Uniondale braces for tight battles

Kevin Daly has served as the only coach in Uniondale girls’ soccer program history, dating back to the early 2000s and is excited about the continued growth of the sport in the community.

“Our numbers have increased progressively and some kids are playing club ball,” he said. “The program started from scratch about 20 years ago and we jumped right in as a varsity. Now we have the varsity and JV both going strong.”

Coming off a .500 season, the Knights are returning a healthy portion of last fall’s squad and will look to do some damage in Nassau County’s new conference alignments based on ability regardless of school size.

“We’re hoping for a better year and expecting all close games,” said Daly, whose team was placed in Conference 5 along with Freeport, Great Neck South, Hempstead, Malverne/East Rockaway, Roosevelt, Sewanhaka and Westbury. “We have a lot of games in a short period of time, but it is what it is,” he added. “The girls have been working throughout the summer with captain-led practices, so that helps.”

The defensive-minded Daly is hopeful it won’t be long before junior Kimberly Calderon is cleared to return to action after missing almost all of 2022 with a knee injury. An All-Conference selection as a freshman, Calderon is a strong defender and one of Uniondale’s best all-around players, Daly said. “She’s extremely strong from a positional sense and having her back would be huge,” the coach explained.

Senior Valeria Pivaral is another premier defender in the middle and coming off an amazing All-County campaign. Also a captain, she’ll also see some minutes in the midfield depending on the game situation and opponent. “She’s a multiple award-winner and someone who can play at the next level,” Daly said. “She’s strong and aggressive and battles for every loose ball.”

Sheyla Gomez, another senior captain, is a strong left-footed defender who’ll be counted on to take corners and free kicks.

Leading the Knights in the skill department is junior Kaysha Kamika, a center-midfielder and someone Daly believes is poised for a breakout season. “She’s very talented on the ball with great control and distribution,” he said. “She has a lot of skill.”

There’s a good chance junior captain Angie Jaime will join Kamika and sophomore Elizabeth Flores in the midfield after playing primarily at forward. Jaime’s non-stop motor, endurance level and communication makes her an ideal fit, Daly said. Flores is a returning starter and club player with a high soccer IQ and strong foot.

At forward, junior Maydelin Hernandez found the back of the net a handful of times last season and Daly is looking for her production to rise. Senior Daniela Hernandez, no relation to Maydelin, provides speed, energy and determination up front. Katherine Medina is a technically sound wing.

When practice began Aug. 28, goalkeeper was Daly’s biggest concern by far but that changed 24 hours later when freshman Ashley Bonilla showed up. “It took me about five minutes to figure out she’d probably be our starter,” he said. “She looks the part.”