Jets aim for playoff landing

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East Meadow’s on the cusp of its first Nassau boy’s soccer playoff berth in the last five seasons on the strength of a senior class that’s helped guide the team to a win and two ties over the last three games. Those five points were important, as they helped keep the Jets (3-6-3 overall, 2-3-3 in Conference AA-II) in third place with two games remaining. The top four teams advance to the upcoming Class AA postseason tournament, and both Baldwin and Port Washington, in fifth and sixth place entering the week, respectively, were still in the conversation for a playoff berth.

“We have nine seniors and most are starting and playing major roles,” East Meadow coach Bob Elder said. “If we can win [against Valley Stream Central after presstime] we’re in a very good spot, then we have Hicksville [in the regular season finale on Friday] and they are very difficult to take points from.”

Indeed, the Comets were the overall leaders in terms of points in Conference AA-II with 21, and unbeaten Plainview-JFK had 20. Since a 4-1 loss to Hicksville on Sept. 30, East Meadow ripped off a 2-0 win over Port Washington on Oct. 2, followed by ties with Baldwin (1-1 on Oct. 7) and Plainview JFK (0-0 on Oct. 9). “[Making the playoffs] is huge for them,” Elder said of the senior class. “You can hear it in their voices when they’re talking on the bench.”

Senior Billy Walsh, the only forward in the team’s 4-5-1 alignment, is far and away the catalyst for the offense with seven goals and is edging close to the 30-goal mark for his career, this despite getting marked by three and sometimes four defenders. “He’s super fast and skillful and he can put it in the net,” Elder said.

In an effort to give the offense a boost earlier in the season, Elder moved starting goalkeeper Mike Warren into the field where he scored a pair of goals with senior Rudy Miranda taking over in net. But long-term, it’s in net where Warren has the biggest impact. Despite missing several games to play the field, the senior is still among the conference leaders in saves. “He makes the difficult saves look easy and the easy ones look easier,” Elder said. “He settles down the defense in front of him.”

The back row features a number of veterans, including senior Jake Healy in the center, seniors Dean Terki and Philip Wulff at one outside back and junior Paul Miano on the other side. Sophomore Daniel Sparkowski doesn’t come off the field and has rapidly developed into a key cog for a defense that’s posted three shutouts. Healy, meanwhile, is great at making plays on balls in the air, where his 6-foot-2 frame gives him a decided advantage.

The midfield is anchored by junior David Mushkudiani, a skilled player who provides a physical presence, and freshman Alberto Fernandez, who at times helps Walsh by pushing up to forward.