SWR field hockey trying to find its way under new coach

There’s a new face leading the Shoreham-Wading River field hockey sideline these days — but it’s a familiar one. 

Isabella Meli was a lacrosse and field hockey star at Shoreham-Wading River before graduating in 2019. She went on to have a stellar career at Binghamton University before returning home to become a teacher.

Though Meli teaches in the Ward Melville school district, an opportunity to coach back in her hometown was something she wasn’t going to pass up.

“I initially came in to take on the JV team,” Meli said. “And then our varsity coaches had to step away for scheduling problems, so we stepped up and took this role.”

Coaching the next generation of Wildcats means more to Meli than any other coaching job would.

“I love this senior class,” Meli said. “There’s a lot of great girls in this program; I know a lot of them from lacrosse. They have really great skills and speed. I want to take them to the next level and make their senior year memorable.”

One of those seniors, however, who has been a fixture on the field and in the scoring column, is missing. Madison Herr finished third in all of Suffolk County in points scored last season, netting 20 goals and assisting on 10 others. The Boston College lacrosse commit has decided to sit out her senior season.

“I guess she just wanted to focus on lacrosse,” Meli said. “We definitely miss her on the field, but it’s just something we have to overcome, and we have plenty of talent here to fill the void.”

A few players that Meli hopes to play a big role this year are forwards Mary Kilkenny and Madeline Rizzi. Kilkenny scored eight times last year. Isabella McManus looks to lead the defense and send the ball forward, allowing their top guns to find the back of the net.

“We’re relying on our seniors to play big for us,” Meli said. “They’ve been in the program and know what it takes to win.”

Shoreham-Wading River has suffered back-to-back 3-0 losses to start the season, against Sayville and Miller Place, but that hasn’t discouraged Meli.

“We got handed what I think are two of the best teams in the county for our first two games,” Meli said. “Our schedule will ease up, and I believe we’ll finish around the top of our division.”

The losses have been a good learning experience for the team, and it’s better to take those losses early rather than at the end of the season when there’s a playoff spot on the line.

“We can learn a lot seeing how those teams step up to the ball,” Meli said. “And the way they pass up the field. You have to beat the other girls to the ball and play a little smarter. We’re still working on the speed of the game, but I think it’ll all come together in time.”

Also, with their turf field under construction, it’s been hard to translate their practice time into game time. 

“We’ve been practicing on grass, and it’s a totally different game on turf,” Meli said. “The game gets much quicker on a turf field, and we just haven’t been able to get the feel of the speed in practice.”

The Wildcats will look for their first win of the season on Thursday against Mattituck/Greenport/Southold.