Rams hang with conference leader
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West Hempstead's Joe Visone, left, tries to beat Locust Valley's Rob Converse to a loose ball during a recent Conference ABC-V game.
Susan Grieco/Herald
Though the best West Hempstead can finish in Conference ABC-V boys’ soccer is third place, the junior-oriented Rams can hang their hats on the fact they played undefeated Oyster Bay as tough as anyone.
The Rams (6-5) dropped their second one-goal decision to the Baymen (10-0-2) this month, falling 2-1 on the road Oct. 22. Oyster Bay got goals from its brother tandem of senior Tom Treiber and sophomore Willie Treiber en route to clinching the conference title.
“They’ve got a strong midfield and move the ball nicely,” West Hempstead coach Chris Van Kovics said. “We were against the wind in the first half and happy to come away scoreless but then they scored off a corner just a minute into the second half.”
Trailing 2-0 with 30 minutes remaining, the Rams began to find a few seams in the defense and eventually broke through with a goal off the foot of junior Winston Lyons. His team-leading ninth goal came from 35 yards out with five minutes to go. Junior goalkeeper Vinny Gazzara kept things close with seven saves, including three from point-blank range. “Our defense and keeper played well,” Van Kovics said.
When practice began Aug. 31, Gazzara was one of a handful of candidates to fill a key position on a team that won just one game in 2008. Almost 100 saves later, he’s a candidate to pick up an individual honor. “He’s been phenomenal,” Van Kovics said. “I think we had five kids in the mix to play goal at the beginning of the year. His confidence grew every game as did the confidence the other kids had in him. I hope he continues to play during the offseason, and I think he will.”
The defense in front of Gazzara has been led by senior captains Ben Abelido and Dan Boehm and a host of juniors including Casey Schneider, Joe Visone, Vinny Lopez and Chris Mosca. “They’ve done a very good job back there,” Van Kovics said.
Abelido got involved in the offense Oct. 16 when the Rams edged Locust Valley, 3-2. He assisted on two goals, including the game-winner by junior Scott Leeb with 10 minutes left. Seniors Leo Saliba and junior Jason Arasmo also found the net. “Locust Valley doesn’t give up too many goals and I was concerned after we fell behind early,” Van Kovics said. “The winning goal was just a great play. Abelido hit a nice cross and Leeb put it home.”
It was Leeb’s third goal of the year. Sailba has five and senior Joe Criollo has seven. Saliba and Criollo are captains.
If the Rams can avenge an earlier loss to Malverne-East Rockaway in the finale, they’ll reach their goal of finishing with at least a .500 record. “Where we are this year compared to last year is like day and night,” Van Kovics said. “It’s a totally different team.”
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