MacArthur aims big with new coach

Posted

The MacArthur girls’ soccer team kicked off a new era this season with a new head coach who will look to bring his longstanding success on the diamond over to the pitch.
Steve Costello, who has led the MacArthur baseball program since 1994, took over the Lady Generals after previous longtime head coach Jamie San Filippo took an athletic director position in the Carle Place School District. Costello will look to carry forward the momentum left by his predecessor, which included a county title in 2019 and finals appearance during the spring 2021 season.
“It’s been a great experience and I’m loving every minute of it,” said Costello, a former high school soccer player. “The girls are great to work with.” 
Costello credited coach Ryan Snyder with being a key catalyst in leading the team early on through the transition. Snyder was a first-year assistant last season and has familiarity with much of the team.
“He’s really the brains behind the operation as he knows the personnel and he’s been instrumental in getting everything organized,” said Costello of Snyder.  “He’s been tremendously important in getting everything off to a really good start.” 

Costello inherits a team coming off a 12-6 season that ended with a heartbreaking 3-2 overtime defeat to Manhasset In the Class A semifinals. The Generals lost top scorer Hailey Hnis to graduation, but returned plenty of offensive firepower from veteran midfielders Kaitlyn Tung and Hailey Metzger. The versaille Tung will also play striker role when needed while Metzger can also be a force up top. 
Senior goalie Lexie Thompson anchors the defense after posting eight shutouts last season. She is starting for the third straight season.
“She’s a great leader, a great athlete and a great communicator,” said Costello of Thompson, who registered nine saves in a season-opening 0-0 tie with South Side on Sept. 7. “We kid around as a staff that she hasn’t even graduated yet and we miss her already.”
The backline in front of Thompson is led by senior Ava Angiulie, a Queens College commit and sophomore Caitlin Barry, who started as a freshman last season. Junior Meghan Wetzel and senior Hallie Bray are also key components of the defense.  
The team opened the regular season shorthanded coping with some injuries, but Costello hopes to have the depth improved soon. The Generals travel to Manhasset Thursday for a rematch of last year’s semifinals before facing rival Garden City Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Generals compete in a challenging Conference A-I, which includes Garden City, South Side, Manhasset, Mepham and Plainedge. Costello said the team is aiming big as it seeks to capture the Class A title and eventually win states for the first time since 2011. 
“It’s hard to do and there is luck and injuries and all those things,” Costello said. “I think if you asked any girl on the team what their long term goal was I think they would all be disappointed if the season ends in a loss, whatever level it is.”