Oceanside brings experience and depth

With the bulk of starters returning from an appearance in the Nassau Class AA boys’ soccer playoffs, and a roster stocked with 16 seniors, Oceanside has high expectations for 2016.

“We have a lot of experience and we’re looking to make a deep playoff run,” coach Joe Pumo said. “It could be a big year for us. We’re strong in a lot of positions, but we’re facing a difficult schedule.”

The Sailors finished 9-6-2 overall last season and squeezed into the playoffs with a 6-5-2 mark in Conference AA-II. Declining enrollment sent MacArthur, Mepham, and Great Neck South to Class A, leaving 17 schools to battle for Class AA supremacy.

Oceanside’s conference schedule consists of home-and-home matchups with each of its AA-II rivals (Farmingdale, Hicksville, the defending county champion, and Port Washington) and crossover games with Calhoun, Herricks, Long Beach, and Valley Stream Central from AA-IV. “It’s going to be interesting,” Pumo said.

Pumo is looking for a deep and talented midfield to set the tone for the Sailors, who opened the conference slate Sept. 6 with a stunning 1-0 upset win over visiting Hicksville. Senior Joe Mesoraca, who was Honorable Mention All-County last season, and newcomer AJ Raiz, a junior, are already displaying tremendous chemistry in the center, the coach said.

“Joe’s a great two-way player and in his fourth year on varsity,” Pumo said of Mesoraca, who found the back of the net five times in 2015. “He’s crafty with a strong foot. He loves to shoot from beyond the 18.”

Raiz, who competed for a club last year, brings a solid skill set. “He sees the field well and likes to distribute,” Pumo said.

At outside midfield, Oceanside returns a trio of experienced seniors including two-time All-Conference selection Val Napoli, a tireless worker with speed and playmaking ability. Senior Mike Bruguglio came into his own last season, Pumo said, and is strong on the ball with a nose for the goal. Senior Aiden Barry, one of the team’s most improved and well-conditioned players, is versatile to play anywhere and can “run all day,” the coach noted. Junior Luca Ancona is an attacking middie with energy and grit.

The Sailors are also banking on a promising group of forwards. Pumo said senior Jason Rosa is one of the fastest athletes he’s ever coached and someone capable of beating defenders 1-on-1 and creating plenty of scoring chances. Senior Shane Monaghan, who had the winner against Hicksville, roams the field and usually puts himself in good position to shoot, while senior Brandon Tarash is difficult to defend with his back to the goal. Junior Vincenzo D’Anna, a pure goal scorer who showed the ability to finish at the JV level, could prove a consistent threat.

In the back, senior Joseph DiMiceli serves as the anchor after earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in AA-II in 2015. “He’s a game-changer with all the tools,” said Pumo, who is counting on seniors Bryan Provvido, Kyle Porcano and Thomas Goetz to solidify the defense in front of new starting goalkeeper Anthony Puleo, a senior who saw action in a few games as last year’s backup.