Thursday, October 1, 2026
Valley Stream South’s inaugural season in Nassau Conference ABC-III boys’ soccer didn’t produce nearly as many highlights as the Falcons are used to, but coach Rich Boyd is looking for last year’s growing pains and learning experience to bring better results.
South, after winning 11 games and reaching the Class A quarterfinals in 2015, struggled to a 2-8-2 mark against new conference rivals last fall in large part because of a youth movement and a devastating injury to its top player.
The return to health of Brian Garay, a two-time All-Conference selection, is a big reason why Boyd expects the Falcons to compete and make a playoff run. Garay suffered a broken leg in last year’s conference opener and missed the remainder of his junior campaign.
“Brian’s the type of player who makes everyone else around him better,” Boyd said. “In my 23 years of coaching, he’s the best player I’ve had in the air. He anticipates so well and goes up and gets it. Wherever we put him, he’ll produce.”
Garay’s primary spots will be center-back and attacking midfielder, though he won’t be limited to those roles. The coach is looking for Garay, a captain along with senior Liam Tormey, and junior Mike Martinez to serve as field generals. “They’ll be interchangeable,” Boyd said. “Mike is smart with the ball and quicker than he was last year.”
Most of South’s vital parts on defense remain young. Sophomore Jesse Orosco steps into a bigger role as the sweeper after playing midfield and fullback in 2016. “He sees the field well, and has good speed and communication skills,” Boyd said.
At fullback, junior Nick Schapira brings a physical style and half a season of varsity starting experience, while sophomore Pablo Rodriguez makes the jump from JV. Boyd said Rodriguez was the biggest surprise in training camp among the 18 on the roster. “He’s smart, he wins balls in the air and he makes good decisions,” Boyd said. “He played great in our scrimmages against Elmont and Lynbrook.”
The goalkeeping situation is solid with senior Chris Peralta entering his second year as the starter and sophomore Joe Correa as the backup. Peralta is big, strong and punts well, and he’s improved on cutting down angles.
In the midfield, Tormey works on the outside and will hardly come off the field much like last season. “He’s a workhorse who plays with a lot of heart,” Boyd said. A better conditioning level vaulted senior Josh Hernandez into a starting midfield spot, and sophomore Chris Camacho brings a combination of speed and skill to the right side. Camacho scored twice in the Elmont scrimmage. Junior Keyshawn Newman and sophomore Luciano Moena could split time in the midfield and up top.
At forward, senior Patricyk Wasilewski is a converted All-Conference sweeper with all the tools to boost the offense, and sophomore Sebastian Sarrion brings lots of potential after a solid year at the JV level.
“We’ve had quality practices and scrimmages, and the chemistry is strong,” Boyd said.
