Though Maffetone blasted the ball over the crossbar of a yawning net midway through the first half, it didn’t come back to haunt the Sailors. That’s because Gura, working behind a defense led by junior Dan Smolarchik and seniors Francis Rapp and Tim Garrett, slammed the door on the Dalers, who slipped to 0-6. “Farmingdale beat us twice last year,” Gura said. “We needed to take care of
business.”

The ball did get past Gura five minutes into the second half, but Rapp cleared it from the goalmouth before Farmingdale’s Christopher Haseman could cash in. Gura then did his best work inside of 17 minutes, making a
diving stop off Zachary Kolodny and two sprawling saves on the doorstep. “He’s great on the ground,” Phelan said of Gura. “When the ball hits his hands, it usually stays there. He doesn’t give up many rebounds.”

The pressure was off the defense after Vitta rocketed home a shot from 25 yards out following an indirect free kick.