Field Hockey
Congratulations, Maddy Herr!
Maddy reached an incredible milestone — her 100th career point as a junior at Shoreham-Wading River High School! This achievement highlights her outstanding skill, leadership, and the huge impact she’s had on her team throughout her high school field hockey career.
Have a milestone to share? Email SectionXIMilestones@gmail.com.
🏑 Long Island Field Hockey Championships
📍 Hosted by Section XI at Sachem High School East (Farmingville, NY)
🗓️ Sunday, November 9
Come out and support our student-athletes as the best of Long Island compete for field hockey glory!
🎟️ Tickets must be purchased in advance on the GoFan app:
👉 https://gofan.co/app/school/NYSPHSAAXI
Good luck to our Section XI representatives:
🏆 Class A: Sachem East
🏆 Class B: Eastport-South Manor
🏆 Class C: Bayport-Blue Point
The following was written by Jaylene Coreas from Babylon High School, who is a member of our Section XI Student Media team.
The Babylon Varsity Field Hockey team defeated the West Babylon Eagles 1–0, marking the Lady Panthers’ first win of the season — and a sign of more to come.
The dynamic duo of senior Sabina Giambalvo and sophomore Grace Leary delivered the victory in the third quarter. Giambalvo, a consistent playmaker, also scored the winning goal against West Babylon last season in a 4–3 overtime triumph. “To the future of this program, be optimistic, be aggressive, but most importantly, work till the end,” she said.
Leary added, “Before the season’s over, we hope to add another win to our record.”
This victory was significant as it came during Babylon’s annual “Stick It to Cancer” game — a cherished event where players honor those fighting cancer. Dressed in pink, the Lady Panthers played with purpose and heart, channeling their efforts toward a cause larger than the game itself.
Senior goalie Madison Semeraro reflected on the emotional significance: “This has been my second family for the last four years. This game was so special to me. These girls are amazing, and I can’t wait to see what else we achieve.”
With the possibility of a postseason berth hinging on a win against Greenport, the Lady Panthers are determined to make history — the program hasn’t reached the playoffs in several years.
Captains Kiera Ceballos and Julie Goldstein, both four-year varsity players, led with pride and perspective. “We knew from the start this was going to be one of our biggest games,” said Ceballos. “Winning with a shutout shows how well we work together. Rushing the field after the buzzer — those are moments like no other.”
Goldstein reflected on the team’s growth and her leadership journey: “When I was a freshman and sophomore, we didn’t win a single game. Now, as a junior and senior, I’m proud to lead such a coachable group. There’s no stopping us now.”
Senior Katherine Orifici summed it up best: “We proved to ourselves we can do it.”
Through determination, unity, and heart, the Babylon Lady Panthers are rewriting their story — and this victory may be just the beginning.
It was a nail-biter as the Whitman Wildcats edged out the Huntington Blue Devils, 3–2, in an exciting matchup that kept fans on their feet until the final whistle.
Whitman came out strong, scoring three goals in the first half to establish what looked like a comfortable lead. Standout performances led the Wildcats’ offense from Alaina Pape, who netted two goals, and Kate Macaluso, who added another to round out the scoring. In net, goalie Andy Devinney came up big with nine saves, keeping the Wildcats in control early on.
But Huntington refused to back down. The Blue Devils battled back in the second half with goals from Caroline Mitek and Charlotte Kindelmann, cutting the lead to just one. Huntington’s relentless pressure tested Whitman’s defense, while goalkeeper Kathleen Cocoman made an impressive 15 saves to keep her team within striking distance.
In the end, Whitman’s defense held strong in the final minutes, securing a hard-fought 3–2 win and another statement victory for the Wildcats.
Both teams showed grit, skill, and determination in what proved to be one of the most competitive matches of the season.
This student media report is brought to you by Section XI team reporter Emma Polinsky.
Congratulations to Harborfields’ Olivia Eusanio on surpassing 100 career points as a varsity field hockey player.
She is currently leading Long Island in points this season with 26 goals and 17 assists.
The Section XI field hockey playoffs begin on Thursday, October 24.
Top seeds this year are:
Congratulations to Ward Melville varsity field hockey coach Shannon Sioss for earning her 300th career win!
Congratulations to East Hampton’s Caeleigh Schuster for being selected to the U18 Junior Woman’s National Team Selection Camp in Charlotte, NC, in December.
Schuster, a goalie, competed in July in Norfolk, Virginia, at the Junior NEXUS Championship with a combined team of top players from all over the Nation.
Her team placed third overall and took bronze in the tournament. Players were evaluated and selected from these top teams and then invited to try out for the Junior National Team.
Good luck, Caeleigh!
Northport Field Hockey alum Natalie McKenna, Class of 2023, represented the United States on the U-21 National Team that played in the Pan American Championships in Surrey, British Columbia.
Natalie led the team to victories over Uruguay and Chile — way to go, Natalie.
Thanks for making Section XI proud!
