No. 12 Ranked Harborfields Tornadoes Team Preview

At number 12 in the LILJ top 26 preseason rankings it’s the Harborfields Tornadoes. This Suffolk Class C contender caught a lot of eyes in 2025 with their run all the way to the county championship game. This year the program is under new leadership as Frankie Caridi steps in as the next head coach, looking to continue and build off of the success of last season. The team saw a number of impact seniors that were part of the 2025 graduating class, but with several underclassmen already producing at a high level along with rising upperclassmen, the Tornadoes are poised to lean into the next wave of talent while reshaping leadership roles across the field.

The big departures come from the Class of 2025 which  included Bella Monteleone, Sawyer Scarola, Ally Fiumara Lila Porzio, Mackenzie Conversano, and starting goalie Olivia Eusanio. That group provided scoring punch, defensive stability, and experience that will need to be replaced collectively rather than individually.

Offensively, the future is bright. The attack will be anchored by rising juniors and sophomores who already proved they can carry the load. Nora Ruddy is one of the island’s top attackers in the 2028 class and is already entering year three on varsity. She delivered a breakout freshman season with 62 points scoring 40 goals with 22 assists, while fellow sophomore Jamie Medico also had a huge freshman campaign at midfield, adding 47 points, scoring 34 goals with 13 assists. Junior Taylor Cavanaugh committed to Towson also returns as a key piece after posting 36 points, with Lyla Droskoski also in the junior class providing additional scoring depth. This group gives Harborfields multiple options and the ability to play fast and unselfish on offense.

Part of their young core that could see an elevated role includes sophomores Madelynn Michalopoulos, Carly Sullivan and Lilian Monteleone and freshman Kasey Clegg who have already shown flashes of potential. Adding to the mix is freshman midfielder/defender Harper Kleet who was a standout in the LILJ winter league playing with the varsity program for the first time. Their development will be critical as the team looks to replace the production and leadership lost from last year’s graduating class.

Defensively, Harborfields returns a strong core of upperclassmen, including Devyn Slattery (Wesleyan) Juliet Gianfrancesco (FSC), Caroline Gilhuley (Roanoke), Erin Lindkvist, Morgan O’Brien and Talia Steinberg. That experience on the back end should help stabilize the unit as goalie Ava Kalmar emerges with the expectation to step into a larger role after limited action in 2025.

While replacing a senior-heavy core is never easy, Harborfields has no shortage of skill coming back. With multiple top scorers returning and a defense filled with experienced juniors and seniors, the focus in 2026 will be on growth, chemistry, and developing the next wave of leaders. If the underclassmen continue their upward trajectory and the defense settles in early, expect them to be a serious contender in Suffolk Class C. The season opener will be a conference matchup against Hampton Bays on 3/23.