The Huntington varsity boys’ soccer team used three second half goals to avenge their lone loss of the season as the Blue Devils topped Smithtown West, 3-0.
Huntington dropped a 1-0 verdict to the Bulls in the first game of the season, but the Blue Devils have been nearly perfect since then, going 7-0-1 over the past eight games.
The New York State Sportswriters Association ranks Huntington No. 15 in the state among all large schools. Only two Suffolk high schools are ranked higher.
Against Smithtown West, Huntington used goals by Jeison Blanco Portillo, Ian Husselbeck and Edwin Marroquin to gain the upper hand and seal an important victory on the road. Roberto Contreras, Julio Martinez and Kieran Husselbeck added assists.
Asked about the different outcomes in the two meetings between the teams and Martinez gave a simple answer. “We played with more intensity,” he said.
Blanco Portillo said “the defense was lockdown today” and he was right. Huntington didn’t provide Smithtown West with many opportunities to score.
Blue Devil head coach John Pagano is looking for his team to keep winning. Huntington hosts North Babylon today. Games at Smithtown East, Half Hollow Hills East and West Islip will follow. Huntington hosts Bellport on Homecoming Day (Saturday, October 9) at 9 a.m. before heading out on the road again for a game at Centereach. The Blue Devils will play their final regular season home game on Monday, October 18 against Copiague.
