With the regular season wrapped up in the LILJ High School Winter 7s League, it’s time for the first round of the playoffs. The playoffs feature two pools with eight teams in each pool competing to win the championship. The first round begins today followed by the quarter finals next weekend and the championship games on February 11th. Some of these first round games are rematches from the regular season while others will be the first time the two teams go head-to-head. Here is a preview of each of the opening round playoff games!
Pool 1 Playoff Matchups
FLG Navy 2027 vs Baldwin
The top seeded 2027s of FLG will taking on Baldwin at 4:15 in their first round matchup. In the regular season FLG went a perfect 5-0 which included a victory over Baldwin in the final weekend of the regular season. They’ve been the most prolific scoring team in the league, averaging 22.6 goals per game. A big part of their successful offense is due to midfielder Danielle Perfetto who leads the team with 35 points, scoring 23 goals to go along with 12 helpers, and midfielder Charli Kaplan who brings electrifying speed and has scored 19 goals. They also have a dynamic attack between the trio of Isabella Fiorelli, Tierney McIntee, and Olivia Mulada who have filled up the scoring column. Defensively they will be anchored by Sophia Russo, Maggie Moore, and Ava McDonald with Megan Caputo in the net who has a 65% save percentage. For the Bruins to pull off the upset, it will take strong goaltending from the duo of Briana Maisonet and Megan Englehart as well as the offense winning the time of possession battle.
FLG 2024 vs Jericho
The number two seeded 2024 team takes on seventh seeded Jericho at 12:30. FLG enters the playoffs undefeated at 5-0 with four of their wins by double digits. This team has a three-headed monster at attack with Bella Reece, Hannah Wise, and Kyla Murnane who have combined for 53 goals in the regular season. Ashlinn Kelly has been the driving force from the midfield unit, leading the team with 27 points. In a smaller sample size they’ve also gotten strong play from midfielders Lauren Perfetto and Hannah Lewis who have combined for 23 points. FLG has spent most games dominating time of possession, but when they don’t posses the ball defenders Angelina Deamicis, Brenna Kelly and goalies Dakota Capolino and Carley Smith have helped limit the amount of scoring opportunities from their opponents. As a team FLG has only allowed five goals per game. Jericho will aim to contain this FLG offense and keep the ball with their offense to minimize FLG’s possessions.
Liberty 2026 vs Tradition 2027
This clash at 11:45 features number three seeded Liberty and the number six seed Tradition. These two teams played each other back in week three of the regular season with that game narrowly going to Liberty by a score of 10-9. Liberty overall has a record of 4-1, averaging 14 goals per game. Their offense is very balanced between their attack and midfield unit. Isabella Capo has 12 points to lead the team, followed by nine goals each from Meadow Tszillus and Sienna Klauss. Goalies Tara Cody, and Julia Moss have been the backbone of their defense that has yet to allow double digit goals in a game. For Tradition, they come in at 1-4 but are riding high after a victory last weekend over Jericho where they scored a season high 17 goals. The two primary focal points of their offense are attacker Allie Bennett and midfielder Allie Reasoner. With Tradition holding Liberty below their average in the first matchup, if they are able to replicate that defensive performance, this game will hang in the balance until the very end.
Top Guns 2027 Black vs LI Empire 2026
In the four vs five game at 11:00 its the fourth seeded Top Guns taking on the fifth seeded Empire. Starting with Top Guns they were sixth overall in scoring, averaging just over 15 goals per game. Midfielders Molly Hyland and Madison O’Hagan led the team in total points with 17 and 11 respectively, while Sarah Franke chipped in eight goals also at midfield. This team has depth offensively as they’ve showed that anyone can be their go-to player in any given game. Their attack unit whether it’s the starters or the reserves, have given them consistent play from each player. Teagan Baker, Kate Macaluso, Tessa Matozzo, Kelsey Miller, Chloe Mullady and Beatrice Sim have all made big contributions on the offensive end. For Empire they enter the game at 2-3, averaging a shade under 11 goals per game. Their top two goal scorers have been attacker Sienna Barbarino and midfielder Sophie Deifel, each with 11 goals. Elle Meyer and Kailey Lanning have also combined for 14 goals. Defensively they’ve allowed a total of 73 goals which is the fourth fewest of any team in their pool.
