No. 21 Ranked Kings Park Kingsmen Team Preview

At number 21 in the LILJ top 26 preseason rankings are the Kingsmen of Kings Park who come in looking to build off of what was a very successful 2025 season which saw them win 11 regular season games including some signature victories and appear in the playoffs for the first time in 20 years. This year it will be about trying to replicate their regular season success and take a step forward in the playoffs by securing a playoff win.

The Kingsmen enter the upcoming season with plenty of promise, as the majority of their talented core returns after gaining meaningful varsity experience in 2025. With several key underclassmen already producing at a high level, the Kingsmen are building a foundation that could pay off quickly as the roster continues to mature and develop.

The offense will revolve around standout returners including Sophia Russo (JMU) and Emily Hnis (Pace). Russo was a constant scoring threat last spring in her first season back with the team, posting 39 goals and 64 points, while Hnis emerged as a dynamic midfield playmaker with 45 points on 19 goals and 26 assists. Another major piece returning is Addison Kelly in the sophomore class, who impressed as a young midfielder with 42 points, showcasing both scoring ability and field vision. Avery Brown (Coastal Carolina) adds versatility and production from the midfield, finishing with 37 points last year.

Kings Park will also benefit from a strong incoming group of underclassmen who already contributed offensively, including Addison Held (2028), and Maggie Clemens (2028), giving the Kingsmen depth and multiple options in the attacking third. Defensively, returners like junior Madeline DiRusso (Hofstra), sophomores Jillian Black and Emma Salva, and freshman Grace Laura who will be tasked with bringing stability to a unit that allowed just over seven goals per game in 2025.

In goal, will be sophomore Elle Bitran who returns after logging heavy minutes as a freshman, gaining valuable experience while facing a high volume of shots making 89 saves. With a roster dominated by now sophomores and juniors along with high-impact freshmen already in the mix, Kings Park heads into 2026 focused on development, consistency, and turning last season’s experience into more wins as the program continues to trend upward.

Opening up the season for Kings Park will be non-league matchups against Plainedge on 3/19 and Bay Shore on 3/24 followed by their first league contest against Mt. Sinai on 3/26.