47.0°,
Mostly Cloudy Off 12-win season, Carey retools
Back-to-back seasons ensconced at the top after almost two title-less decades have made Carey reluctant to entertain the idea of possible slippage – even as the Nassau Conference A2 boys’ soccer reigning co-champion flips back to the start of a reset cycle.
The defending champion Seahawks squad (4-0 Conference A3 spring 2021) that bolted 11-0 last autumn and took its first loss in its regular-season finale – finishing 12-2 overall as a Nassau Class A quarterfinalist, both its losses coming against eventual county Class A champion Garden City – has been drastically whittled, with eight starters, each an award-winner, graduating this past June.
Still, 17th-year coach Matt Princi – whose club this fall competes in the new the 11-team Conference A West – said Carey isn’t planning on being nudged from its perch. “The goal is to stay on top,” Princi said. “It’s hard to get there, like we have, and not want to stay there. This new group picked up a lot from last year’s group. They’ve been training a lot on their own all summer. They’re not listening to everyone who’s saying it’s a rebuilding year. Nobody’s using the word ‘rebuild’ in our locker room.”
Permitting only eight goals last season – three off the league lead and 10 fewer than the next-ranked team, third-place Glen Cove – the Seahawks’ defense ranked second in A2. Back to shepherd Carey’s new backfield through its orientation phase is senior All-Conference defender Jason Malovich, playing alongside first-year-starting backs Daniel Stepien and Jon-Demir Kalmaz, both six-foot-plus juniors. “Jason’s our fastest player,” Princi said. “He’s a tough defender and can also lead an attack. Teams have to slide over to cover him, which opens things up.”
Succeeding All-County goalkeeper and Seahawks captain Gino Cervoni – now at Hofstra – is six-foot sophomore Vasilios Dallas coming off a fine junior varsity showing. “We consider ourselves lucky, after graduating a Division 1 goalkeeper, to have someone just as talented in Vasilios,” Princi said. “He’s been impressive, last year and in tryouts. Looking forward to having him for three years.”
Senior Jose Rojas becomes a starting Seahawks winger, with sophomore Giovanni Astaiza – returning from a year’s hiatus – and 6-foot-3 junior Macelin Buja Jr. rounding out Carey’s first-string attack. “Jose, coming off the bench, was a big part of what we did last year,” Princi said. “He moves well and can finish in front of the net. Giovanni’s crafty with the ball. Macelin’s a big kid we just want to find in the box and get his head on the ball.”
“Once we establish that team chemistry,” Princi added, “we’ll be tough to beat. Our goal, as always, is to line up against opponents, and beat them.”
In non-league action, Carey defeated visiting Valley Stream North, 2-1, in the opener Sept. 8.
