William Floyd High School varsity field hockey is playoff bound

The William Floyd High School varsity field hockey team, led by head coach Maria Carucci, is in the midst of an exceptional season. The Colonials have cemented themselves as one of the top teams in Division I with a 9-4 record and have clinched the program’s first playoff berth since the early 2000s. This achievement was made possible due to the efforts of a highly talented group of student-athletes who also share a very close bond with one another.

“This team has been together for three years,” said coach Carucci. “They set a goal in their first year and wanted to make the playoffs by their senior year and now they are the first team to accomplish this in over two decades.”

Last year’s team also put together a strong season, but narrowly missed out on qualifying for the playoffs. The feeling of disappointment at the end of last season provided the Colonials with an additional source of motivation as they worked to finish the job this season.

One of the Colonials’ biggest strengths is their depth, as they get significant contributions from all across their lineup. Senior Gianna Trotta, a 2024 all-county honorable mention, leads the Colonials with 12 total points (seven goals, five assists), while senior Kaleigh Benson has 11 total points and a team-high nine goals this season.

The team’s defensive unit has also been working really well together and has been a big factor in the team’s overall success. This unit includes seniors Samantha Seaman, Juliana Dolezal, Vanessa DeStefano and Jasmine Setelius, who were all award-winning student-athletes in 2024. In goal, senior Ava Tiedemann and junior Kalina Sky Permenter have been highly efficient with a combined total of six shutouts throughout the season.

As the Colonials prepare for their first playoff game as a team, coach Carucci emphasized for her players to remain focused and calm and to keep their emotions in check. She added that nothing changes in postseason play except for the title and that if the team can stay under control and approach every game like the game before, they could reach great heights.

The Colonials conclude their regular season slate with a home game against Newfield this Tuesday, Oct. 21, and will find out what seed they earned in the Section XI playoff bracket later in the week.

The 2025 varsity field hockey roster includes student-athletes Mia Ashton, Kaleigh Benson, Alexis Caldwell, Olivia Cizan, Melanie Coppola, Gabriella Cucuzzo, Vanessa DeStefano, Juliana Dolezal, Avalynn Furman, McKenzie Giles, Isabella Haynes, Julia Hipperling, Marissa LoDestro, Gianna Mertens, Riley Meyer, Sophia Perez, Kalina Sky Permenter, Mariela Reyes Cabrera, Samantha Seaman, Jasmine Setelius, Gianna Trotta, Courtney Petersen and Ava Tiedemann. The coaching staff includes Maria Carucci (head coach) and Kim Apicella (assistant coach).