Seaford looks to make progress

The wins haven’t piled up for Seaford boys soccer so far in 2015, but the effort has.

Three weeks into the season, the Vikings find themselves at 2-5-1 overall with many losses having come in close, hard-fought games. Seaford captured its non-league season-opener against Mepham, 1-0, and last Friday snapped a five-game winless streak with a 1-0 victory over Cold Spring Harbor. 

“We have a mix of some good returning players and a mix of good soccer players who don’t have much experience at the varsity level,” said Seaford head coach Ralph Pascarella. “We’re still trying to figure out where we are.”

Despite a tough start to the new season, Pascarella has been pleased with the effort and character of his team. In six of Seaford’s eight games, the Vikings were tied at halftime. 

“It’s a great group of kids,” Pascarella said. “They work very hard.” 

Seaford’s four captains of seniors Dan Connell, Keith McHugh and Kyle Schiralli along with junior Jake Palmer have helped keep the Vikings competitive. Connell, who captured Conference AB-III defensive player of the year honors last year, along with defenders McHugh, Palmer and Schiralli at goalie, anchor Seaford’s backline.

“They are great leaders on and off the field,” Pascarella said of his captains. “Their leadership allows me to just focus on the soccer part.”

On offense, Pascarella is excited about the emergence of sophomore midfielder Luke Kasulke, who scored game-winning goals in the victories against Mepham and Cold Spring Harbor. Kasulke also registered an assist in a 3-1 loss at Wheatley on Sept. 11.

“If he keeps doing what he’s doing, he will be one of the best players in Nassau County,” Pascarella said of Kasulke. “He’s the real deal.”

Key senior contributors this season have been midfielders Dan Boulukos and Ethan Earle, who Pascarella said have fought hard for playing time in their final year of high school soccer. Sophomore forward Ryan Pearse is also a force on offense after starting as a freshman.

Seaford is vying to earn one of the four playoff spots in Conference AB-III. The Vikings are 1-3-1 in conference play so far and will look to get their second league win at West Hempstead on Wednesday, after press time. After an Oct. 2 road game at Clarke, Seaford’s next home game is scheduled for Oct. 6 under the lights at 7 p.m. against Malverne/East Rockaway.

“We’re blue collar kids that work hard and try to compete and stay in each game,” said Pascarella. “We keep playing all the way until the end and see what happens.”

Inspired by Nico
The Vikings have drawn inspiration this season from senior Nico Fiorello, who played on varsity last season before suffering serious back and neck injuries in a swimming accident at Jones Beach in May. Fiorello has made progress since the accident and has joined his Seaford teammates on the sidelines as often as he can this fall.

“We love having him around,” Pascarella said. “We care a lot about him.”