Long Beach off to exciting start

Long Beach boys’ soccer opened at home with a come-from-behind 3-2 win against defending Nassau Class AA champion Calhoun, a confidence-boosting upset that coach Leo Palacio expects will propel his team to an outstanding 2017 campaign. So far, so good, as the Marines start the season 3-0-1.

Long Beach was down 2-0 at halftime when forward-midfielder Dillon Woods scored the team’s first goal and the game-winner on a breakaway, while senior goalkeeper Scott Gernhardt notched six saves.

“If you can’t move forward with that first win against Calhoun, then I don’t know what to say,” said Palacio, who couldn’t recall defeating the Colts during his 32 years coaching the team. 

Woods and his step-brother, junior forward-midfielder Axel Camas, who had an assist against Calhoun and scored the tie-breaker in a 2-1 victory at Herricks on Sept. 14, were All-County selections last year and will set the tone this season. 

“Dillon is very quick, and knows how to finish a play; he can score a goal from 30 yards out on a free kick, and Axel is definitely one of the best sweepers in the county; he understands the game and doesn’t panic,” Palacio said.

Sean Malone is another top defender, a senior midfielder who has smarts and is quick to the ball, Palacio said. He’s also seen “100 percent” improvement from Gernhardt, who had seven saves in a 2-2 tie at Valley Stream Central on Sept. 12 and six versus Herricks. He will share goalie duties with senior Marc Reilly.  

“Scott brings experience, commands very well and is good on the ball,” Palacio said.

The team’s other offensive threats are a pair of capable senior ball handlers, forward Carlos Castro, a key distributor who scored twice and had two assists in a 4-1 win against Farmingdale on Sept. 16 and one goal versus VSC, and midfielder Adam Leavitt, a third-year player who added a goal in both games.

“Carlos moves the ball very well and is one of those guys who sets up a lot of our guys and opens up the field for everybody,” Palacio said. “Adam has a great touch on the ball and a great feeling for the game.”

After a string of winless and subpar seasons of late, Palacio started a club this year and held spring and summer practices that drew 30 participants. He calls his current 22-man roster committed, hardworking and hungry. 

Among his up-and-coming players are the skillful sophomore center-forward Keri Saravia, who netted the tying goal against Calhoun, and sophomore Bryan Mizhirumbay, a starting center-midfielder who is good at the small things. There are also two juniors: outside midfielder Jael Jarama, a promising one-on-one player, and Robert Cody, who is adept at defending forwards. 

Despite his team’s early success, Palacio recognizes that championship teams usually finished the regular season strong. Long Beach’s strength will get tested when they travel to Calhoun to wrap up the season Oct. 9. 

“Hopefully, that will be for the league title,” he said. “It’s going to be a tough one, but they’ve marked that date on their calendar, trust me.”