Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Wantagh girls soccer team has had an up and down early portion of the season as it looks to position itself for a lengthy postseason run in the height of fall.
A 4-0 non-league win against Division Sept. 16 moved the Warriors to 2-1-1 overall before its showdown at neighborhood rival Seaford, the defending Class A champions. The convincing win came on the heels of a 2-1 loss to Plainedge in a rematch of last year’s Class A semifinals that denied Wantagh a chance to repeat its 2024 county title.
“We've been trying to get into a rhythm,” said longtime Wantagh coach James Polo. “We’re hoping that the girls are playing their best soccer at the right time of the season.”
The Division win featured four different first half goal scores with tallies by senior midfielder McKayla Hyland, freshman forward Emma Bianculli, freshman midfielder Megan Separ and senior forward Kylie Coners,
The offense also features veteran senior forward Kayla Mannix, a four-year varsity player who scored a goal in Wantagh’s 3-1 victory at Floral Park on Sep. 4. Mannix plays up top with Coners, who is also in her fourth year on varsity,
Bianculli has proven to be a spark plug off the bench in her debut varsity season with two goals. Sophomores Ava Hart and Angelina Indiviglia also can also be an offensive force near the net along with the junior Heather Udell, who can also play on the wing.
The defense is anchored by senior Ava Barberio, the reigning conference defensive player of the year who is committed to play collegiate soccer at Lynn University. The backline also features a young group that includes freshman Brianne Schoell along with sophomores Ava DeVita and Isabelle Della Ratta.
Pollo said Hyland, a versatile defensive central midfielder, will also play a key role on defense.
“She is our workhorse in the middle and she is somebody who will contest every 50-50 ball,” said Polo of Hyland, a fourth-year varsity player who is committed to play college soccer at Pace University next fall. “She's calm and collected with the ball at her feet and she's really starting to make some really good decisions and it's great to watch her grow.”
Sophomore goalie Lena Tuniewicz patrols the net after deciding to switch back to soccer following a season of volleyball as a freshman. Tuniewicz recorded 8 saves in the Floral Park win.
The Warriors also have a capable backup in net with sophomore Gianna Field, who got some starts as a freshman and registered five saves in the Division win.
Wantagh (1-1-1 in Conference AB-1) hosts Calhoun this Friday at 5 p.m. before visiting Lynbrook on Tuesday afternoon in a rematch of a 2-2 tie with the Owls on Sept. 1. The Warriors have a second match scheduled with Plainedge in North Massapequa on Oct. 5 that could be a preview of another playoff matchup.
“Within the conference we know that we're going to see everybody two and maybe three times,” Polo said. “There's a lot of talent in the entire conference.”
