Wantagh part of logjam at top

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At the midway point of the season, Wantagh girls’ soccer team is in the mix to earn one of the top seeds in the upcoming Nassau Class A playoffs.

Wantagh (4-2-4) entered the week in a four-way tie for first place in Conference AB-1 with South Side, Island Trees and Manhasset. The Lady Warriors’ successful start in the first half of 2015 included a three-game winning streak with victories against Island Trees, Plainedge and Valley Stream North.

“To be in a four-way tie for first place now is a good position,” Wantagh head coach James Polo said. “We’re in a good spot.”

Wantagh is led by senior captains Nikki Sliwak, Kaitlyn Cersasi and Darcie Smith. The trio has helped bring the Wantagh program to new heights including a semifinal berth last year and also helped lead the girls’ lacrosse team to its first county title last spring.

“They have been outstanding leaders,” said Polo of his captains. “They are like my assistant coaches.”

The Lady Warriors have also been keyed by junior defender Allie Murphy and sophomore outside midfielder Julianna Kissane, who has registered four goals. Sophomore Julianna King took over the starting goalkeeper spot midway through her freshman year and has posted two shutouts early in the campaign including a 0-0 tie with longtime powerhouse South Side on Sept. 29.

“She has excellent skills in net,” Polo said of King, who recorded key saves in a 1-0 win against Manhasset in last year’s quarterfinal round. “She has had a nice run for us as a ninth grader and 10th grader.”

Wantagh has made great strides as a program the last few years including a semifinal appearance last year, which was preceded by the program’s first win against eventual county and Long Island champion South Side in the regular-season finale. The season ended with a loss in penalty kicks to Garden City in the semis and the heartbreaking end is fresh in the minds of the returning players.

“There is a bitter taste from last year,” Polo said. “They have the mindset of finishing what they started.”

After dropping its season-opener in a non-league match to East Meadow, Wantagh went unbeaten in seven straight matches before falling to Manhasset on the first day of October. The Lady Warriors got back on the winning track Saturday with a 5-1 win at neighborhood rival Seaford. Wantagh had five different-goal scorers in the non-league win including Caitlin Albanese, Angela Labenberg, Julianna Kissane, Courtney Gendels and Ashley Gendels. 

Wantagh began the second half of conference play against Island Trees on Tuesday, after press time, and will next face Island Trees and Plainedge, respectively, in home matches Thursday and Saturday. The Lady Warriors are assured a playoff spot, but the remaining schedule will determine seeding, which could be crucial in determining how far the postseason run lasts.

“We have five tough league games that are going to make or break our seeding,” Polo said. “Every team we play can be a county champion.”