Pool 2 Playoff Matchups
Team Pink vs Port Washington
The number one seed in pool 2 was secured by Team Pink who are the only undefeated team in the pool. They will be playing Port Washington at 3:30 to begin their championship quest. This team of electrifying 24s and 25s is tough to contain and tough to score on. They’ve gotten elite level goaltending from Maya Soskin who has only allowed 16 goals in the four games she’s played in with a 75% save percentage. Emily Ambrozy, Maddie Morris, and Julia May O’Connor have anchored the defense which has only allowed 22 total goals as a team. They have a bevy of players that pose as serious offensive threats starting with phenom Tess Calabria at the midfield position. Middies Emily Haugen, Emma Toner and Jena Binkis also have the ability to score in bunches as Haugen is tops on the team in goals with 21. For Port Washington they are led by Sienna Fox at attack who has scored nine goals in a small sample size of action along with Catherine Karman who has added three goals and three assists. Port Washington will look to bounce back and try to pull off an upset against Team Pink after last week’s 13-2 defeat.
Manhasset vs Bethpage.
The two time reigning champs of the Winter 7s will begin their playoff journey for a three-peat with a 2:45 matchup against seventh seeded Bethpage. Manhasset was victorious against Bethpage earlier in the season by a score of 19-6. They average just under 16 goals per game and have gotten phenomenal play from midfielders Cate Leder and Katelyn Greeley who have each tallied 17 points, and midfielder Lauren Perfetto who has 14 points. Shea Panzik and Mia LoPinto have been a dynamic duo at attack, combining for 22 points. Manhasset’s defense has been led by Alex Schneider and their trio of goalies Ruby Cacioppo, Allie Lulov, and Hannah Rubin who have all seen time in the net. The defense has only allowed double digit goals in two games this season. The attack unit for Bethpage has been led by attackers Kailyn Salony with 14 goals and Juliana Talenti with eight goals and 10 points. The offensive spark from their midfield unit has come from Nicole Dux and Mary Kate Nawrocki who have combined to record 19 points. Despite a record of 0-5, Bethpage has played in three very close games that were decided by four goals or fewer.
Shamrocks vs Liberty 2025
The Shamrocks earned the third overall seed and come into this contest 4-1 averaging 15 goals per game. Annie Chimenti and Shannon Steck have come onto the scene in a big way leading the offense for this team. At attack Chimenti has filled up the scoring column with 23 goals which is a team high. Steck has been a game changer on both sides of the ball at the midfield position, impacting the game on the defensive end along with her 16 goals. Leigha Zaman and Ryan Reynolds have also had big contributions at midfield providing 12 points each through five games. This Liberty team 2025 team is 2-3 but has a trio of attackers that have been able to score at ease and have had breakout games. Arci Haffner and Lily Acerra have each scored 16 goals with Becca Alcaraz adding 11. In addition to the attack, Liberty also has the potential to get big games from a talented midfield of Tori Ottomanelli, Devon St. John, Alexa Giannakopoulos and Grace Godfrey. This will be the second consecutive week these teams will be playing each other, with the first matchup going to the Shamrocks 18-8.
Sacred Heart vs Syosset.
Sacred Heart will face Syosset at 1:15 and enter the postseason as the four seed and the highest scoring team in the second pool, averaging 18 goals per game. The offense has generally been jump started by midfielder Charlotte Browne who has a team high 20 goals. In addition to Browne two of their other talents at midfield are Kaylee Fravert and Cady Flaherty who have combined to score 18 goals. Sacred Heart also brings a consistent attack unit of Elizabeth Darcy, Frankie Gray, and Sienna Prisco. Two of Sacred Heart’s defensive stoppers have been Rosalie Haffner and Kaitlyn Cole with the pipes protected by the combination of Grace Didora and Ava Lamantia. Syosset only averages eight goals per game but come into this game with consecutive wins in which they scored 10 goals in each game. They key to Syosset’s success has started on the defensive end with goalie Ava Ceglia. In four out of five games she’s made double digit saves and has denied 54% of the shots she’s seen. Offensively the Braves will lean on Katelyn Lee, Leah Kauffer, and Olry Liberman who have been top three on the team in points. Emily Murtha will also play a factor as a Swiss army knife as a defender that can also play midfield. The first time these two teams played Sacred Heart earned the win by a score of 15-8.
