After making playoffs for fourth consecutive year, No. 11 Riverhead falls to Eastport-South Manor, 3-0

After starting the season winning seven out of nine games, many of which were decided by one goal, the Riverhead field hockey fell apart a bit down the stretch.

Though they did fall in the standings, their 8-6 regular season record was good enough to secure their fourth consecutive playoff berth as the No. 11 seed in the A bracket.

“We started the season sixth and we finished there,” Riverhead head coach Cheryl Walsh-Edwards said. “The girls did what they had to do to make playoffs.”

After losing many of their starters the year before, Riverhead revamped with youth and proved tough enough to make noise in the talented Division II group. Only three starters were seniors.

On Saturday, they faced No. 6 Eastport-South Manor in the first round of the playoffs and fell 3-0.

“ESM is a strong team even though it’s their first year playing varsity,” Walsh-Edwards said. “A lot of their girls played travel and they have a talented coach. They played a good game and we knew it would be tough but I was very proud of the girls.”

In an expected off-year as the Blue Waves seemed to be rebuilding, one can expect more from next year’s team as most of the starters return with much needed experience.

They’ll say goodbye to starters Katelyn Zaneski, Emily Masse and Emily Pearce and open up the chance for new talent to take their place.

“The future is bright,” Walsh-Edwards said. “Onward we go!”