Blue Devil Soccer Hosts Playoff Game Today at 3:30 p.m.

The Huntington varsity boys’ soccer team will take the field today at Blue Devil Stadium against visiting Comsewogue at 3:30 p.m. for a Suffolk quarterfinal round Class AA playoff game. Admission is free.

Huntington enters today’s game ranked No. 8 in the state by the New York State Sportswriters Association. The Blue Devils are 13-2-1. Comsewogue has compiled an 8-5 record this fall.

Huntington is coached by John Pagano, Jason Suarez and Jose Alfaro. The Blue Devils are captained by Bryan Lizama, Edwin Marroquin, Dante Salgado and Jerson Contreras.

“Going into this playoff game we have one thing in mind and that’s winning a county title,” said Salgado, who is a defensive specialist. “I’m confident in our team and what we can do. Everyone has been working hard for this the whole season. We take it one game at a time and now Comsewogue is in our way.”

The Blue Devils have 10 shutouts this fall and have outscored their opponents, 41-11. But Pagano expects a tough game on Thursday and he hopes having hundreds of Huntington fans in the grandstand will help spur his team on to victory.

“We are training hard every day and we all seem technically and mentally sharp for Thursday,” said Lizama, a senior midfield who has seven goals and seven assists this fall. “Coming off a successful league season, we want to continue our form and challenge anything that comes our way. We are ready to play against Comsewogue and we will make sure it won’t be our last game of the season.”

Huntington has one of the most prolific scorers in Suffolk this year in Carlos Gutierrez, who has tallied 14 goals and seven assists. “We feel strong and comfortable, especially playing at home and having our people support us,” Gutierrez said. “We are working hard and practicing at a good pace so we are ready to play and get the win for our people.”

The Blue Devils aren’t taking anything for granted. The team’s veterans know that anything can happen on any given day. So players are working hard and preparing for whatever Comsewogue might deploy.

“Everything is looking good we’re all excited for this game, but the most important thing is to be confident,” defender Jerson Contreras-Moreira said. “Having a positive mentality and playing to our best ability and keep adding on. I truly feel we can do something special this year.”