New year, new set of heroes for the Huntington High School varsity boys’ soccer team, which graduated many of its top players last June. Head coach John Pagano and assistant coach Jason Suarez are excited to see who among the returnees will step up and fill the voids.
While the Blue Devils lost Brian Contreras, Carmine De Ieso, Junior Flores, Jasson Garay-Portillo, Deybi Jimenez Euseda, Cole Pillion, Julien Rentsch, Manuel Reyes-Villalta, Carlos Reyes-Villalta and Nick Thompson to graduation, many skilled players are returning and several of last year’s JV stars are expected to be promoted to the varsity.
Huntington varsity boys' soccer coach John Pagano
“I feel good about this season and have high expectations,” said senior Jah-Meer Sallet, who earned All-League honors last fall. “We have a strong team with a lot of talented players who are determined to win. Playing in March-April will give us more time to prepare and I believe it will benefit the team. I look forward to having a great year with the boys.”
Huntington is coming off a 13-3-1 season that saw the Blue Devils win their third league title in five years. The loss of Garay will most certainly hurt since he tallied 15 goals and six assists. But, the returnees are feel positive about the team’s chances, which is the Blue Devil way.
“I would say I’m optimistic for it,” senior Owen Husselbeck said. “We were all a little disappointed that it couldn’t be in the fall, but we still have a season so I’m looking forward to seeing how it goes in the spring. The team’s looking great this year. We have some new kids coming in from JV who can make an impact.”
Sallet and Husselbeck will be joined by fellow varsity returnees Arnold Alfaro, Robert Contreras, Wilber Cuadra, Benton Cueto, Trevor Cueto, Jose Flores, Alex Martinez, Yovani Rubio, Osiris Shepherd and Jairo Ulloa.
The Blue Devils are adjusting to the new reality of playing in the spring. “Well, I’m just glad we are even having a season,” Cuadra said. “I feel like this team can make it pretty far. We are all hungry for wins and we’re ready for anything coming our way.”
Section XI hasn’t released schedules yet, but Huntington’s players say they will be ready when the whistle sounds for the first game.
“I’m definitely excited for the season in the spring,” Alfaro said. “Even though we’re all disappointed that we can’t play as soon as possible we’re keeping a positive attitude about the whole situation. We’re looking at it as more time to prepare and get ready for the upcoming season. It gives us time to get the incoming players adjusted and comfortable with the team, which will give us a major advantage when the season does come. I think the team will look really good this year. Last year we had a great team chemistry and I think this year will be just as good as long as we continue to stay in touch and motivated.”
The Blue Devil boys’ soccer program has been on a roll and this year’s team wants that to continue. Who will be the new heroes?
“It’s going to feel very different this season, but we’re all just all happy we’re going to be able to have a season,” Ulloa said. “We have a very solid group and feel confident in winning back to back league titles.”
Varsity will rely on some newcomers
The Blue Devil varsity will most certainly be relying on some newcomers. Last fall’s junior varsity boys’ soccer team was exceptional and came painfully close to a perfect season, compiling a 12-1 record.
Coached by Blue Devil alum Jose Alfaro, the Huntington JV was talented throughout its roster, with experienced and skilled players at every position. The squad was led by forwards Jeison Portillo (25 goals, 10 assists) and Julio Martinez (15 goals, 5 assists), midfielders Matt Lange, Ian Husselback and Kieran Husselback and defenders Liam Lennon and Dylan Schnitzer.
Portillo was an offensive powerhouse. “Jeison had one goal this season and it was to break the JV scoring record held by Carlos Rivera,” Alfaro said. “He came very close, but missed by four.” (Portillo had 25 goals in 13 games while Rivera scored 29 times in 16 games.)
Martinez also shined as a scorer. “Julio is a bigtime player, smooth and natural with the ball,” Alfaro said. “Big things are ahead for him and Jeison.”
The Blue Devils were captained by Liam Lennon, Matt Lange and Joe Rodriquez. “The team had a high soccer IQ,” Alfaro said. “They weren’t satisfied with just winning. They wanted to win by playing beautifully.”
