The Huntington High School varsity boys’ soccer team celebrated its seniors last Thursday afternoon before going on to defeat visiting West Islip, 4-1 to finish the regular season with a 13-1 mark.
Blue Devil head coach John Pagano and assistant coach Jason Suarez along with the team’s underclassmen recognized seniors Brenden Abedin, Arnold Alfaro, Wilber Cuadra, Benton Cueto, Trevor Cueto, Owen Husselbeck, Joseph O’Connell, Mike-el Ollivierre, Cristian Romero-Garcia, Jah-Meer Sallet, Osiris Shepherd, Jairo Ulloa and Jorge Valles.
The seniors have helped make Huntington one of the best programs in Suffolk and set a high bar for the players coming after they graduate in June.
This year’s Blue Devil roster also includes freshman Bryan Lizama; sophomores Kieran Husselbeck, Ian Husselbeck and Keven Velez; and juniors Cecilio Alvarez, Daniel Rodrigo, Jeison Blanco Portillo, Roberto Contreras, Jose Flores, Matthew Lange, Liam Lennon, Julio Martinez and Joseph Rodriquez-Valdez.
On Senior Day, the Blue Devils scored all four of their goals in the game’s first half, essentially putting away the contest.
Arnold Alfaro, Jeison Blanco, Owen Husselbeck and Liam Lennon all scored. Blanco added two assists. Kieran Husselbeck, Julio Martinez and Osiris Shepherd also assisted on goals. Goalie Daniel Rodrigo made six saves.
The Blue Devils are riding high. The team’s only loss came when undefeated Newfield nipped Huntington, 2-1.
Martinez (seven goals; seven assists), Blanco, (seven goals; six assists), Ulloa (five goals; one assist), Contreras (six goals; three assists), Alfaro (four goals; two assists) and O. Husselbeck (one goal; four assists) have paced Huntington’s offense.
Rodrigo has been brilliant in goal, stopping 58 shots, recording 10 shutouts and allowing only six goals in 14 games.
