Wantagh Girls Soccer Readies For Challenging Schedule

With Nassau County choosing to re-align its conferences this year based on enrollment rather than ability grouping, Wantagh girls soccer co-head coach Marisa Caccese is expecting a more challenging schedule in 2010. The Lady Warriors will be thrown right into the fire of their new league when it faces traditional powers New Hyde Park and Garden City in its first two Conference IV games next week.

"We're playing against teams that we haven't normally played in the past," said Caccese, who serves as Wantagh's co-head coach with James Polo. "It is going to be tough for everyone."

Last year the Lady Warriors competed in Conference III but Caccese said Wantagh's new conference will be a tougher one because of it including teams like Garden City, New Hyde Park and Division based on being of similar enrollment. "I don't anticipate any game being easy and if we go in thinking that then we've got another thing coming to us," said Caccese, a former standout midfielder for Hofstra who has coached Wantagh the last five years.  "I definitely think it is a power conference."

Wantagh enters the 2010 season with plenty experience, boasting a roster of 12 seniors. The top goal scorers are forwards Crysta Gizzi and April Iannetta, with sweeper Brianna Schussler anchoring the defense.  Three players are vying to start in net including senior Alex Rousseau and juniors Kellie Mignoli and Meaghan Smith. A younger bright spot for the Lady Warriors in 2010 is freshman midfielder Brenna Connelly, who played on Wantagh's varsity team last year as an eighth grader.

Wantagh opens the 2010 Conference IV season with three straight home games against New Hyde Park, Garden City and Jericho on Sept. 20, Sept. 22 and Sept. 25. The opener against New Hyde Park kicks off at 4:30 p.m.