Wantagh enters the 2022 season at number eight in the LILJ preseason rankings. This team will certainly be a force to be reckoned with after going 14-4 last season and appearing in the Nassau Class C Finals. Their run came to an end against Manhasset. They lost quite a few players from last year’s team, but still have an incredibly talented roster that will do some big things this year. Wantagh was a participant in the LILJ High School Winter League where they got great experience playing together in preparation for the spring. The team is led by Head Coach Robyn Rooney and she gave her thoughts about the upcoming season.
“We have a team filled with a lot of talent and hunger to win. We graduated 11 girls last season, 8 of whom started for us so it will be a great opportunity for the girls to step up and prove that we are not in a down year. Having one of the most difficult schedules in the country is always a challenge, but the girls are up for the task. I expect to have 3 All Americans by the end of the season, which is an exciting place to be.”
The Warriors were prolific on the offensive end of the field, and have a special group of returning players that opponents will have a difficult time containing. Their attack unit will be driven by the electrifying duo of Maddie Alaimo (Virginia) and Eva Ingrilli (UNC). As sophomores the two of them put up almost identical numbers. Alaimo finished with 25 goals and 31 assists for 56 points, and Ingrilli had 30 goals with 27 assists for 57 points. In the winter league Alaimo was primarily the quarterback of the offense, and she has the ability to score from all angles and can often make things happen when a play gets broken. Ingrilli also has a great ability to break down a defense and is a tremendous finisher around the crease with the signature high-to-low move. They are joined by fellow attacker Olivia Nicholson (Siena).
Wantagh also has a dynamic midfield unit led by senior Maddy Taylor (Northwestern). Taylor is a tremendous talent and was the team leader with 56 goals and 82 points. She’s a do-it-all player that is lethal in all facets of the game whether its scoring, facilitating, or in the draw circle. Taylor will be playing alongside midfielders Erin Whitaker (Winthrop)and Julia Nicholson who both had a great six weeks in the winter league.
As a team Wantagh averaged 14.1 goals per game which ranked third in Nassau County. They will be without some key players who played a significant role in their offensive success. Leena Moussa (Mercy) was one of their attackers who scored 17 goals last season. Midfielders Jill Balkunas (Brown), Shae Insinga (Sacred Heart), and Shannon Sullivan (Towson) were also 2021 graduates and combined for 54 goals.
In the cage will be junior goalies Lauren Rochel and Nicole Schaumloffel who primarily split the goalie responsibilities. Rochel recorded 77 saves with a 61% save percentage, and Schaumloffel made 55 saves with a 51% save percentage. Both goalies give them an excellent chance to be successful again in 2022. However the defense will look a little different without Makenna Boutin (Rutgers), Olivia Benedetto, Reilly Brady (Molloy), and Emma Gonsowksi. Last year as a team they allowed 10 goals per game.
Wantagh has a number of young guns who may get playing time this year. Attackers Riley Forthofer and Sienna Diglio along with midfielder Juliana Cerasi showed a lot of promise in the winter league. Katherine Killian, Paige Martin, and Brighid Smith are three defenders that also saw plenty of action this winter and could see the field in the spring.
The 2022 schedule is extremely competitive with some must see matchups against both league and non league opponents. Wantagh’s marquee games are as followed:
Syosset @ Wantagh (3/31)
St. Anthony’s @ Wantagh (4/2)
Wantagh @ Massapequa (4/4)
Wantagh @ Garden City (4/9)
South Side @ Wantagh (4/28)
Wantagh @ Comsewogue (4/30)
Wantagh @ Manhasset (5/3)
Some notable alumni that came out of the Wantagh lacrosse program that went on to play in college include Kaitlyn Cerasi (UMass), Darcie Smith (Hofstra), Catie Ingrilli (Northwestern), Megan Gordon (Northwestern), Nikki Sliwak (Towson), April Ianetta (Hofstra), and Jackie Sileo (LIU).
