of Herr up front. She’s been making major waves since her freshman year. In that season, a year after the team went 9-6, Herr scored 16 goals and assisted on nine others. That year, the team finished 14-3 and lost in the Suffolk County Class B semifinals. Last year, the team went 15-3 and again lost in the semifinals. 

In Norton’s second year at the helm for the SWR field hockey program, she expects to take over the number one spot in points scored this season.

“She’s already among the best after what she did her sophomore season,” Norton said. “But we think she’s going to take another step forward this season. I want it for her, the team wants it for her and it would be incredible for the field hockey program for her to finish first.”

As much as goals and assists look great on the box score, Herr has her sights set on one thing.

“I want to get out of that semifinal this year,” Herr said. “We have to take it one game at a time this regular season and get in the playoffs first, but it would be amazing to have a chance to win a championship. We’ve been so close the last two years.”

Two years ago, the Wildcats lost to Eastport-South Manor. Last year they beat ESM in the quarterfinals before losing a heartbreaker 1-0 to Miller Place in the semi. 

“I don’t know, I think the moment just felt too big for them last year,” Norton said. “The atmosphere, the crowd, the situation, the fact that their season was on the brink of ending, I think it just took us out of our game.”

Although many seniors graduated last year, other main pieces have returned and they return with the experience of playing in those big games. Captain Marisa Cacciola believes they have what it takes to take it all the way.

“A bunch of us met over the summer at the field and just practiced,” Cacciola said. “There were no coaches, it was just us trying to get better. Maybe we’re a little younger this year, but I think we want it more. I think it’s going to be a special year.”

A lot of their success will fall on their defense, which is dominated by experienced, senior players. Last year, the team posted 12 shutouts and only allowed seven goals all year long.

“We’re going to lean on our defense again this season for sure,” Norton said. “Hard to lose when you don’t give up a goal.”

Just leave the rest up to Herr.

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Former coach Kim Hannigan stepped aside this year because she wanted to spend more time with her family and JV coach Zoe Norton was promoted to varsity. Norton actually played for Hannigan for five years during her athletic career so their play styles are very similar, which has made for a seamless transition.

Norton has also been JV coach at SWR for five years. Her resume speaks for itself; she’s more than qualified for the job. She was a twotime All-State selection for Sayville High School. Then she played collegiately at Molloy College, where she led the team in scoring for multiple years. After college, she ended up playing professionally in New York for the Big Apple Hockey Club and then in England for the Leicester City Hockey Club. She still plays for the Puerto Rico national team today. Needless to say, the girls have responded to her coaching.

Following Shoreham-Wading River’s 6-0 victory over West Islip on Tuesday, the Wildcats have now posted a flawless 6-0 record without giving up a single goal.

“We have such a strong team returning this year and honestly they work so hard every day,” Norton said. “We’re really a family out there. They all have been playing with each other for so many years so they all trust each other out there.”

The Wildcats have been led by sophomore phenom Madison Herr, who has been on the team since eighth grade and makes an impact on the game every time the ball touches her stick. She scored three goals Tuesday in front of the home fans at Shoreham-Wading River High School and also assisted on the final goal of the game scored by Alessia Olivio. With seven goals and seven assists so far this season, Herr currently ranks second on Long Island in points.

“It really starts with how good our midfield play is,” Herr said. “They’re the ones that give me an opportunity to score. Our team chemistry is so strong and our senior class has been a big part of our success. Us younger girls want to keep winning for them and we hope that this is our year to do something big.”

Kaitlynn Monaghan who plays the opposite wing to Herr has also been scoring in bunches, giving the Wildcats an epic 1-2 punch at the front. Monaghan has scored eight goals this season so far.

But the real story is the fact that the opposing team can rarely get past the midfield line. Haylie Abrams, one of the team’s captains, constantly hounds any opponents heading the other way and, more often than not, comes up with the ball and finds a streaking offensive player into an instant attack.

“When we first all got together we were all really young,” Abrams said. “Every year we got better. This year we’re so confident in what we can do. Last year we showed that we can win a playoff game. This year we hope to go much further. From offense to defense everything has been clicking so far this season.”

Shoreham-Wading River’s goalie, Maggie Anderson, who made a ton of impressive stops in last year’s playoff victory also returns. She just hasn’t had much to stop this year, needing to save only 12 shots in the six games played. The game is controlled in the midfield with talent and experience.

“Winning in field hockey usually comes down to one thing and that’s simply working harder than the other team,” Norton said. “Coming from me, it’s been the same in every level I’ve played in my career. The team that wants it more usually wins. But we also have so much talent on this team and I’ve been implementing everything I’ve learned over the years into them. We’re getting better every game we play and if we keep our intensity throughout the season, we shouldn’t be talking about winning a playoff game. We should be talking about winning the county or heading to states. That’s the talent level we have on this team.”

