Friday, October 2, 2026
On the heels of the program’s first county title, Wantagh girls’ soccer is hunting for more this fall.
After capturing its historic title with a 1-0 win against top-seeded North Shore in the Class A finals, the Warriors were denied another trophy three days later following a 2-0 loss to Shoreham-Wading River in the Long Island championship. Wantagh graduated many key pieces from the title season and will need to rely on a number of newcomers to return to the finals stage.
“The success of last season is something that they'll always cherish, but the reality is it's a new year, and that was a special group and we were able to lean on a lot of leadership,” said 15th-year Wantagh coach James Polo. “It is a whole new crew so we have to build and establish that again, but for the returners there's nothing more than they want to do then continue the path.”
The offense is powered largely by junior forward Kayla Mannix, who scored the game-winner in the county finals against North Shore with 15:48 remaining in the second half. Mannix netted Wantagh’s lone goal in a 1-0 win at Plainedge on Sept. 9.
The Warriors also returned versatile senior midfielder Shannon Udell, who can also play striker. The fifth-year varsity player registered a goal in Wantagh’s 3-2 victory at Cold Spring Harbor on Sept. 6 and fed Mannix for an assist on the winning score versus Plainedge.
“She's somebody who's been through it since eighth grade so she knows what it's taken to get to the point she's been through,” Polo said. “We're counting on her leadership up top.”
Polo boasts plenty of other scoring options in the midfield including sophomore Heather Udell, eighth-grade midfielder Nessa Schoepfer and junior McKayla Hyland. Freshmen Angelina Indiviglia and Ava Hart are also showing potential early in the season during their first season at the high school level.
The backline is anchored by senior Katelyn Baudo, who garnered conference defensive player of the year honors last season and a two-time All-County selection. Baudo is aided in the central defensive midfield by junior Ava Barberio with sophomore Lauren Greaves and eighth grader Brianne Schoelle contributing as outside backs.
The defense suffered a blow in the season opener when senior goalie Gabriella Astaiza
suffered a season-ending torn ACL. Eighth-grader Jacqueline Hudson and freshman Gianna Field have been sharing the net-minder duties through the first few matches to see who can emerge as full-time starter.
“They each have strengths and they each have things that they need to work on,” said Polo of his goalkeepers. “I’m very confident with either one because they've done a really good job in practice and in the games.”
Wantagh hosts North Shore this Thursday at 5 p.m. in a rematch of last year’s Class A finals before visiting Cold Spring Harbor for a Saturday morning match on Sept. 27 at 10 a.m.
