While North Shore boys soccer has been competitive at 4-3-2, the play of junior striker Emil Samuels has been extraordinary.
Samuels has 11 goals and 3 assists in a breakout season for the Sea Cliff/Glen Head school.
“He’s having a great season,’’ Vikings coach Mike Bishop said. “He’s just skillful as well as strong. He’s often able to handle two defenders and make room for himself to find goals.’’
Samuels notched 4 goals last season, then had to recover from an offseason back injury. He has recorded two multiple-goal games against Island Trees and Lynbrook.
“I owe it all to the offseason work,’’ Samuels said. “It helped me build confidence and my teammates and coaches have played a huge role. I was training every day consistently on my own – on the field and in the gym. Coming back from injury I had to put in more work than usual.’’
Last spring, during club soccer, Samuels suffered a fracture in his lower back. “It took a big toll on me,’’ he said. “Coming back from that was definitely hard but all the work I put in is definitely starting to show.’’
Aiden Vasquez is “The Maroon’s’’ second-leading scorer with 4 goals, 3 assists and is just a sophomore. “He’s a midfielder and he can really control the ball,’’ Bishop said.
Meanwhile, junior Ethan Vasquez has been a defensive giant. “He’s keeping us in games, making sure the other team doesn’t advance,’’ Bishop said.
Bishop also has to figure out tactically bow to employ his regular goalie Alex Lementowski, who has made 43 saves. In addition, Lementowski has been slotted in at forward and scored 1 goal and 2 assists.
Bishop will continue to do so when his team is behind in the second half. The backup goalie is Gabe Gisonda.
“Alex has been quite effective in the field,’’ Bishop said.
North Shore sits in sixth place with its above-.500 record. That’s good enough for a playoff berth. The top 8 teams in Conference A make the playoffs. “We’re not in a terrible position,’’ Bishop said.
The Vikings took solace in their 2-0 loss to defending state titlists and currently unbeaten Floral Park last Saturday.
“We played them well,’’ Bishop said. “Their goals weren’t great goals. No team has overwhelmed us. We got to stay organized, come up with ideas offensively and we can do really well.’’
A big conference game versus Clarke on Wednesday looms as the Vikings try to stay in playoff position. The local rivalry game against fierce Locust Valley is also on tap Oct. 12.
“We have to continue to stay confident and work hard in practices and in games,’’ Samuels said. “We honestly let in silly goals (versus Floral Park). If we can get past that, we can do well in the playoffs.’’
Samuels is mulling college soccer. “I would say my confidence and ability to create chances,’’ He said of his attributes. “I don’t play striker for my club but I’ve learned to adapt to the situation of me having to play striker.’’