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Boys Football

Sept. 13: Commack 49, Riverhead 12

Following a tough loss against Bay Shore to open the season, the Blue Waves found themselves in the losing column again against Commack. Riverhead got on the board quickly in the first quarter with QB Maurice Scott scampering into the endzone on a 4-yard run, but the offense failed to score again until the fourth quarter. Aidan Daniels scored the other touchdown for the Blue Waves on a 2-yard goal line burst. Commack QB Jeremy Weiss had a field day in the pocket, completing 8 of 11 passes for 202 yards and connecting on three touchdowns. Riverhead will travel to Patchogue-Medford (0-2) Friday in search of their first win.

Sept. 14: Shoreham-Wading River 46, Wyandanch 0

The Wildcats bounced back in emphatic fashion after an opening week defeat to Glenn with a resounding victory over Wyandanch. SWR piled on 28 points in the opening quarter and never looked back. Liam Kershis opened the scoring with a bang, evading tacklers on an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown. Kershis then caught a 24-yard pass from Tyler Hermanns for another score. Hermanns went a perfect 9-for-9 in pass attempts for 129 yards and four TDs. Kershis scored three times, three different ways — the last coming by way of a rush. The Wildcats will look to carry the momentum into the next game when they face off against Bayport-Blue Point (2-0) at home Friday.

Boys Soccer

Sept. 14: Whitman 4, Riverhead 2

After scoring just one goal in their first two league games, Riverhead was able to break through with two tallies against Whitman but unfortunately surrendered four in the process. It’s been a tough start to the regular season after a promising preseason. Lesther Rivera and Cris Gonzalez scored for Riverhead.

Sept. 14: Shoreham-Wading River 1, Glenn 0

In a rematch from last year’s playoffs, the Wildcats proved they are the team to beat this year with a 1-0 victory. SWR scored a late second half goal to seal the deal and hand Glenn its first loss of the season. Patrick Morano scored the game-winner off an assist from Sam Palmer. Goalkeeper and captain Kyle Rose was again remarkable between the woodwork, coming up with nine saves to preserve the Wildcats undefeated league record.

Girls Soccer

Sept. 15: Riverhead 5, Newfield 4

The Blue Waves kept the momentum flowing in their pursuit of a first-ever playoff berth in program history with the 5-4 defeat of Newfield. Despite relinquishing the lead late in the second half, they found a way to victory in the extra period. Riverhead’s star forward Alexis Ré was right in the middle of it. The senior scored all five goals for the Blue Waves including the OT game-winner. Tori Arm was constantly under fire in goal and came away with 17 saves.

Sept. 13: Shoreham-Wading River 6, East Hampton 0

The Wildcats are starting to get into a groove as the season rolls along and nothing is more evident of that than last Wednesday’s 6-0 defeat of East Hampton. Six different scorers found the back of the net in the rout. Bella Sweet, Olivia Pesso, Megan Halloran, Mia Mangano, Grace Hillis and Naomi Harris each scored. Johanna Ochsenfeld recorded two assists. 

Field Hockey

Sept. 18: Lindenhurst 1, Riverhead 0

Riverhead continued its tough start to the season with a 1-0 loss in heavy rain Monday. Scoring has been the issue through the first five games of the season as the Blue Waves have only been able to score two goals. The game against Lindenhurst was scoreless up until the third quarter when Shelly Banegas broke the deadlock with what ended up being the game-winning goal. Riverhead will try to secure its first win of the season against Copiague (1-4) Thursday.

Sept. 19: Shoreham-Wading River 1, Miller Place 0

SWR has been on absolute fire to start the season, winning six straight games. The Wildcats outscored their opponents 21-2 over the undefeated stretch with timely goals and incredible defense that has them atop Division II. The game against Miller Place went scoreless until the fourth quarter when Ellie Arena notched a goal with 5:31 remaining. Maddie Herr has been the catalyst for the Wildcats during the hot streak, scoring 8 goals so far this season to go along with 4 assists. 

Girls Volleyball

Sept. 18: Hampton Bays 3, Shoreham-Wading River 0

 Hampton Bays continued their torrid start to the season, taking the Wildcats down in straight sets, 25-21, 25-17 and 25-14. Tania Quiros recorded 14 kills and 17 digs for Hampton Bays and Asha Pensa-Johnson added 11 kills and three blocks. Hampton Bays improved to 5-0 and SWR’s record fell to 1-2. The Wildcats will travel to Miller Place (0-6) Friday.

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Shoreham-Wading River’s sophomore goalie gave a conditional answer. “Well,” she said, “it depends on whether I save it or not.”

Good answer.

Fortunately for SWR’s field hockey team, Andersen has made her share of big saves this season. That included Wednesday’s showdown with Bayport-Blue Point. While Andersen saved SWR’s bacon with some critical saves down the stretch, BBP ultimately prevailed, 2-1, on Aubrey Eisfeld’s sudden-victory goal 6 minutes, 36 seconds into overtime.

