Finley-Blue Boys’ Soccer Battles Suffolk Best Teams

The J. Taylor Finley Middle School “blue” soccer team battled many of the top seventh and eighth grade squads in Suffolk while showcasing a group of very promising players.

Finley was coached by high school physical education teacher Alex Nelson. Finley field two boys’ soccer teams this past fall with one designated the “blue” team and the other the “white” team in a nod to the school’s blue and white colors.

Finley-Blue was led by eighth grade striker Jordan Aguilar and eighth grade center backs Giankarlos Bracero and Artturi Landau.

“Jordan led the team in goals,” Nelson said. “His speed, physicality and finishing ability was a problem for opposing teams. Giankarlos helped the team out bigtime by playing as the center back. His soccer IQ is the best on the team and was extremely reliable in a difficult position. Artturi was our other center back and is the full package. He has great technical and tactical ability and did amazing in a position he doesn’t normally play.”

The highlight of the season came when Finley went toe-to-toe against powerful Brentwood North. “We lost in overtime, but it was one of the best games, if not the best, we played this season,” Nelson said. “Brentwood was a really strong team.”

Aguilar’s five goals were the most on the team. Finley’s offense was challenged. The team scored 11 goals and gave up 46.

“The team did a great job stepping up to the challenge of facing new teams in a new conference,” Nelson said. “This group of players had to go against powerhouses such as Brentwood and Commack. I am proud of them stepping up to the challenge and giving it their all.”

A majority of the 25 players were seventh graders. “We will look to build around our talented returning seventh graders, such as Evan Murillo, Angel Maldonado, Noah Garcia, Maxwell Manu and Jean Carlos Garay,” Nelson said.