Carey facing daunting slate

After posting an overall record of 6-4-3 in the 2017 season, Carey is not only be dealing with the loss of a slew of talent to graduation, it’ll be doing so in one of the county’s deepest conferences.
The Seahawks will be competing in Nassau Conference A-3, a league comprising South Side, Hewlett, Jericho, Roslyn, and Bellmore-JFK.
The team got its season off to a decent start by splitting two non-league matches. In the opener at Herricks last Friday afternoon, the Highlanders scored a pair of goals in the first half and held on for a 2-1 victory. Sophomore striker Anthony Mangiaracina registered the only goal for the Seahawks.
Carey got in the win column the following morning when it hosted Uniondale. Sophomore Brandon Balsamo found the back of the net for the game-winning goal on a penalty kick to give the Seahawks a 2-1 victory. Junior captain Nick Rescigno scored the first goal of the match in the open half.
Despite having a very young roster, coach Matt Princi is cautiously optimistic. “We lost 12 players and most were starters,” Princi said. “It’ll take time for the guys to get comfortable playing together as a unit. We’re a little behind where we’d like to be. We have to stay healthy, and the younger guys need to get acclimated to speed of the varsity level.”

Senior captain Ben Wettstein returns in net for Carey. Wettstein allowed one goal or fewer in nine of the team’s matches. He relies on vision and good instincts. The fact that he’s gotten physically stronger will only help.
Center back James Hansen anchors the team’s defense. The senior captain plays a physical brand of soccer, and is big, strong, and athletic. Senior Eric Mroczko is a skilled defender with the versatility to make things happen on the offensive end.
While the team isn’t nearly as deep as it has been in past years, senior outside left defender Tim Curtin helps the cause by being able to play midfield if need be. Hard-working sophomore Joe Moratta will play outside right. He’s also capable of getting involved in transition.
Princi has a pair of talented defensive center midfielders in junior Connor Gervasi and sophomore Joseph Moreno. Gervasi is a scrappy player who has a knack for finding the open man. Moreno is a tall, physical player who can play all over. The Seahawks hope to have senior Justin Bowen back for injury in the latter portion of the season.
Rescigno is undoubtedly one of the team’s biggest assets. The center attack midfielder, a three-year varsity performer, is a strong, fast, take-charge player who gets it done offensively and defensively. After an impressive year on the junior varsity, Balsamo gives the Seahawks another offensive threat.
Junior Alessandro Russo is skilled with the ball and can finish. Mangiaracina receives the ball well and has a cannon for a left foot. Freshmen Patrick Ready, Alessandro Perna, and Collin Gervasi will all be in the mix.
Carey hosts Jericho on Sept. 17 at 4:45 p.m.