The heartbreaking loss hit the Wildcats hard and they held a prolonged postgame meeting on the track surrounding the field while the junior varsity game was played under the lights at Thomas Cutinella Memorial Field in Shoreham.

“This one, it hurts,” SWR coach Christina Sacchitello said. “You know, we just have to get better from this and at the end of the day we have to play our game, and I’m not quite sure we played our game today.”

The showdown between BBP (10-3, 10-1), which started the day atop 15-team Suffolk County Division II, and SWR (7-3, 7-3), which entered the game in fourth place, was riveting.

“For weeks we were preparing for this game,” said SWR left back Emmalee Ruta.

The game’s decisive play began with Julia Fusco playing a ball down the right side. Emma Shanahan caught up to it before knocking a pass into the middle for Eisfeld and the sophomore pounded it into the cage for the happiest — or saddest, depending on one’s point of view — sound in field hockey.

“I think it was definitely a big test,” Andersen said, “and I think we’ll see a lot more of these tests in the future and I do believe that we’re gonna get a lot better and we’re gonna pass those tests.”

Sophia Minnion had spotted SWR a 1-0 lead early in the third quarter. Brooke Meltcher’s long-range shot was stopped with a pad save by Caroline Lewkowicz, but Minnion was well positioned to swat the rebound home for her ninth goal of the season.

That lead lasted for only 4:07, though. BBP drew even when Lily Moller redirected a ball from Shanahan for her fifth goal of the season.

SWR had a golden opportunity to go ahead again when it was awarded a penalty stroke 4:41 into the fourth quarter, but Lewkowicz did well to deny Meltcher’s attempt to the left side.

After that, it was Andersen’s time to turn in some heroics. With less than two minutes left in regulation time, Moller intercepted a pass in SWR’s end and dribbled in on a breakaway. Andersen, a varsity rookie, saved the initial shot and Moller sent the rebound wide right.

“Maggie is improving every day,” Sacchitello said. “For one v. ones and I think when the pressure is on her, she really shows up.”

Another SWR turnover in OT nearly cost the Wildcats. Eisfeld took the ball off a SWR stick, charged in on goal and got off two successive shots. Andersen saved both of them as part of her eight-save performance.

“Maggie is insane,” said Ruta, who played on defense along with Hailey Lewkovich and Marisa Cacciola. “She is absolutely insane. The best goalie I’ve ever seen.”

The loss snapped SWR’s seven-game win streak. During that spell, SWR outscored the opposition, 33-3, and Andersen posted four shutouts.

“These past eight games, our defense is doing well, you know,” Sacchitello said. “Just basic things we need to improve on, but the defense has been holding it down for us.”

As much as the loss hurt, Sacchitello had to look ahead to the near future. “That game definitely could have went either way so, I mean, Bayport-Blue Point, they earned that one,” she said. “The work that they put in at the end of the game truly shows.”

She added, “We can only go up from here, learn from this game and we take that and we move forward towards playoffs.”

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“It [went by] so fast,” the senior midfielder marveled. “I literally feel like yesterday I was doing Senior Day as an eighth-grader.”

So, there was Meltcher, along with four fellow SWR 12th-grade players, being honored in a pregame ceremony Tuesday at Thomas Cutinella Memorial Field in Shoreham. This time it was their turn to be recognized for their service to the program.

Time flies when you’re having fun.

The Wildcats sure had fun Tuesday, playing in the rain and winning big, 7-0, over Babylon. SWR (7-2 overall and in Suffolk County Division II) dominated from start to finish for its seventh straight win. It was a sophomore, Kaitlynn Monaghan, who led the way with two goals and one assist. Meltcher added a goal and two assists. Sophia Minnion, Sophie Costello and Reese Marcario each contributed a goal and an assist. Madison Herr, an eighth-grader, scored a goal and Haylie Abrams chipped in an assist.

Goalkeeper Maggie Andersen had an easy shutout as the SWR defense did not allow Babylon (0-9, 0-9) a single shot.

“We’re clicking really well this year,” Meltcher said. “I feel like everything’s starting to come together. We’ve had a pretty hard schedule so far, and I think we’re adapting to it really well. And I think it’s only up from here.”

SWR, coming off an 8-0 rout of Greenport/Southold on Friday, earned 10 penalty corners to Babylon’s one. The score was 5-0 by halftime.

“I’ve done my fair share of Senior Days and I never thought that I would actually be the senior,” Costello said, “but our underclassmen made it super special for us so it was really nice, regardless of the weather.”

Costello was joined by fellow senior players Catherine Donnelly, Hailey Lewkovich, Emmalee Ruta and Meltcher as well as senior team manager Reagan Peperno in the pregame ceremony.

