Seaford aims for playoff spot

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The Seaford boys’ soccer team has reached the playoff stage four years in a row and in 2014 will be looking to take that next step closer to competing for a county championship.

The Vikings finished 6-7-1 in 2013 and dropped a closely contested 3-2 decision to Floral Park in a Nassau County Class A playoff play-in game. Seaford’s recent postseason history included dropping overtime heartbreakers to the top-seeded teams in both 2010 and ’11, which the program’s longtime head coach Ralph Pascarella says proves how vying for that county title is not out of the question once the playoffs begin.

“Once you get into the tournament, anything can happen,” Pascarella said. “We just want to be in the mix.”

To get an opportunity for some postseason magic, Seaford will need to finish among the top four in Conference ABC-3, which includes longtime soccer power Mineola and defending state champion Carle Place.

“We will be very competitive,” Pascarella said. “I expect us to make the playoffs.”

Seaford brings back five seniors, including midfielder Jake Doyle, who has been a four-year starter for the Vikings. Doyle is one of four captains that include senior John Defrancisi along with juniors Keith McHugh and Dan Connell. Defrancisi has helped anchor the Seaford backline as a starting defenseman since his sophomore campaign.

“They have shown great leadership,” Pascarella said of his four captains. “They are great guys.”

Seniors Derek Gerhard and Steven DiBlasio also add some offensive punch with both scoring a goal in Seaford’s 4-2 non-league loss to Lawrence on Sept. 5 in the opening round of the Carle Place Tournament. Senior Rory Cohn also tallied a goal in the Vikings’ 5-2 setback to the host Frogs on the following day.

Luke Kasulke is already making an impact as a freshman after playing on JV as an eighth grader. “He’s a very capable player,” Pascarella said of Kasulke, who can play midfield or forward. “He has everything.”

Another freshman in the starting lineup is forward/midfielder Ryan Pearse, who scored a goal in Seaford’s 5-2 loss to Carle Place on Sept. 6 that gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead. Pascarella is also counting on junior Ethan Earle to contribute as a role player off he bench.

Pascarella is pleased with the attitude of his team in the early going. Last year, Seaford captured the Team Sportsmanship Award for Conference ABC-3. “They are a great group,” Pascarella said. “They work hard.”

Seaford begins a stretch of three straight games at home on Thursday, Sept. 18, versus West Hempstead at 4:30 p.m. The Vikings are set to host night games against conference rival Clarke on Sept. 23 and non-league opponent Valley Stream South on Sept. 27.

“The key will be how we deal with negative moments,” Pascarella said. “We’re not going to beat anybody 4-0, but hopefully we don’t lose to anybody 4-0 either.”