Five Massapequa High School varsity athletic teams competed in Long Island Championship games during the 2013 fall season. Three of them earned a place in the state finals. Add to that a thrilling county final appearance for the Chiefs’ football team and it was quite a fall season for Massapequa athletics.

Perfection was certainly a theme for the girls volleyball team in the 2013 campaign: after a 12-0 regular season, the girls shut out East Meadow, Farmingdale, and Baldwin in succession to capture an unprecedented fourteenth consecutive county title. The team went on to face Smithtown East for the right to be named Long Island Champions.

After splitting the first two sets, Massapequa pulled away to capture the championship by a score of 3-1. Justine Abbate’s twenty kills and fellow senior Katie Vedilago’s thirty-seven assists were instrumental in sending Massapequa to States. The girls’ season came to an end in Glen Falls, however, as the Chiefs dropped all three pool play matches to end their quest for a state title.

“Our mindset definitely changed for the playoffs,” said Vedilago. “We became a lot more focused, and we worked even harder for every point because every game was potentially our last.”

Her words were quite similar to those of classmate, and fellow Long Island Champion, Katie Hatziyianis, the goalkeeper of Massapequa’s girls soccer team.

Entering the postseason with a 12-1-1 record, Hatziyianis and the Chiefs marched through playoff competition in an equally impressive fashion, knocking off Hicksville, East Meadow, and Calhoun. The senior goalkeeper did not allow a goal in any of the three games.
The Nassau County champions battled Northport on a chilly evening at Tully Park, and with 12:29 remaining, sophomore Hope Breslin scored her second goal of the night to secure a 3-2 Chiefs victory.

“Every last girl on the roster was willing to sacrifice for the team,” said Hatziyianis. “We played for each other with a lot of heart, and that is what helps us win games, even if the odds are stacked against us. In the end, everything we’ve worked for all season is on the line every game.”

The effort certainly showed in the state final, as senior Alyssa Iannuzzi scored the game winner with only seven minutes remaining.

“This team was made up of no superstars, but was a team that played extremely well together, had great chemistry and was committed to the game plan and each other,” commented Coach Bruce Stegner after a 2-1 victory that gave his team a New York State Championship. Completing the championship trifecta was the Massapequa boys soccer team, which defeated Smithtown West by a score of 5-1 to join the girls in the State Championships.

For the first time in the history of the program, the boys captured a state title of their own, defeating Fairport 1-0. Sophomore Dylan Nealis scored the game-winner just a day after scoring the winning goal in the state semi-final.

“This team was confident without being arrogant and worked together without jealousy or resentment towards other teammates,” said Coach Keith Stanley. “They stayed positive with each other and would not be outworked by anyone.” The historic win secured a successful weekend for Massapequa soccer and all other Chiefs’ playoff teams as well.

It is not often that the MHS football team takes a back seat to other teams’ accomplishments, but such was the case in a season where a Nassau County Final appearance seemed to fly under the radar in the scope of Massapequa athletics. It was a thrilling finish, however, as Farmingdale junior Zach Kolodny kicked a field goal as time expired to nullify an impressive Chiefs comeback and send the Dalers to their second straight Long Island Championship.

“We made it to Hofstra the last two years and couldn’t finish. This year, we were hungry and ready to go,” said senior Matt Caracappa, the quarterback who led the Chiefs back from their fourteen point deficit until the end of the game.

The fall sports season may have come to an end at Massapequa High School, but the accomplishments of all of the varsity athletes in these three months will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come.