No. 26 Ranked Wantagh Warriors Team Preview

Starting off the LILJ top 26 preseason rankings, it’s the Wantagh Warriors of Nassau Class C coming in at number 26. Last year was a seven win season regular for the Warriors but saw a deep playoff run to the county championship game where they were defeated by South Side. This year they come back after seeing some key players graduate looking to retool with those returning and find themselves in the thick of the playoff race come the spring as one of the last teams on the island remaining.

The program is guided by fourth-year head coach Lauren Ruppert, who has had the team in contention each year she’s been at the helm, with their deepest run coming in 2024. This year their returning core is led by senior midfielder Sabrina Asadurian the future Stony Brook Seawolf who was a driving force offensively with 52 goals and 59 points, along with fellow returners in seniors Mia Dankenbrink (Siena), and Madeline Drago (UMBC) who provide reliable scoring balance in the midfield and attack. As a team the Warriors averaged just under 12 goals per game in 2025 which was good for top 10 in the county.

Defensively they return junior Pace commit Kylie Coners and sophomore Annika Kurz to their starting defense. In the cage they bring back starter Madeline Gonzalez the Iona bound senior who tallied 114 saves last spring anchoring the defense, along with freshman Averie Rissland who saw meaningful minutes as an eighth grader making 21 saves.

Last year’s graduating class leaves big shoes to fill following the departures of standout producers Juliana Cerasi, Riley Forthofer, Bella Sandoval, and Lyla Ingrilli, all of whom played major roles in the success of the program. With that production moving on to the collegiate level, players like Angelina Nappi, Brigid Reilly, and Mary Kate O’Callaghan are poised to see expanded roles as Wantagh reshapes its identity.

This winter saw Wantagh hit the ground running in preparation for the spring by playing in the LILJ winter league, getting valuable minutes and reps against high level competition hoping it shapes them for the new season. The season opener for Wantagh starts off with a non-league contest against West Islip on 3/18, followed by a second non-league game against Islip on 3/20 before playing their first power conference matchup against Farmingdale on 3/23.

Coach Ruppert notes the team’s intensity and enthusiasm as a major strength heading into the spring, and success in 2026 will hinge on emotional composure in tight games and maintaining high standards of accountability across effort, attendance, and communication as the next wave steps into the spotlight.