Lady Jets score six in first win

East Meadow jumped into the win column in a big way last Monday, knocking off Herricks, 6-0, and evening its record at 1-1-1 (1-0-1 in Conference II) on the soccer field. Senior forward Brittany Zajack led the scoring parade with three goals—all in the first half—and added an assist, while senior Jessica Widmann, and freshmen Kristina Sanicola and Jenna Borresen each added one goal.

“It was a good team effort, everyone contributed and it was positive,” coach Adam Hananel said.

Coming off an appearance in the Nassau Class AA championship game last season, the bar has been set high for East Meadow, and the return of one of the most productive senior classes in recent memory only keeps the expectations elevated. Widmann, a first-team All-State honoree as a junior, anchors a midfield that also features seniors Luisa Echeverry and Gabriella Fuduli, who totaled three assists in the victory over Herricks. “[Luisa] gift-wrapped one on the door step,” Hananel said of the setup on one of Zajack’s goals. “She passed it across the box right to her feet.”

Senior Marissa Walsh is back and rounding into form after missing all of last season with a knee injury. She and scored her first goal in a 2-2 tie with Baldwin on Sept. 15. Juniors Dalia Elbasty and Meghan Cleary are also in the mix on a midfield unit that already appears to be the driving force behind East Meadow’s success. “The seniors have done a great job leadership-wise,” Hananel said. “A lot of the [seniors] were up as eighth-graders and already had decent experience. But they’ve become savvy, patient and understand how to help.”

Zajack works with several other emerging weapons on the frontline, including Borresen and juniors Anna Annunziata and Anna Cantar. With Fuduli and Echeverry having spent time at forward in previous seasons, the East Meadow offense has the potential to develop quickly.

Freshman Amanda Ashe has stepped into the starter’s role at sweeper and is flanked by senior backers Alison Eoviero, junior Madison Young and sophomores Nicolette Wilson and Danielle Widmann. “She’s very aggressive and fast with good instincts,” Hananel said of Ashe, who’s performed well in playing one of the toughest positions on the field. “We hope she can learn to be the quarterback back there. She’s been a pleasant surprise.”

Senior Brianna Borresen is back in net and is competing with junior Julia Caparotta, last season’s starting JV goalkeeper. Caparotta stopped all four shots she faced in the win over Herricks, while Borresen had six in the tie with the Lady Bruins. Caparotta is tall and rangy, covering plenty of ground, and Borresen enters her third season at the varsity level.

The Lady Jets host Hicksville on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 4:15 p.m. and then travel to Sachem East for a non-league matchup on Oct. 2.