Next on the LILJ top 24 preseason rankings are the Smithtown East Bulls coming in at number 23. Coached by BrieClaire Sheehy the Bulls were 10-5 in the regular season last year and got into the playoffs as a five seed where they defeated both fourth seeded Commack and top seeded Ward Melville to make it all the way to the Suffolk Class A County Finals where they gave the reigning two-time Long Island champion Northport Tigers everything they had where their season came to an end. This season the Bulls are back after having played in the LILJ HSWL as they gear up for what they hope is another strong season.
It’s never easy when a team graduates a transcendent talent like Smithtown did in Ava Arceri. However they still have one of the top attackers on the island in senior Northwestern commit Jenna Soto leading the way for the Bulls. Last year Soto had a dominant season, totaling 104 points with 75 goals and 29 assists, and looks primed for another huge season after giving a sneak preview of what’s to come with a stat line of 25 goals and five assists in the winter league through six games. Playing alongside Soto at attack is Marist commit Jenna Mehlinger and Shannon Pettit. Mehlinger also had a huge 2023 season with 21 goals and 29 assists for 50 points, while Pettit added 21 points with 10 goals and 11 assists.
The midfield is where Smithtown East will look to fill the void left behind by Arceri. Part of their midfield this season will include senior Alexis Savage (William & Mary), their leading scorer among their returning midfielders. Look for Savage to have a big senior year as the Bulls look to see where else they will get production from at midfield. On the roster during the winter league at midfield also included Mia Trama, Juliana Wankel, Bowen Schmitt, Giovanna Figalora, and Kloe Ferreri.
Shifting to the defensive side of the field, the net will be protected by senior Grace McDonald (Slippery Rock) who posted 183 saves in 2023. Adding to the goalie depth is junior Abby Desantis and sophomore Ryan Dart. The Bulls returning defenders this season include Norah Kelly (Binghamton), Kelsey Foster (New Paltz), and Katie Cummings (Cortland). In the winter league the Bulls also added underclassmen Riley Flemming, Abby Healy, and Barrett James who saw action and could be in play to see minutes this spring.
