At number 13 in the LILJ top 24 preseason rankings, we head to Suffolk Class B and the Smithtown West Bulls. This team is poised to make some serious noise this year after they went on a deep playoff run last season, appearing in the county finals where they were just a couple goals short against West Islip of bringing home the county title. They are led by second year Head Coach Vincenza Patrone, and welcome back the majority of their core which makes them a serious contender to win counties. This winter the Bulls appeared in the LILJ HSWL as they get set for what they hope is a season that will see them playing into early June.
Starting on the offensive end of the field, the Bulls have a deep, and well balanced attack of both upper and underclassmen, between senior Isabella Dantuono (Marist), junior Kate Theofoield (Rutgers), and sophomores Alyssa Lorfice and Ashley Mennella. Last season Dantuono compiled 17 goals and 13 assists for 30 points despite not playing in every game due to injury. Theofield who is also fully healthy this season after missing some games last year due to injury is in line to be an automatic goal scorer this season. Through six games in the winter league she led the team in goals and points with 20 goals and four assists for 24 points. As for their sophomores, Mennella is their primary draw taker and is also a scoring threat as she provided 22 goals and 12 assists last year, while Lorefice was second on the team in points last year with 37, and had a very strong winter league with 11 goals and seven assists in six games. Both Lorefice and Mennella are among the top 2026s on the island and will be a force over the next three seasons. The depth at attack continues with juniors Madison Nuzzi (La Salle), who found the back of the net seven times this winter, and sophomores Sydney Marks and Katerina Miller and Vanessa Pollina.
The first midfield line for the Bulls features the explosive two-way midfielder Jolie Schiavo the James Madison commit. Schiavo plays with a burst and after a 47 point sophomore season she tallied 20 points in the winter league while also filling up the box score with both ground balls and caused turnovers. Also part of the first midfield line is sophomore Ashlynn Renkowski who compiled 22 points her freshman year on varsity last season and will also have an impact this season on the draw circle as well. Adding to their midfield depth is senior Allie Given (Merrimack) and junior Kate Braun.
Heading to the defensive side of the field, their defenders include senior Rollins commit Ava Capasso, juniors Grace Theofield (Binghamton), Charlotte Muratore, and sophomore Lola Russo. In the cage already entering year three as the starter in 2026 class is Maribella Marciano who accounted for 101 saves last year and this winter posted a 51% save percentage. With Marciano who is among the premier sophomore goalies on Long Island protecting the pipes, the Bulls will have the advantage in the net going into the majority of their matchups.
This season is one that provides a lot of promise as Smithtown West looks build on last season and get back to the county finals with an opportunity to claim the Class B County Championship and elevate this program to another level.
