Authors Posts by Bill Landon

Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Ward Melville boys volleyball squad is on a hot streak with an undefeated record. The Patriots, the defending Long Island champions from last season, looked to put up another “W” when they hosted Westhampton, Thursday, Sept. 26. 

Returning outside hitter, senior Kyle Fagan, had a potent one-two punch with a vicious serve, coupled with a dominating performance at the net, that provided the spark for the Patriot offense.

Ward Melville looked a little unsteady in the first set, but despite falling behind in the third set, they ended up sweeping the Hurricanes 25-21, 25-16 and 25-15, for the victory. The Patriots followed up with a 3-1 win at Connetquot, Sept. 28, and stand at 7-0 in Division I.

— Photos by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Miller Place Panthers rained on Port Jeff’s homecoming football game under a persistent drizzle, shutting out the Royals 41-0 in the League IV matchup on Saturday afternoon, Sept. 28. 

Port Jeff (0-2) struggled offensively against a stout Panther defense and failed to gain any traction, searching for that first elusive win in this early season.

Miller Place quarterback Shane Kiernan and wide receiver Ethan Monaco were a potent combination, scoring on a 32-yard pass play and 60-yarder for the win. Kiernan passed for 202 yards, completing nine of 11 passes, during the afternoon.

The win lifts the Panthers to 2-1 and they will travel to Babylon, Saturday, Oct. 5, with a 6 p.m. kickoff scheduled.

The Royals are also back in action on Saturday, with a road game against Southampton. Game time is slated for 2 p.m.                       

— Photos by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Newfield boys soccer squad, having won their last three games picking off North Babylon, Bay Shore and Lindenhurst, looked to make it four in a row in a nonleague matchup with Connetquot at home Monday afternoon, Sept. 23. 

After a scoreless first half, Connetquot struck first midway through the second half to break the ice but the Wolverines co-captain Eli Rubio’s shot found the back of the net two minutes later to make it a new game. With both teams deadlocked at 1-1, time expired in regulation forcing the first of two overtime periods. 

After an unproductive first overtime period, it was a Connetquot goal that snatched the victory, 2-1, from the Wolverines.

Newfield will look to get back to their winning ways with a road game against Commack on Friday, Sept. 27. Game time is slated for 4:30 p.m. 

— Photos by Bill Landon 

By Bill Landon

The reigning Long Island champion and New York State semifinalist, the Lady Wildcats of Shoreham-Wading River, made it four in a row Saturday morning, Sept. 21, with a road game against Elwood-John Glenn with a 2-0 shutout in a League VII matchup.

Olivia Pesso, a junior who took up soccer just last season scored the icebreaker at the 22-minute mark of the second half to put the Wildcats ahead. Mia Mangano’s foot spoke two minutes later when the junior drove the ball into the back of the net on a penalty kick for the insurance goal.

Shoreham-Wading River goalie Morgan Lesiewicz made 10 stops in net.

The Wildcats traveled to Southampton Tuesday, Sept. 24, and continued their winning streak by easily beating the Mariners, 5-0.

— Photos by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

It was a battle of the unbeatens Thursday afternoon, Sept. 19, between defending Long Island champions Port Jefferson Royals and Center Moriches Red Devils.

Although losing several key seniors to graduation from their 2023 Long Island championship season, it didn’t seem to matter when the Royals attacked with vicious serves and several monster digs. There were 34 kills at the net to sweep the match, 25-19, 25-18, 25-14. 

Sophomore Ava Reilly was the cornerstone of the offense with 28 assists, nine digs a kill and an ace. McKayla Pollard notched 15 kills to go with six digs, along with sophomores Thea Mangels who killed six, had a dig and a service ace and Lina DeLeo who had seven digs, two aces and five kills at the net. The quartet was a potent combination throughout in dominating the play at the net. 

The win lifted the Royals to the top of the League VII leaderboard. 

The team continued its impressive form with 3-0 victories over Greenport/Southold, Sept. 21, and Shelter Island, Sept. 23, for a 7-0 record to date. 

— Photos by Bill Landon 

By Bill Landon

With both teams with three games under their belt, the Bulls of Smithtown West hosted the Centereach Cougars Thursday afternoon, Sept. 12, in a league matchup where a single goal would be the difference.

With three minutes left in the opening half, Smithtown West senior Jake Hutter dished off the ball to sophomore Tony Garcia who drilled the ball into the back of the net to edge ahead 1-0, a score that would make the final buzzer. 

Both goalies Jerry Nagosky (Bulls) and Thomas Zwirblis (Cougars) had two saves apiece.

The Bulls had another 1-0 victory — at East Islip — Monday, Sept. 16, taking them to 5-0 atop League V. On the same day, the Cougars won 3-1 at West Islip for a 2-1-2 league start.

— Photos by Bill Landon

Sean Casey stars as the Wildcats cruise past the Baymen

By Bill Landon

Shoreham-Wading River football team kicked off their 2024 season, with a convincing victory, defeating Hampton Bays 40-12 at the Thomas Cutinella Memorial Field, on Saturday afternoon. 

It was the Sean Casey show for Shoreham-Wading River, as the senior wide receiver ran back the opening kickoff covering 88 yards to put the Wildcats on the board. Casey found the end zone at the 1:08 mark in the first quarter with a 32-yard run, and had another kickoff return in the opening minutes of the second half, covering 74 yards. 

Freshman quarterback Noah Gregorek threw a seven-yard touchdown precision strike to Michael Iberger in the right corner of the end zone, and completed eight of nine passes for 102 yards in the Division IV matchup. 

— Photos by Bill Landon 

By Bill Landon

Through five games, the Wildcats of Shoreham-Wading River stand atop the Division II leaderboard. The team is not only undefeated, but has not allowed a single goal against them.

Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 17, at the Thomas Cutinella Memorial Field, the Wildcats were back at it when they blanked West Islip 6-0.

Madison Herr scored her second goal of the game in the opening minutes of the second quarter to put her team out front 3-0. Forward Ella Frazzetto rocked the box in the opening minutes of the third quarter and Herr found the box again for her hat trick to begin the final 15 minutes of play. Alessia Olivio rounded out the score when her shot found its mark to seal the deal for the Wildcats.

— Photos by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Comsewogue girls soccer squad, having won their last three games, looked to make it four in a row Saturday morning, Sept. 14, when the Warriors hosted Amityville, and did just that, by trouncing their opponents in an 8-0 blowout.

It was a team effort, with seven different players finding the net in the League VI contest. Mikaela Knot found the back of the net twice, and teammates Emma Cross, Kaiya Dent, Madison Maher, Kailey Wiggins, Madison Moccio and Jayla Callender each scored a goal apiece.

Goalies Lila Capra and Payton Coyle each had two stops.

The Warriors attempted to make it five in a row, with a road game against Harborfields, on Tuesday, but fell 3-1.

— Photos by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

It was a battle of the unbeaten between the Ward Melville Patriots and Bay Shore/Islip on Monday afternoon, Sept. 16, in a field hockey league matchup.

The Patriots pressured the Bay Shore defenders constantly with a 4-0 shutout over their visitors in the Division I contest. 

Ward Melville junior Hadley Torre found the back of the net twice, senior forward Peyton Phillips scored along with two assists and senior midfielder Jadyn Stoecker rocked the box. 

Bay Shore goalie Morgan Cousins had a busy day guarding the box with 18 saves, while Ward Melville’s keeper Olivia Zummo stopped two.

The win lifts the Patriots to the top of the Division I leaderboard.

— Photos by Bill Landon