The team’s roster included current sophomores Jeison Blanco Portillo, Roman Borovica, Vincent Grassi, Ian Husselbeck, Kieran Husselbeck, Christian Panameno-Delcid, Justin Perez Castillo, Enzo Pupillo, Nikolai Seferian and Christopher Sorto-Garcia; current juniors Elmer Aguilera Avila, Cecilio Alvarez, Ronaldo Arias-Alfaro, Cristian Avelar-Romero, Denilson Diaz Mejia, Matthew Lange, Liam Lennon, Julio Martinez, Enri Reyes-Flores, Joseph Rodriquez-Valdez, Dylan Schnitzer and Henry Vohs; and current seniors Brenden Abedin, Deyby Diaz, Ethan Franciscovich, Joseph O’Connell, Mike-el Ollivierre and Andreas Seferian.
Finley players coming on strong
J. Taylor Finley Middle School fielded two very strong boys’ soccer teams last fall and players from those squads are in the pipeline and will make an impact on the high school level soon.
Bryan Lizama scored 21 goals to pace the Finley team coached by Travis Smith to a 9-0-1 mark.
While Lizama was a star, he wasn’t a one man show. “This was a complete team effort,” Smith said. “Everyone contributed to the team’s success.”
The top seventh grade players included forwards Colin Lennon (10 goals) and Antonio Leotta; midfielders Justin Villatoro, Jhordan Hernandez, Connor Fox, Brian Lynch, Anthony Addeo, Gustavo Flores, Luke Wesnofske and James Vohs; defenders Jerson Contreras and Andrew Case and goalie Nicholas Plachta.
The top eighth grade players included forwards Bryan Lizama and Jose Flores (seven goals); midfielders Teddy Leavy (six goals), Peter Leavy (five goals), Leuris Tavarez and Justin Alvarez; defenders Raymond Cumella, Eddie Canales, Jose Cabrera, Emil Licona and Chase Williams and goalie Dylan Hayden.
“We had a very hardworking, skillful and competitive team,” Smith said. “Our defense and goaltending was strong. Our offense was explosive with multiple playmaker and goal scorers. Goals were scored by 14 different players. Our goalies and defenders combined for five shutouts.”
The Finley team coached by Alex Nelson also turned in a splendid season, compiling a 7-2-1 record. The squad included 30 players and outscored its opponents by a 42-24 margin.
Striker Emerson Garay led Finley with eight goals. “He has an absolute canon for a right foot,” Nelson. “It might be the hardest shot in Huntington.”
Striker Carlos Marroquin and right wing Cruz Flores had six goals each. “Carlos is left-footed and his technical skills with the ball are as good as his shot,” Nelson said. “Cruz is one of the smartest players on the field. He’s also in the correct spot.”
Nicholas Rosan was superb at center midfield, scoring a pair of goals, playmaking and playing great defense. “Nick is a master craftsman with the ball at his feet,” Nelson said.
Dante Salgado was another of Finley’s top players, excelling at center back and even scoring a goal. “An immoveable object, not a single player in the league matches Dante’s athleticism,” Nelson said.
Andrew Castillo shined at center midfield and he, too, scored a goal. “Andrew is a well-rounded player with the size and speed to control the middle of the field,” Nelson said.
Parker Wands sparkled at center back and Daniel VanArsdale enjoyed a great year at goalie. “Parker was the most balanced player on the team and is capable of playing any position,” Nelson said. “Daniel was a wall in the net. His skill with the ball matches his keeper skills.”
Finley’s roster also included Michael Brandine, Jasiah Castillo Cortes, Bradley Contreras, Gavin Deegan, Justin D’Eloia, Chase Gadaire, Josue Gomez, Dylan Proctor, Ryan Scanlon, Jayden Schneider, Zachary Schnitzer, Jonathan Vigil-Camps, Harris Alba, Melvin Avelar-Romero, Josh Bhardhwaj, Josiah Freeman, Tyler Godin, Anthony Jimenez Avila, Nikolai Lulewich, Yexson Molina Arevalo, Jorge Reyes and Gustavo Reyes Ochoa.