“Oh my God, it was so special,” Meltcher said. “I never thought I’d be a senior, like I’m so sad, like it’s so weird like being the oldest and everything. Obviously, the weather like wasn’t ideal, but I think it makes it more fun like we just won a game in the rain.”

SWR’s first-year coach, Christina Sacchitello, a former Riverhead defender (Class of 2013) who also played for Southern New Hampshire University, liked what she saw. Then again, what was there not to like?

“We had a little rough start [to the season], you know,” said Sacchitello, who is assisted by Kim Hannigan-Scarlatos. “We were trying to, I think, find our groove, but as of right now, you know, again, it can only go up from here. Passing, scoring opportunities, we’re really coming together, on and off the field.”

SWR has outscored its opponents, 36-8.

“It just all needed to happen,” Sacchitello said. “We all just needed to mesh and get this playing out on the field. Again, it took a while for it to come together, but you know, practice makes perfect and here we are now.”

After the game, in a sportsmanlike gesture, the Wildcats presented flowers to Babylon’s seven seniors.

So, what is Senior Day like when you’re one of the seniors?

“It kind of went exactly as I hoped for it to go, like I couldn’t ask for anything better,” Meltcher said. “It was amazing.”

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Yes, that Ward Melville.

Mighty Ward Melville.

The Ward Melville that reached the Suffolk County Class A final last year. The Ward Melville that is seeded second this year in Suffolk Division I. The Ward Melville that is one of the best teams in the county.

Under just about any circumstances, that would be a rough way to christen a season. But, taking things a few steps further, consider where Riverhead is.

Cheryl Walsh-Edwards said this is the youngest and least experienced of the Riverhead teams she has coached in her 23 years in charge. The Blue Waves, seeded 14th among Division I’s 22 teams, return only one starter, Charlotte Dow, from the 2021 team that went 6-8 and barely missed making the playoffs.

Dow is one of only three seniors, Vanessa Leon and Ashley Monticciolo being the others. Aside from Dow, the only other players with any varsity experience before this year are Kerry Stavracos, Morgan Stromski, Isabella Vene and Leon. Three players — Emma Kennedy, Kyleigh Lennon and Abigail Maaiki — have made the Herculean leap from middle school field hockey straight to the varsity.

And if all that isn’t enough, this is the smallest roster Walsh-Edwards has ever had: 15 players.

So, enter Ward Melville into the equation Friday at Pulaski Sports Complex and do the math. It added up to a 6-0 Ward Melville win. For a start-of-the-season test, this was the field hockey version of an advanced algebra pop quiz on the first day of school.

With only one scrimmage against Southampton behind them, the Blue Waves took the field against Ward Melville. “I was shaking,” said Lennon.

Walsh-Edwards, in a pregame interview, said her players were “very excited, but again, you know, it’s like I’ve never had a team where the bulk of them have never played in a varsity game, so I don’t think they quite know what to expect.”

She added, “You can’t even compare JV to varsity. The speed of the game is just totally different.”

Ward Melville boxed Riverhead in its own half of the field for virtually the entire first quarter. It took only 3 minutes, 53 seconds before Alexa Kidd scored the first of her three goals off a scramble with the goalie, Stavracos, on the ground. Kyra Gianelli (assisted by Grace Mulham) and Peyton Phillips followed with goals to give the girls in green a 3-0 lead through 15 minutes.

Riverhead showed improvement in the second quarter, but still conceded goals by Kidd and Julia Rotoli in the final 23.5 seconds of the quarter for a 5-0 score by halftime.

In a show of sportsmanship, Ward Melville coach Shannon Sioss had her team ease off and not press the attack in the second half. Kidd scored her third goal off a pass from Phillips with 20 seconds left.

Ward Melville took 20 shots (Stavracos saved 11 of them) and earned 20 penalty corners while holding Riverhead without a shot or a penalty corner.

“Well, I knew it was gonna be a tough game, but I think the main focus of the game was to improve,” said Dow.

As one of the players making the huge jump from middle school to varsity, Lennon said: “There’s a big difference, like the game was much faster. There’s a lot more running. It’s a lot more, but I think we played good considering they’re one of the better teams.”

Riverhead has a true asset in Dow. An all-division forward last year, Dow has been moved to center midfield where her high work rate is being put to use. “It’s a lot more running,” she said.

Walsh-Edwards spelled out what she is looking for from her young players. “To me, it’s just going out and working really hard and not giving up, you know, regardless of what the score is,” she said. “That’s the most important thing to me, build the character a little bit and you got to play until the end of the game, you know, and some games you are gonna win and some you’re not.”

All things considered, Dow said, “I think for our first game of the season it was exceptional, and we definitely have a good season ahead of us, a lot to improve upon, and I can’t wait to see us at the end [of the season] and how good we become.”

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