Mepham defeats South Side in semis

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Nassau’s leading goal scorer didn’t take long to solve the county’s stingiest defense, and as a result Mepham is one win away from its first-ever boys’ soccer championship.

Senior striker Andrew Weiner scored 3:03 into last Friday night’s Class A semifinal and the third-seeded Pirates continued their own strong defensive campaign for a 1-0 victory over previously unbeaten No. 2 South Side at Farmingdale State College.

Weiner, who recorded 19 regular-season goals to help Mepham capture the Conference A1 title, won a one-on-one battle and slid a left-footed shot along the turf from about 12 yards out that eluded Cyclones keeper Danny Kelleher and snuck just inside the far post. It was the first score South Side allowed in 10 games dating back to Sept. 24.

“Scoring early was a huge relief and took some pressure away, although I thought the guys were pretty loose anyway,” Mepham coach Zachary Gosse said. “They’re usually calm, but they were really fired up for tonight.

“Both teams defended really well,” he added. “We haven’t allowed a goal in the playoffs and just seven all year. The four guys we have back there have been together from Day One.”

The Pirates (11-1-1) advanced to face top-seeded and defending Long Island champion Garden City, the No. 1 seed, in the finals on Wednesday night, after Herald press time, at Mitchel Athletic Complex. The Cyclones, who won Conference A4 and got past Floral Park in the quarterfinals on penalty kicks, including a goal by Kelleher in his ninth straight shutout, finished 13-1-3.

“I don’t think we played our best, but you have to give Mepham credit for that,” South Side coach Fred Paul said. “It’s hard to be upset. There were four great teams in the semis and I take a lot of positives out of our group. We had 13 wins and our starting defense hadn’t allowed a goal since opening day.”

South Side’s two best scoring chances came in the first half off the foot of senior Dylan Chruma. Mepham senior keeper Louis Luparello (5 saves) made a point-blank stop and also saw a nifty deflection sail just over the crossbar. A back line consisting of seniors Chris Cossu, Brian Willis, Ziyad Gawish and Jonathan Gaufman made sure Luparello wasn’t as busy in the second half.

“It’s always total team effort,” said Cossu, who’s long throw-ins simulate a corner kick at times. “We’re playing with confidence.”

Cossu said having the dangerous and talented Weiner up front opens the entire field. South Side used its top marking defender, senior Sean Hurwitz, to shadow Weiner throughout the game and senior Dan Diez provided help. “He’s probably the best offensive player in the county,” Paul said of Weiner. “He capitalized on one chance and we didn’t.”

Weiner scored once and senior Kieran Gilroy had a goal and an assist in the Pirates’ 2-1 quarterfinal win over Jericho.

“We’re a totally different team than we were last year,” Cossu said.