No. 14 Ranked Massapequa Chiefs Team Preview

Coming in at number 14 in the LILJ top 26 preseason rankings are the Massapequa Chiefs. This is a program that has formed a dynastic run with appearances in the Long Island Championship Game for the past five years. This season they have new voices at the helm with sisters Leigh-Ann and Megan Zimmer stepping in to take over the program with Leigh-Ann having previously coached the team from 2005-2019.

Last season they were defeated in the LIC and saw a number of graduates from the class of 2025, but the foundation remains strong and they have no shortage of talent with a number of juniors and seniors that come off of an impactful 2025 season or will be in line to have a breakout 2026, ready to step into bigger roles.

Offensively, the Chiefs return two of their most dangerous weapons in seniors Savanna Appleton (Clemson) and Grace Hoffman (Hopkins). Appleton finished 2025 with 65 points scoring 35 goals and dishing out 29 assists, while Hoffman was one of the team’s most consistent playmakers, posting 62 points with 21 goals and 41 assists. Together, they give Massapequa a proven scoring one-two punch and vision to build around. They also brings back key contributors such as Natalie Byrns (Binghamton), who is coming off a strong season with 31 points as a sophomore and senior LIU commit Kali Humann.

As for the Class of 2025 graduates it included high-impact players Paige Garguilo, Cassidy Morrow, Micaela Gillis, and Isabella Grosso, all of whom played major roles in the team’s recent success. That experience will be missed, but it opens the door for rising upperclassmen like juniors Olivia LoGiudice (Stony Brook), Olivia Morgan (Navy), Ava Clark (Stony Brook) and Molly Hoffman (Elon) to see expanded minutes and be dynamic offensive threats that are sure to be instrumental in the success of the program.

Defensively, the Chiefs will look different after graduating Reilly Cereghino, Molly Solnick, and Kiersten Farrell, but they return juniors Peyton Wildes (Wingate), and Brooke Donnellan (Albany), while in goal sophomore Emily Fitzgerald gained valuable experience last season, making 144 saves and anchoring the back line as freshman.

With a mix of proven scorers, developing midfield depth, and a young goalie gaining confidence, Massapequa will focus on growing into new roles and finding balance across the field as the 2026 season unfolds, looking to extend this impressive run to a sixth consecutive year of appearing in the Long Island Championship.

The new season gets started for Massapequa with their first regular season game on 3/19 against Smithtown East in a non-league matchup, followed by a second non-league game against Shoreham-Wading River on 3/21 before opening up with their first power conference matchup against Lynbrook on 3/23.