Continuing to climb the rankings we get to number 17 in the LILJ preseason top 24 teams with the William Floyd Colonials. Playing in Suffolk Class A, Floyd has been a team that’s been knocking on the door the last few seasons with a couple of appearances in the semifinals, but haven’t quite gotten over the hump. Last season their regular season record was 12-4 and they won their opening playoff game against Huntington before being defeated by Northport in the semifinals. With virtually their entire team from last season back for 2024, this is another great opportunity for them to get over the hurdle and into the county finals with a chance to play for a county title.
Arguably the top draw specialists and one of the best pure midfielders on Long Island the last few years has been Maryland commit Kayla Gilmore, who is the engineer of this team as she heads into her senior season. Last season she continued her dominance, exploding for 67 goals and 25 assists for 92 points. Playing alongside Gilmore as part of their starting midfield are fellow seniors Jackie Sutherland (Hofstra) and Kayden Meyer (Mercy). Sutherland was second in points last season with 61, while Meyer added 23, making their first line midfield one of the most lethal offensive trios in Suffolk County. In the sophomore class two middies to look out for to potentially see enhanced playing time are Natalie Samlihan and Samantha Seaman.
Floyd’s attack will continue to be a force the next few years, led by sophomores Emma DiMaio and Ava Tiedemann. Last season DiMaio was a great facilitator, leading all of Suffolk County in assists as a freshman with 47 and scored 19 goals for 67 points. Entering year four as a starter on varsity, DiMaio’s game will only continue to ascend and she will be a pivitol player in the success of Floyd this season. Tiedemann also enters year four on varsity and was an impact player last season with 29 total points and will once again contribute greatly to an offense that was tied for eighth in Suffolk in goals per game at 11.4. Two of their other attackers that are likely in play to see their role and production increase is sophomore Jayla Pimental and junior Madison Widecki.
Defensively the Colonials will be led by their senior defender Allison Filosa (Catawba), and will look for others to fill the void left behind by 2023 graduates in defenders Emily Murtha and Payton Lavallee as well as goalie Makyla Inguanta. One of their young gun defenders to look out for who was on varsity last season as an eighth grader is now freshman Caiden Widecki.
This spring is one that Floyd hopes will be one to remember for the program, with arguably their best chance to get to that next level in the playoffs and potentially be the last team standing in Class A.
