While the Wantagh boys’ soccer season fell just short for a repeat playoff berth, longtime coach Tom Liguori takes plenty of pride from the 2024 team.
For the second straight season, Wantagh played for a spot in the postseason in the final match with last year's team punching the program’s first playoff appearance since 2017 in dramatic fashion on a goal with just 30 seconds remaining against Friends Academy. The 2024 fortunes didn’t line up the same with the Warriors falling to Lynbrook in the regular season finale on Oct. 16, but Liguori was proud of the cohesion shown throughout the fall.
“The team really rallied together and showed how much they cared for one another, “ Liguori said. “So many players of various ages and levels of experience stepped up and showed different leadership qualities to help our team compete until the very end.”
Wantagh finished 5-7-1 in Conference A1, three points behind Lynbrook. The Warriors defeated Lynbrook 3-1 in the first meeting between the teams Sept. 19 which sparked the start of four wins in five matches to put Wantagh in postseason contention down the stretch,
Junior Nico Petrocelli had a stand-out season for the Warriors setting up the offense in the central midfield. He tallied two assists in Wantagh’s 6-5 win against Clarke on Sept. 12.
“His vision is unmatched, and you can see him planning his next move even before he receives the ball, Liguori said of Petrocelli. “He is a quiet leader but always leads by example and on the field he is a true competitor.”
Liguori also credited senior Logan Rivera for living up to the “Warrior” moniker by playing all over the field in his varsity tenure. on the field over the last two seasons. Rivera was “one of the fiercest competitors” on the roster, according to Liguori, scoring some key goals down the stretch to keep Wantagh in the playoff reach until the end including finding the net in a 1-0 victory against Clarke on Oct. 6.
The Warriors had a number of contributions throughout the 2024 campaign from players who will return next season including juniors Josh Henriques (midfield) and Gianluca Stornello along with freshman midfielder Justin Pabon, who registered three goals.
Sophomore Luka Sumberac and freshman Alex Jung split time in net throughout the season. Sumberac eventually emerged as the starting goalkeeper and recorded four saves in a1-0 shutout of Valley Stream North on Oct. 1 in which Stornello headed in the lone goal off a corner kick from Petrocelli.
The Warriors graduate just three seniors and Liguori hopes the experience and growth of the 2024 team will pay dividends for 2025. He said the team chemistry on and off the field is special to watch, which will help boost its chances for a successful run next fall.
“We are fortunate to have such great kids who are exemplary in the classroom and on the soccer field,” said Liguori, who played for the Warriors during the program’s last state championship in 1992. “As coaches we are grateful for their commitment. Their respect for the program's traditions and history was remarkable.”
