Ava DeMarco strikes twice to lift Northport girls soccer past West Islip in an all-Long Island state semifinal
Northport midfielder Riley Cash celebrates with forward Ava DeMarco after DeMarco's second goal during the Girls Soccer Southeast Regional Finals against Vestal at Chenango Valley High School on Nov. 7, 2026. Credit: Jack Henry
DRYDEN – Unfinished Business
A mantra that was written on the back of the Northport girls soccer team's warm-up shirts after losing to Oceanside in last season's Long Island Class AAA championship.
Ava DeMarco embraced that message throughout the season, and Saturday afternoon was no different.
DeMarco scored two goals in Northport's 2-0 win over West Islip in the state Class AA semifinals at Dryden High School, sending Northport to its first state final since 1996, according to coach Aija Gipp.
"This is all I dreamed of," DeMarco said. "I've looked for this moment since last year when we lost. I told everyone, 'We're going to get it next year.'"
"It's not even the goals and assists that she brings to this team," Gipp said. "It's how she lifts everyone up. She's so positive, and she strives to be the best to help her team."
Northport (18-2) plays the winner of Spencerport-Bethlehem in the state Class AA final Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Cortland High School.
Northport got on the board early. DeMarco drew a foul in the box, earning her a penalty kick, which she netted in the 11th minute.
From there, it became a defensive battle. Both teams' backlines stifled each other's attacks, preventing either from creating easy scoring chances. Junior defender Elly Arabadjief anchored the Tigers' defense, making key stops to slow down West Islip's transition attack.
"We had to focus on winning the [50/50] balls," Arabadjief said. "They play a kick-and-run game, and we had to let nothing through, and I think we did a great job doing that."
DeMarco scored again in the 74th minute after Caitlin Cocks found the senior forward, who beat two defenders and blasted a 19-yard goal into the bottom-right corner.
"I messed up a couple of times before that," DeMarco said. "But I knew I had to place it perfectly because I knew it was now or never."
"She's a great player, and I love watching her play," Arabadjief said. "She works and gets after it and always finds a way to finish."
Jenna Obloj had three shots for West Islip (18-2).
Northport and West Islip faced each other for the third time this season. They split their first two matchups. It was the first time in girls soccer history that two Long Island teams had faced each other in the final four of the state tournament, which occurred this year after Section XI received an at-large bid for the Class AA state tournament. That went to West Islip after losing to Northport, 3-1, in the Suffolk Class AA final.
Coaches and players from both sides said it was great that two Long Island schools played in the state semifinals.
"It's hard to get off the Island because there is such good competition," Gipp said.
"It's a tough league to be a part of," DeMarco said. "It shows the best of the best comes out of this league, and the best of the best can finish."
For many of West Islip's seniors, the loss marked the end of their soccer careers. Coach Ed Jablonski said it was a pleasure to coach the team.
"I couldn't have asked for anything more from them," Jablonski said. "They worked so hard from the first day. I love them all, and I can't wait to see what they do next."
Now, Northport is one win away from a state title.
"It's been a long time coming," Gipp said. "The talent I saw coming, I'm so proud of them. We've been building for the past four years, and we've been getting better. We are peaking at the right time."
Jonathan Ruban covers high school sports for Newsday after graduating from St. John’s.
