Falcons moving in right direction

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A rugged 2013 campaign that saw it celebrate just one victory appears light years away for Valley Stream South, which totaled seven goals in back-to-back Conference AB-2 boys’ soccer wins over Roosevelt and Lynbrook in a span of three days.

Senior Marino Sorbara, who has played forward and sweeper, netted the eventual game-winner in last Monday’s 3-1 triumph at Lynbrook. Junior Bryant Campbell opened the scoring, while junior Alex Castano added the insurance goal as the Falcons upped their record to 4-3 overall and 3-2 in conference play. Junior goalkeeper Matt Labeck made five saves.

“Things are going 100 times better than last year,” VSS coach Rich Boyd said. “We may have a small senior class, but they’re all showing they can lead by example.”

Boyd said he was hopeful the Falcons would carry their momentum into the Lynbrook game after knocking off Roosevelt, 4-0, last Saturday at home. Senior Mike Wasilewski, junior Lionel Monsia, Campbell, and Castano scored, and Labeck made six stops in the shutout.

“That was a big confidence-builder against a team that had a few nice wins,” Boyd said. “I thought if we could build on it and beat Lynbrook, we could get on a roll.”

It four wins, South has produced 14 goals. Campbell, an attacking center-midfielder, is setting the pace with five. “We expected big things from him, and he’s playing well and making good decisions,” Boyd said. “He’s quick and strong, and wins balls in the air.”

Up front, Sorbara, Monsia, and Castano are applying pressure consistently. The trio could get a boost down the road from injured junior William Sarrion. Sorbara, a captain with a strong left-footed shot, slides to sweeper on occasion. “Marino is a very hard worker in a dual role,” Boyd said. “He’s as tough as nails and experienced. He anticipates plays and makes things happen.” 

Castano is undersized but plays big, Boyd said, and his combination of speed and toughness has resulted in three goals and one assist so far. The coach said Monsia (two goals, three assists) is technically sound and seeing the field better in his second year at the varsity level. “It’s nice to get early production from him,” Boyd noted.

Senior Kacper Bury, a captain, and junior Donte Robinson, are workhorses in the midfield with Campbell.

The defense features a mix of returnees and newcomers in front of Labeck, who has 40 saves through seven games. Wasilewski is a physical presence at fullback, where fellow senior Brandon Leite is also thriving after playing at the JV level last fall. “Brandon’s tall and is winning a lot of loose balls,” Boyd said. Junior Samori Emmanuel is playing well at sweeper after an injury plagued 2013. Freshman Brian Garay, who has two goals and plenty of skills, is the starting stopper. “He’s got a natural knack to play the game,” Boyd said.

The Falcons host Roslyn on Monday at 4:30 p.m.