No. 20 Ranked Eastport South Manor Sharks Team Preview

Checking in at number 20 in the LILJ top 26 preseason rankings are the Eastport South Manor Sharks. This is a program that is a perennial playoff team and last year was more of the same after an eight win regular season and an opening round playoff victory against Comsewogue before being defeated in the county semifinals. This year they begin a new era as it’s Ryan Sommers taking over as the head coach looking to continue to consistency that ESM has shown for a number of years.

In his first season at the helm, coach Sommers  takes over a Sharks team that showed flashes of offensive firepower in 2025 and was very strong on defense and now looks to take the next step by leaning into their cast of returning players and chemistry.

The offense will be paced by one of the most productive midfielders in the region in Katelynn Murtha the junior committed to USF, who finished last season with 35 goals, consistently setting the tone in transition and settled play. She’s joined by her sister Taylor Murtha (Sacred Heart), a dynamic attack presence who posted 34 points and gives ESM a reliable finisher and facilitator. The Valenti duo — Kate Valenti (Saint Leo) and Lauren Valenti (Saint Leo) add versatility and balance. On the defensive side of the field Makayla Coyle (Pace) and Sarah Langdon (Binghamton) also return with valuable experience as the Sharks look to once again be one of the upper echelon defensive teams in Suffolk County. Eastport South Manor does graduate two key defensive leaders in Sarah Cluff, who is currently at Marist, and Natalie Psaltis, who is playing for Jacksonville University, leaving big shoes to fill on the back end. The goaltending will also look different as they have three underclassmen on the roster this season in sophomore Lydia Deptuch and freshmen Julia Ver Straten and Amelia Grausso.

This year look for players like Molly McGuire (Cortland), Alexa Quiery, and Caitlin Masera (Stony Brook) to step into expanded roles and make a large impact. Young attackers Ella Dragonette and Ella Schopp in the 2029 class already showed promise in 2025, combining for 17 points as eighth graders and add to the team’s growing offensive depth.

With a roster filled with seasoned upperclassmen and talented underclassmen group ready to make a name for themselves this year, the Sharks are focused on playing aggressive, four-quarter lacrosse in 2026. The team has already hit the ground running in preparation for the spring by playing in the LILJ winter league where they went 4-1-1 in six games against top competition.

Starting off the season they open up with non-league games against Pat-Med on 3/19 and Sachem East on 3/23 before beginning league play against last year’s county champions from Class B Smithtown West on 3/26. If Eastport South Manor can maintain their high level team defense while staying unselfish on offense, this group has the talent and energy to be a tough matchup across Suffolk County this season.