Thursday, October 1, 2026
Seaford’s girls’ soccer team made an early season statement in its quest for a championship after falling just short of the finals stage last fall.
In a rematch of last year’s Class A semifinals, the Vikings edged defending county champion Wantagh 1-0 last Thursday on a second half goal from Ally Cullingford with 9:36 remaining. The end of the game was a far different feeling for Seaford than Nov. 2, 2024 at Cold Spring Harbor when the players walked off the field heartbroken after a season-ending 2-1 overtime defeat to the eventual county champions.
“We felt we underachieved and came up short of our goals,” said 11th-year Seaford coach Ken Botti, whose team also fell in overtime in the 2023 county finals to Plainedge. “We’ve had two straight years of losing overtime playoff games in similar fashion so it certainly is a source of motivation and something we're trying to focus on.”
A veteran-laden Seaford team entered the new campaign with a number of scoring weapons led by senior strikers Kaylie Conklin and Ryleigh Nocera. The Vikings boast plenty of depth near the net with sophomore Giuliana Viggiano tallying six goals through the first five games off the bench.
The central midfielder duo of senior Ally Cullingford and sophomore Grace Cullingford have played an integral part in facilitating the offensive attack. Georgina Deros and Meghan Stovall have also been an integral part of the offense as outside midfielders.
The defense is anchored by senior center back Mia Leggio, who is a tri-captain with Ally Cullingford and Conklin. The experienced backline also includes returning starters Linda Donovan, Kiera Lukas and Riley Stovall.
Freshman goalie Cadan Calderaro has taken the reins in net following the graduation of three-year starter Joanna Bello, who led Seaford to the program's first county title in 2022. Calderaro recorded four saves in a 1-1 tie with MacArthur last Saturday.
“If I were her I would feel honored to be at the backside of the team that's in front of her right now because they're so talented that they should ease the process for her,” Botti said. “She's not really going to be tested as much as a weaker team's goalie would be tested so I think it's a really ideal situation for her to wet her teeth.”
Seaford (4-0-1) will look to continue its strong start to the season when it hosts Plainedge this Thursday at 5 p.m. and then Minerola on Sept. 25 for a 4:45 p.m. start. The upcoming schedule is highlighted by a home rematch with Wantagh on Oct. 7, a team the Vikings very well could face a third time once again with far bigger stakes in the playoffs.
Botti said for the seniors in particular there is added fuel to end their high school careers as champions three years after holding that trophy as freshmen.
“It's now or never for these kids so there is a lot of motivation knowing it is their last run,” Botti said. “They really want to end on a high note.”
