East Meadow girls’ soccer is coming off a conference title but is tasked with replacing a handful of key pieces from last year’s dynamic 15-win team while tackling a more challenging schedule.
Coach Nicolette Tortorici remains encouraged, however, despite a likely starting 11 with only one senior, three freshmen and mostly juniors. The Jets split their first two Conference III matches out of the gate, rebounding from a season-opening loss to New Hyde Park with a 2-1 victory over Herricks last Friday.
“We’re still expecting to do well,” she said. “We haven’t faced most of these opponents in forever so you can only get so much information before the first set of films are available. I think the first two games were a sign of what we can expect. Everyone we see is going to be tough.”
Junior goalkeeper Ava Matthews stopped 10 of 11 shots against Herricks and the Jets held on for the win thanks also to first-half goals from freshman sensation Charli Tesoriere and junior Angelina Calderon. “Ava came up big and we made the most of our scoring chances,” Tortorici said.
Tesoriere is no stranger to the scoresheet after exploding on the scene last fall with 28 goals as an eighth-grader. She earned All-County honors and could see a lot more time at striker than midfield this season. “Charli is an unbelievable talent,” Tortorici said. “She’s got quite a resume as a club player and is just so skillful and fast. She’s a complete playmaker.”
East Meadow’s other two starting freshmen, Jayden Padgett and Isabella Oliveira, join junior standout Ella Giordano in the midfield. Giordano (12 goals) earned All-Conference honors a year ago and stood out through the first two games, Tortorici said. “Ella is hands down the hardest worker and plays such a clean game,” the coach noted. “She’s our defensive center-midfielder but goes all over the place and is never afraid to put her body on the line.”
Padgett is operating in the center as well with Oliveira on the outside. “Jayden has so much poise and confidence,” Tortorici said of Padgett. “And Isabella has strong two-way ability and also never stops working.”
On the defensive end, there’s a new goalie for the first time in many years with Matthews taking over for longtime starter Jennah Farooki. “Ava knows she has big shoes to fill and she’s looking very good,” Tortorici said. “She made a ton of huge saves to help us beat Herricks and I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do.”
Anchoring the backline are senior Kaylee Pirozzi and juniors Zoe Pedicini and Peyton Chester. Pirozzi was an All-Conference selection and is the voice of the defensive zone, Tortorici said. “Kaylee has taken the defense under her wing and any time we feel threatened, she’s there to get us out of trouble,” the coach said. “Zoe is a technically sound lefty who takes most of our set pieces and always seems to get to ball to the right spot, and Peyton has stepped up big time and plays with calmness.”
