Wantagh and undefeated Plainedge play to 1-1 tie in girls soccer
Ava Hart of Wantagh fights for the ball with Avery Peters of Plainedge during a Nassau girls soccer game on Monday in Plainedge. Credit: Kelvin Loarca
Allie Younghans sat on the turf by the bench, watching much of the first half go by with her left leg elevated on a bag of soccer balls, her knee encased in ice. Not the most comforting sight for an undefeated Plainedge team with a Nassau title dream.
The Siena-bound senior midfielder limped off in the ninth minute. The Red Devils were left to try to survive without one of their top players in a Nassau A/B-I home match Monday against a Wantagh team with title dreams of its own.
Plainedge tried to ride a second-half goal by Victoria Truncali to the finish line. But Ava Barberio tied it for Wantagh with 8:28 left. The game ended as a 1-1 draw.
“They had to play with their heart,” coach Mike Vitale said of his Red Devils. “They have the talent. We don’t win based on one player on the field.”
Wantagh (4-2-3) showed a lot, hanging with Plainedge (9-0-3).
“We feel that on any given day we can play with anybody,” coach James Polo said. “We’ve got to finish our opportunities.”
“I think this team has the ability to do whatever they put their mind to,” he added, “and I think the county championship is definitely in their focus.”
The same for Plainedge, which fell to Seaford in the 2025 Nassau A final. Four players own at least six goals.
While Vitale didn’t know the prognosis yet, he admitted concern that Younghans, who has nine goals and seven assists, could be out for the season. But …
"All is not lost,” Vitale said. “It might be a little harder. … We started off the season down two of our center backs and we overcame that.”
Barberio’s equalizer came via a sensational straightaway free kick from 37 yards out. She sailed it over Cayla Bloom, who otherwise made nine saves.
“I really thought about it; I can’t let my team down,” Barberio said. “… I really just thought more about my team than myself.”
Lena Tuniewicz made a sparkling save for Wantagh late in the first half. Then in the 54th minute, she made another on a hard shot by Jackie Frucci. But Truncali kicked in the rebound.
“I feel like when [Younghans] got injured, it was really important for the team to step up to try to win it for her,” Truncali said. “She’s a big part of our team. She really holds our team together.”
