Shoreham-Wading River girls soccer wins 'Gilmore Game,' gets goals from five different players

It was the kind of day Adrian Gilmore lived for.

The sun was shining. The players were scoring. And the Wildcats defeated Floyd, 5-1. That’s exactly what the former Shoreham-Wading River girls soccer coach loved to experience as often as possible.

On Saturday, Shoreham-Wading River hosted its inaugural “Gilmore Game” for coach Adrian Gilmore, who died at 42 on April 23 of a brain aneurysm, one day after collapsing on school grounds. Gilmore coached the Wildcats for 14 seasons, leading them to 165 victories, six Suffolk Class A titles, three Long Island Class A championships and a state Class A crown.

Saturday was a day to honor the legacy of Gilmore. And the players couldn’t wait to step on the field to begin an annual event to honor their former coach against Floyd, where Gilmore graduated from and raised her family.

“We play for her every day, but knowing we had a game dedicated to her was just so special,” senior midfielder Olivia Pesso said. “We were really looking forward to coming together with William Floyd, and being able to dedicate a whole game to her is something really special and something she deserves.”

Before the game, both teams walked onto the field together, holding a Gilmore Game banner and joined by members of the Gilmore family. Kayla, Gilmore’s oldest child, returned from Maryland to attend the inaugural Gilmore Game. Kayla was a three-sport standout athlete at Floyd and is currently in her sophomore year playing for the Maryland women’s lacrosse team.

“I feel like I’m back at home,” Kayla said. “Being on the sidelines again and watching them play, it’s like I’m with her today, and we all are. She’s with all of us today. She’s watching her girls play and I know she’s smiling so high from up above being able to see two communities come together for something bigger than the game. She deserves this. She deserves the world. She did so much for everyone, and everyone has made this day so incredibly special.”

Gilmore would have been thrilled with how her girls performed as well. Mia Mangano scored in the third minute for the first of three Shoreham-Wading River goals over the first 15 minutes in non-league play.

“All my goals are, but that one in particular, that goal was for Gilmore,” Mangano said. “She was always on me to score the ball, so whenever I score, I always think of her. Being able to be the first one to score in her game left me speechless.”

Shoreham-Wading River had five different goal scorers and all 25 Wildcats saw game action, something coach Lydia Kessel, who played for Gilmore, said Gilmore would have loved. Alexis Cordano, Brenna Molinelli, Ella Nowaski, Abby Cooke and Mangano scored for Shoreham-Wading River (5-1-2). Floyd fell to 2-6.

“I feel her presence every time I’m on the field and today, it was so much more,” Kessel said. “I felt like we needed it. It’s been this weird transition where she’s supposed to be here, and today, it felt like she was here.”

“She’d be smiling for sure,” said assistant coach Brian Ferguson, who was Gilmore’s assistant since 2016. “She’s a special person and this community always comes together for special people like her.”

The boys team followed with a 1-0 victory over Garden City on a day that featured food, basket raffles and 50/50 raffles to support the Gilmore family. Many of the girls wore burgundy ribbons in their hair, and drew the initials “AG” on their arms or legs with the burgundy ribbon drawn on to honor Gilmore.

“This meant the world to us,” Mangano said. “She’s always meant the world to us, so being able to celebrate her in a way and honor her is a great thing to do. The fact that they’ll continue to do this, and I got to be a part of it, I’m just so grateful.”

“It’s just really special,” Kayla Gilmore said. “This shows how much she did, not only for her students, but athletes here in this community. It just makes everything a little bit easier. Having all this love and support and knowing everyone’s by our sides through all this, it helps our family. We are so speechless for everyone and all their love and support.”