Before last season, the last time the Carey boys’ soccer team made it to the playoffs was 2021. Last fall, the Seahawks beat Malverne/East Rockaway 1-0 before running into the buzzsaw of Garden City in Nassau Class AA’s second round.
This season, Carey brings back leading goal scorer and senior winger Evan Cardoso, senior center midfielder Matteo Campoli and junior winger Ethan Joseph to run the offense.
Cardoso put together a 14-goal, 3-assist junior campaign and scored the only goal in the team’s playoff win.
“He’s a good combination of speed and strength and finishing ability,” coach Matt Princi said. “He’s got a nose to find the back of the net. All of his goals were meaningful goals. They were all game-winning or game-tying goals.”
Campoli was the one who ‘orchestrated’ the offense, Princi said. The captain finished with 7 assists and 3 goals, with most of his assists coming off the foot of Cardoso.
“He’s very good at finding one-touch passes to the guys up top,” Princi said. “He has a very high soccer IQ and sees the game very well. Campoli can shoot the ball very well himself and overlaps into the attacking third.”
With Joseph’s speed complementing his two senior teammates, Princi said they will be very tough to contend with.
“There’s no place you can hide a defender on those three because all of them can hurt you,” Princi added. “So, if you have one weak spot, they’re going to find it. I think it’s going to be a matter of time before we break down the other team’s backline.”
Other players with the tools to play important roles for the Seahawks include junior striker Mason Nelecio, senior captain and midfielder Christin Contti, sophomore centerback Daniel Cruz, junior goalkeeper Christopher DeCastro, who is coming off an 81-save season and junior center midfielder Anthony Tonkin.
“I think we’re a very offensive-minded team and I think we’re going to try to play at a high speed,” Princi said. “That’s what I see us doing, moving the ball quickly.”
The team’s offensive firepower may be its biggest strength, but the foundation for that success has been built through hard work.
“The boys have been working really hard,” Princi said. “We had a good preseason. I expect them to work hard every single game and learn from every single game. I think we’re going to be a very competitive team.”
Carey moved into Conference AA1 from AA3. With the competition tougher than ever, Princi knows the team will have to continue improving throughout the season to earn another playoff berth.
“There’s really no easy game,” Princi said.
Last year’s playoff run, even though the Seahawks were eliminated in the second round, gained experience. Princi said you can’t make up for experience.
“So having been in that situation, the game that we won was a very close game,” Princi said. “The kids did a great job once we had the lead of closing it out. We got that experience and I think that helps you. Playoff games tend to be close because both teams are really pushing themselves 100% because it’s elimination.”
