Amid beaming coaches, parents and staff, 13 senior athletes from Massapequa High School’s boys’ and girls’ varsity soccer teams gathered on National Signing Day, Feb. 4, to officially commit to playing soccer at the collegiate level.
The boys’ varsity soccer team, which won the state championship last year and conference championship this year, had five members commit to various northeastern colleges. They are Brendon Merklin, University of Massachusetts (Div. I); Sean Nealis, Hofstra University (Div. I); Andrew Prendergast and Zack Zaia, SUNY Cortland (Div. III) and Jack Macchia, Eastern University (Div. III).
The girls’ varsity soccer team, which won back-to-back state championships, had eight players sign with mostly Division I colleges. They are Olivia Stegner, Siena College (Div. I); Meghan McCabe, Rider College (Div. I); Cara Gallagher, Stony Brook University (Div. I); Margaret Shanley, Marist College (Div. I); Jessica Ammendola, Bloomsburg University (Div. II); Sara Mangialardi, Iona College (Div. I), Kristen Bischoff, Wagner College (Div. and Mckenzie Palmer, Sacred Heart University (Div. I).
“The fact that many of our student athletes have committed to competing at the next level is a testament to the strength and quality of the soccer programs here in Massapequa,” said John Piropato, the district’s director of health, physical education, athletics and recreation. “I congratulate their coaches and wish our students much success in college both on and off the field.”
—Courtesy of the Massapequa Public School District
