Wantagh captures Conference I crown

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The Wantagh girls’ soccer team netted its first Conference I title in a come-from-behind fashion that has epitomized a fighting spirit during an eight-match unbeaten streak that stretches back to September.

The Lady Warriors clinched the Nassau AB-I crown last Friday with a dramatic 5-4 home win against Manhasset in which the Lady Warriors charged back from a 3-1 deficit two days after rallying for a 1-1 tie at Mepham. The dramatic victory sets Wantagh up to be one of the top seeds for upcoming Class A playoffs that kick off this weekend. 

“Every game they battle,” said ninth-year Wantagh coach James Polo. “They are tough kids.”

The victory over Manhasset gave Wantagh its first regular season league championship since the Lady Warriors competed in Conference AB-II during Polo’s second season as head coach in 2012 before moving up to the county’s top league. Senior midfielder Morgan Flaherty rose to the occasion historic with four points including the game-winning goal with 10 minutes remaining.

The Adelphi-bound Flaherty has led an explosive Wantagh offense with17 points on seven goals and three assists entering the final regular-season game against South Side after press time. Senior outside midfielder Isabella DelaCruz has also been an offensive spark generating scoring chances near the net for Flaherty, Thalia Valdez, Maddie Taylor and Maddie Alaimo.

A stout defense has been key to Wantagh’s unbeaten run led by sweeper Olivia Vinson, Alyssa Lombardo, Matiana Valdez and Noel Polack. Senior goalie Jenna Kaufmann has also keyed the backline with four shutouts that included a 12-save performance in a 0-0 tie at Garden City

on Oct. 7.

“She is getting better and better every game,” Polo said of Kaufmann. “She is solid back there.”

Polo said the regular-season success was a surprise given that Wantagh graduated a large senior class from last year’s team that fell to eventual Long Island Class A champion Valley Stream South in the county semifinals. Wantagh defeated Valley Stream 4-2 in its conference opener on Sept. 11 aided by a 10-save effort from Kaufmann that according to Polo set the tone for the team excelling in the county’s top league.

“That game gave them confidence they can play with anybody,” Polo said. “I’m so proud of the growth of this team.”  

Wantagh has achieved major growth under Polo’s leadership in reaching the semifinal stage of the county playoffs four of the last five years. Polo said his 2019 squad has the skill and proper mindset to take that next step as a program after going a month without a loss following a 1-0 setback to Calhoun on Sept. 20.  Despite the long unbeaten streak, Polo said his team is capable of bigger strides as they gear up for the start of their playoff journey this Saturday.

“I don’t think we have even played our best soccer yet,” Polo said.  “The sky is the limit for them.”