Sachem East wins first outright Suffolk county soccer title since 2007
The 23-player roster features only one senior, and a late-game interception by sophomore midfielder Hailey Lessuk set up the winning goal against Connetquot.
By Natalia Costa ·
Sachem East’s girls soccer team holds a roster of 23 players, yet only one of them is a senior. That youth factor did not slow the team down. The squad finished the Suffolk Class AAA tournament as champions after beating Connetquot 1-0 on Friday.
The match took place at West Islip High School. It was the first outright county title for Sachem East since 2007. The team shared the title with Ward Melville in the spring of 2021, but this victory stands alone. The Panthers enter the Long Island Class AAA championship game on Sunday with a 14-2-1 record.
Offense was scarce in the final. Each side recorded just three shots on target. In the 43rd minute, Sachem East won a corner kick but opted to run a play. The move resulted in a turnover, but sophomore midfielder Hailey Lessuk recovered the ball on the left wing.
Lessuk sent a pass from the 20-yard line into the box. The ball drifted through the Connetquot backline and sat loose in front of the net. Junior forward Gabriella Arculeo faced the goalkeeper one-on-one. Arculeo struck the ball in stride and tucked it into the back-left corner. The goal gave Sachem East a lead it held for the rest of the match.
Connetquot, which finished the season 14-3-1, attempted to equalize just 20 seconds later. Junior goalkeeper Paige Seaman batted the shot away. After that moment, Sachem East’s defense limited the final 30 yards of the pitch to Connetquot’s possession. The backline remained organized until the final whistle.
Coach Glen Monsen praised the maturity of his young players. He noted that while their age may be young, they play with the physicality and wisdom of older athletes. He expressed excitement for the program's future. The team faces Oceanside at 4 p.m. Sunday at Farmingdale State College.
