Abby Incorvaia does not have an off switch.
Yes, the Waldwick senior loves to score for her town, and her team and wants nothing more than to capture the state ring that’s eluded her for the past three years. But the fire inside the Syracuse commit burns just as hot in practice and off the field.
Fun games at Christmas turn intense. Walks from the car to the door become a race. Sometimes, even the family Easter egg hunt gets physical.
“That might have happened,” Incorvaia said. “We also had a Monopoly incident, but we’re not going to talk about that.”
These days, the talk around Waldwick is a milestone chase rarely seen.
Incorvaia is on the verge of becoming the first player in program history to score 100 goals, and the first in North Jersey since 2021. She comes into Tuesday only one away after combining for 12 goals and two assists so far this season.
If anyone can appreciate the consistency it takes to reach the mark, it is new Waldwick coach Stefanee Kivlehan. The former Kearny star finished with 101 career goals before going on to play at Rutgers.
Kivlehan said she was debating whether to cancel practice one recent Saturday to let players rest and recover. Incorvaia talked her out of it.
“There’s never a question whether she’s going to be there today,” Kivlehan said. “Mentally, she’s extremely strong. You coach players over the years, and sometimes they might have an off day. You can’t tell with her. She’s out here and this is like her home on the field. It’s seems where she’s most comfortable.”
From 1 to 100
Since the beginning, Incorvaia has been at the center of everything for the small-school Warriors. After scoring in her first game as a freshman, the Waldwick midfielder finished with 19 goals that season and added 34 in each of the next two.
Still, she describes her upcoming milestone as a team accomplishment and a reflection of the players around her. Mayu Nakano (5 goals, 4 assists) has taken some pressure off this year by moving up from the back line. Kyra Rahulatharan has 30 assists over the course of her career.
The Waldwick defense has held up well behind them, conceding only six goals through six games.
“I think each player here brings something different to the team and you can see it when you watch us play,” Incorvaia said. “There’s quick movement of the ball. We’re celebrating as a team and winning as a team with a lot of different goal-scorers.”
Family affair
For Incorvaia, there was no debate when it came time to choose a high school. She wanted to play for the Warriors with her older sister Ava, who is now a freshman at Division I Albany.
They’ve been side-by-side almost every step of the way, from rec to travel and club, even when it required Abby to play up a level.
In 2022, their offensive prowess helped Waldwick earn its first sectional title in a decade. Abby scored a goal in the final and Ava buried the other three, including the winner in overtime.
“Ava was the forward,” Incorvaia said. “She was strong, she had a hell of a shot. I was like the quick little technical one, so we worked off each other’s strengths. I think that’s why I’m as competitive as I am. I wanted to be the best I could be, no matter my age.”
“Not a day goes by where she isn’t going to the gym, watching film, going to the field, etc,” Ava Incorvaia said of her sister. “She is always the first one at practice and stays after to get extra practice in as well.”
That intensity bleeds into everyday life. Ava Incorvaia tells a story about one Christmas when her and other relatives put on a blindfold and had to pick up money with a spatula. The fact that their grandmother made it easier for a 7-year-old cousin caused a stir.
Abby pleads the fifth.
“That’s for another time,” Incorvaia said, cutting off the question like a textbook trap.
“There’s never a dull moment with Abby,” her sister said. “She will always leave you laughing.”
Abby Incorvaia will be a little closer to her sister next year after committing to Syracuse over Denver, Pittsburgh, New Hampshire and others. Playing for an ACC school was a longtime goal for Incorvaia, who loved the campus and coaching staff on her tour along Comstock Ave.
While the commitment brings a sense of security, Incorvaia is far from satisfied. Her last dance at Waldwick is like Easter morning all over again.
“In the last year here, we want the ring,” Incorvaia said. “I’m not the type of person to have senioritis. I’ll always push myself. I don’t want to ever have regrets or leave anything off the field. When I’m on the field or in school, I want to do the best I can do and have no regrets leaving high school.”
