Staying in Suffolk Class C for number nine in the LILJ top 24 preseason rankings we have the Sayville Golden Flashes. This year they have a new head coach as Gary Jensen takes over the program and looks to take this team the next level after some great regular seasons but tough exits in the playoffs. Coach Jensen and the Golden Flashes utilized the offseason by taking part in the HSWL where they showcased why they could be a tough out this spring.
This team is a talented group that has experienced upperclassmen to go with plenty of youth in their freshman and sophomore class that will make them not just a dangerous team this season but one that has a wide window to compete to be the best team in Class C. Their attack is ignited by senior Marquette commit McKenna Farrell who is their leading scorer from the position among their returning players. She brought a steady diet of goals and assists with 21 and 23 for 44 points. Junior Abby Galaris provides that off-ball scoring threat as a catch and shoot finisher that found the back of the net 19 times with four assists last season as a sophomore. Adding to their attack is junior Nikki Graziano (Saint Leo), and sophomore Julianna Montalto who tallied seven points as a freshman last year.
Sayville’s first midfield line is as good as it gets going into the season between the trio of Michigan commit Sofia Cangelosi, sophomore Sophia Buffardi, and freshman Dylan McNamara. Cangelosi can do a little bit of everything whether its score, facilitate, or take draws. Buffardi is arguably the island’s best midfielder in the 2026 class between her size, athleticism and ability to take over games on either side of the field as well as command the draw circle. Starting last year as a freshman Buffardi was a force to be reckon with tallying 24 goals and 12 assists for 36 points, and picked up right were she left off this winter, finishing second on the team in points with 16 through five games. McNamara the lefty in the 2027 class is poised for breakout season in her first year on varsity. She has left no doubts that she will be a game changer for this program over the next four years, as a high level goal scorer that can also take draws, surveys the field well, and brings a high lax IQ to the table. McNamara will also showcase her value with her ability to thrive as both a midfielder or an attacker. Also adding to their midfield depth in the 2026 class is Carly Cangelosi and in the 2027 class Olivia Razzano who tallied five points in the winter league.
The Golden Flashes return almost their entire defense from last year which includes seniors Courtney Thornton (Jacksonville), Delaney Lutz (Lafayette), Loghan McNamara (Albany), Delaney Walters (Wingate), Sophia Montalto, and juniors Lucy Livingston (USF), Carly Brady (ESU), with sophomores Olivia DeSimone and Paige Manning. In goal for Sayville in her second season on varsity is sophomore Julia Lilienthal after a freshman season that saw her record 85 saves.
Sayville has as good of a chance as they’ve had in recent seasons to be the team that comes out of Suffolk Class C but will be facing a number of contenders in what is a loaded conference once again this season.
