Season Preview: Westhampton Beach Teams Look To Remain Competitive Despite Most Losing Multiple Starters

Many Westhampton Beach teams saw a bulk of their starters graduate last season, but girls soccer coach Erika Habersaat is fortunate to have only graduated two from last year’s squad.

Returning to lead the team is four-year starter senior Amanda Shannon and three-year starter junior Sarah Gormley.

“[Amanda] is a very skilled player who knows the game well and works tirelessly on the field,” Habersaat said. “And [Sarah] is an outstanding playmaker who runs the attack from the middle of the field.”

Helping to balance out midfield for her second year is junior Katie Baker, while sophomore Lily Strebel will be the backbone of the Hurricanes defense after playing nearly every minute as a center back last season.

Habersaat said senior Laurette Schaumloffel and junior Sintia Gregorio will play big roles on defense, while senior Isabella Blanco and sophomores Mia Valenzuela and Lana Salvaggio will make an impact on attack and at midfield.

“I’ve noticed a lot more communication on the field during practices, and I think that’s because many of these players are comfortable with each other,” Habersaat said. “It took time last season for them to hit their stride on the field, and this year, hopefully, it will happen at the start of game play.”

The coach said based on preseason practices, she sees girls from last year’s 6-8 team and players coming up from the junior varsity level stepping up to fill in the gaps of those that left.

“We do have some younger players who looked strong during the first week and will break into the lineup as either starters or the first line of substitutes,” Habersaat said. “Experience playing together on junior varsity has certainly helped the newer players. I feel like there is more depth on this year’s team.”

Also new to the team, with Westhampton approving assistant coaches for all sports, is Jaclyn Olivotti, who led the junior varsity squad the past two seasons.

“She has already contributed greatly, and having two coaches allows for more eyes on the players during practices and games,” Habersaat said.

What the coach said she’s also enjoyed is seeing the girls remain positive and supporting each other.

“From day one of preseason there has been an energy that I’ve really enjoyed,” Habersaat said. “They challenge each other and work hard to get better as individuals and as a team. There is a strong feeling of leadership with this group — and it isn’t just one or two players.”

She’s looking forward to seeing what her Hurricanes can do, especially across the new geographically-based league schedule.

“It will be fun to play some of our neighbors,” Habersaat said. “I think the league has a better balance than the leagues of previous years, so I’m really looking forward to getting into the season to see how we match up.”

On the flip side, boys soccer coach Cody Hoyt lost a bulk of his 6-8-2 team to graduation, including main scorer and All-State player Andre Insalaco. But he’s reassured with those returning.

The foundation of this year’s squad will be senior midfielders Kade Murphree and Ethan Vogt — whom the coach said he will lean on for leadership and level of play — senior defender Amner Rosales and junior forward Montgomery Hahn.

“Those will be the backbone of our team — huge staples for us,” Hoyt said. “But there’s definitely some holes to fill.”

It may not seem like it, looking at a roster of 14 seniors and seven juniors, but even some of the new faces are upperclassmen.

“Two seniors tried out, and one was injured last year,” Hoyt said. “And a couple of young guys are showing promise.”

There are also returners, the coach said, he’s hoping will make an even bigger impact this season, including junior midfielder Lewis Gibbons and sophomore forward Lincoln O’Connell, who has been on the team the past three seasons.

Replacing graduate Alessandro Volpe in goal will be senior Alex Ajiataz. His backup is currently slated to be sophomore Matt Moran.

Also new to the team will be assistant coach Peter DeTore, a wrestling coach in the district and Westhampton Beach alumnus who also played soccer.

“It’s great to have him aboard,” Hoyt said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

As practices have progressed, one thing he’s been impressed by most is this team’s chemistry.

“It’s going to be big for us,” Hoyt said. “They’re all clicking pretty well so far, so we have some high hopes for league play, which I think will be favorable for us. There will be some tough competition, but we’re optimistic this year.”

Also losing a bulk of his starters is girls tennis coach Matt Reed, who graduated half of his roster that propelled the Hurricanes to a 14-2 record last year.

“Losing six seniors — five of whom were starters — is never easy,” Reed said. “Aside from losing the skill level, that experience and leadership leaves big shoes to fill. Thankfully, I have six returning varsity players who already have stepped up to fill those leadership roles.”

Following in her sister’s footsteps will be junior Julia Stabile, who brings back a lot of experience with classmates Kylie Way and Melina Pinonzek and sophomore Matilda Buchen.

“I’ll lean on them to help guide and support the younger players and first-year varsity players,” Reed said. “Matilda and Julia will be at the top of the lineup, and as for the other positions, nothing is set in stone yet. With all of these new players on the team this year, working out what works and what doesn’t, especially in doubles, is important. Finding the right combinations is something that is crucial, and the girls are very willing to be moved around to get what works best for the team.”

Junior Shannon Killoran, in the No. 1 singles spot on last year’s junior varsity team, joins the team with eighth-grader Zoe Grellet-Aumont and seventh-grader Ava Borruso.

“While it would be unfair to put too much pressure on them, because of how young they are, I do think they will have successful seasons and are the future of the Westhampton Beach tennis program for the next four to five years,” Reed said.

Reed, coming into his second season at the helm, also returns junior Julia Greiner and Kylie’s younger sister Ana, a freshman. Other newcomers are junior Taylor Lagattolla and sophomores Nikki Lee and Angelina LeMaire.

The coach said he’s already seeing the girls come together and encourage each other, so seeing how well they mesh is key moving into match play.

“That’s very impressive, especially with the wide-ranging age gap on the team,” Reed said. “That only helps strengthen our ability to do well when it really matters against the top teams, and eventually in the playoffs if we get there. They all are very receptive to coaching and making changes, and are improving every day.”

Check back next week for a look at Westhampton Beach’s boys golf, boys and girls volleyball, football and boys and girls cross country teams.