Quinn, Shoreham-Wading River ready for semifinals

Kari Quinn doesn't just lead Shoreham-Wading River in goals and assists. She serves as the team’s second coach when out on the field.

“She really takes the time to tell the kids how to make themselves better,” Shoreham-Wading River coach Adriane Gilmore said. “She’s just a great inspirational voice. I’ve coached kids that have her talent and sometimes they’re not such a team player. But she really, truly is. She just makes all the difference on the field. She knows how good she is, but she never says it.”

Now in her fifth and final year on varsity before continuing her soccer career at Syracuse University, Quinn is hoping to lead the Wildcats to a place they haven’t been since 2006: the county championship game.

“It’s just the way I am,” Quinn said. “I’m kind of always a leader, I always try to take charge. I know that if I help pick my teammates up, they will respond and we will all help each other.”

They will all need to help each other out on Friday when No. 3 Shoreham-Wading River faces a difficult match-up with No. 2 Bayport Blue Point in the Class A semifinals. Joining Quinn, a center midfielder who has 11 goals and nine assists, will be:

Shannon McDonnell, a senior midfielder with five goals and five assists. “I can put Shannon anywhere on the field,” Gilmore said.”

And Meghan Seabrook, a forward who missed the beginning of the season but has come on strong recently to score five goals and three assists. “I really didn’t know how great Meghan was until I saw her these last couple of games,” Gilmore said. “She’s been playing more and more and just her footwork and field vision is unbelievable.

“With her, Kari and Shannon, it’s a beautiful game to watch.”

Shoreham has also had a glimpse into its future this season with freshman center-mid Courtney Clasen, who has one goal and three assists.

“She has such confidence when she plays and carries the ball so well,” Gilmore said. “Losing Kari at the end of this year would make you a little scared. But seeing how Courtney plays, she really has stepped up to be that next player to fill her shoes.”

The defense has been anchored by Alex Amato, Jessica Angerman, Kate Birkmire and keeper Kelly Wynkoop, who has eight shutouts. They will look to stop Bayport on corner kicks, which gave Shoreham trouble in the two games the teams split this season.

“All the goals they’ve scored on us were on corner kicks, free kicks,” Quinn said. “They are good in the air. We need to be very aggressive in the air and mark up really well in the box. That’s probably the most important thing.”

Shoreham-Wading River has been a regular in the Class A semifinals over the past few seasons. This year they are hoping to take it at least one step further.

“We have talent but we also have heart,” Gilmore said. “I think that’s what makes a difference in these tough games, teams that have both.”

They’ve got talent. They’ve got heart. But they’ve also got Kari Quinn.

“I think if we were going to make it to counties,” Quinn said. “this would be the year we could do it.”