Thursday, October 1, 2026
Under the leadership of new coach Lauren Gates-McGee, Freeport girls’ soccer has gotten off to a white-hot start with several convincing victories in early September. The Red Devils are earning massive results on the field and discovering a new identity off it, leading her to offer one piece of advice for those following along.
“We’re women's sport, very much sometimes in a man's world,” Gates-McGee said. “Our young women have so much to offer athletically, so we hope that you stay tuned.”
In order to maintain a cohesive identity, Freeport named a younger captain at the midway point last season, which has helped players hit the ground running. Senior Maria Portela Hercules has executed her role perfectly alongside fellow captains Allison Lazo and Ava Smith.
“Having Maria really step up vocally to get the numbers, we had the highest number of kids trying out in two years,” Gates-McGee said. “We had 50 girls come out for the team. So we were really able to meld together the right combination of players to give us the best chance of the success.”
With a 4-0-1 record to kick things off in Conference 5, Freeport has outscored opponents by a combined 29-5, quickly cementing its status as conference contenders and immediately putting several key players on full display. Freshman Jerelyn Arevalo has been making headlines so far, scoring 10 goals in the first five games.
“She was a starting eighth grader and leading scorer for us last season and even just within the year, she has shown growth, soccer growth, maturity, and growing leadership,” Gates-McGee said. “She's just a kid that answers loudly on the field.”
Most of Freeport’s games have featured a small army of scorers alongside Arevalo. Hercules has played a key part as the other forward, while eighth-grade midfielders Wendy Villeda and Khloe Salcedo have shown plenty of promise in multi-goal performances. Villeda had 4 goals and 4 assists through five games.
All of Freeport’s victories since have been similarly commanding, but when Gates-McGee was preparing her players for a matchup with Malverne/East Rockaway on Sept. 4, she knew that game would be more challenging.
As of Sept. 14, Malverne/East Rockaway remains undefeated with a 3-0-1 record, but when it faced off against the Red Devils, the Rockin’ Mules were frequently on the back foot. After an early goal from junior forward Sabrina Ligonde, Freeport led well into the second half and eventually secured a 1-1 draw. The unbeaten rivals will square off again Sept. 27.
Freeport’s offense has managed to overwhelm its opponents in most games, but in its lone game with a competitive finish, the defense proved more important. Smith led the back line and assisted in several game-saving plays, while sophomore goalkeeper Juliet Melo Guatemala delivered a revelatory performance in her second varsity appearance.
“She has found her voice, prevented corners and was huge in the Malverne game with some big saves,” Gates-McGee said. “She’s only a 10th grader, so I have the opportunity to build her skills over the next three seasons.”
Gates-McGee, joined by new assistant coach Sarah Campbell, might not have known what to expect in her first season as coach, but the Red Devils have shown early signs that they’re ready to compete now.
