Title a first for MacArthur

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As freshmen playing varsity soccer for MacArthur in 2011, Greg Baumstein and Anthony Rocchio didn’t taste a single victory.

Now they’re savoring a win for the history books.

The third-seeded Generals completed a fairytale rise to the top with a 3-1 victory over No. 4 Syosset in the Nassau Class AA championship game before a crowd of more than 1,000 at Hofstra on Wednesday night. Seniors Baumstein, Rocchio, and Chris Roditis scored second-half goals, and sophomore goalkeeper Sean Lyons made six saves to secure the program’s first-ever county title.

“It’s just amazing,” said Rocchio, who netted the game winning-goal with 13:47 remaining on a 25-yard blast after taking a touch pass from senior Jake Thomson. “It’s really a dream come true,” he added. “I can’t even begin to describe what it feels like.”

In the playoffs for a third consecutive season, MacArthur (14-0-3) avenged last year’s quarterfinal loss to Syosset to cap an incredible undefeated ride through Nassau that featured 15 shutouts including 11 straight out of the gate.

“I coached every one of these kids in middle school,” Generals coach Andy Atkins said. “They bought into the system and worked so hard, and this is just tremendous. What we play often doesn’t resemble soccer. What we do defensively is more of a basketball or lacrosse mentality.”

MacArthur, which allowed merely three goals over 16 previous games, was in the driver’s seat seven minutes into the second half after Baumstein, a shutdown defender, headed in a picture-perfect corner kick by Roditis, another defender, to make it 1-0. But the Braves got the equalizer with 23:16 remaining when Richie Rambarran was tripped in the box and capitalized on a penalty kick.

“After the penalty kick, I reminded the guys it was a whole new ballgame and they had to keep their heads up,” Atkins said. “They pushed hard and continued fighting, and Rocchio’s goal really opened it up.”

Rocchio, who minutes earlier fired wide on a clear look, didn’t squander the next opportunity. “Good things happen when you put the ball on net,” he said. “I saw the goalie come out and I just wanted to put it on goal. I knew it was in and that we had control of the game at that point.”

The Generals’ airtight defense led by Baumstein, Roditis, Dean Peluso, Justin Norcini, and James Barrett kept the Braves a safe distance from Lyons down the stretch. Roditis provided an insurance goal, assisted by Thomson, in the final minute.

“We dreamed about this, but never in a million years did I think we’d even come close,” Baumstein said.