By Tony Bellissimo
³We tied seven games and lost five by one goal,² Falcons coach Rich Boyd said. ³It¹s not like we weren¹t competitive. We were right there in every game, and we¹re expecting to contend this year. We won the Town of Hempstead summer league, and we¹ve got 14 kids returning.²
If South can turn four of those ties and two or three of those heartbreaking losses into victories, the Falcons will find themselves near the top of the standings a month from now. New Hyde Park, Westbury, Carey, Glen Cove, Wantagh and Great Neck North are their conference rivals. ³If we can finish, we¹ll be dangerous,² Boyd said.
Senior John Costanza, a four-year member of the varsity, will be counted on to lead the offense from a wing position. Senior midfielders David Pinto and Zain Hamarsha will help push the ball into the attack zone while lending assistance to the Falcons¹ defensive cornerstone, senior stopper Rob Rotkowitz.
³I think we¹re solid from top to bottom,² Boyd said. ³The summer league gave us a lot of confidence, and we¹re hoping to come out strong.²
Senior outside backs Matt Scaffa and Jeff Kotcher also return, as does versatile junior John Velasquez. Senior goalkeeper Chris McCann gets the nod between the pipes after emerging midway through last season as the starter.
Lady Falcons take big step
A year after reaching the Nassau Class A semifinals, Valley Stream South¹s girls¹ team has jumped to Conference II, where Baldwin, Island Trees, Calhoun, Valley Stream Central and others are waiting.
³It¹s a big jump, and I¹m not sure how we¹ll handle it,² Coach Franco Visone said after last Friday¹s 2-0 non-league loss to East Meadow. ³We¹ve got a handful of seniors with experience, and we¹re also expecting the young players to do a lot.²
The Lady Falcons, who eliminated West Hempstead and North Shore before falling to Island Trees in the last season¹s playoffs, have some questions they hope to answer sooner, as opposed to later. One thing is certain: Seniors Kelly Viana and Carolina Cortes are going to give defenses headaches.
Viana, a forward, scored more than 20 goals last fall to pace the team. Cortes plays center-midfield along with talented sophomore Geanna Matteo. ³Kelly looks wickedly stronger than last year, and that¹s saying something,² Visone said. ³She¹s dangerous with and without the ball. Carolina is a huge piece of the puzzle as well. She connects the defense with the forwards and is as tough as nails.²
Senior Noleen Dalli and freshman Annmarie Fuchs are outside middies, while the defense is spearheaded by senior stopper Danielle Paurolo, junior marking back Kaitlyn Gillespie and sophomore sweeper Laura Gallo. The X factor for the Lady Falcons could be freshman goalkeeper Tricia Zarro, who brings tremendous athleticism. ³There¹s a lot of pressure on Tricia, but I feel she can handle it,² Visone said. ³She¹ll be tested quite a bit. She¹s small but quick.²
