Wantagh nips VSS in playoff opener

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Wantagh had 11 different goal scorers during the regular season, helping it to a solid third-place finish in Nassau Conference A-II boys’ soccer with eight wins, with senior Liam Ireland serving as the catalyst. 

Ireland, who entered last Saturday’s Class A playoff opener at No. 8 Valley Stream South leading the Warriors in both goals and assists, picked up where he left off. His redirection of a pass in the box from senior Andrew Randazzo with 22 minutes remaining gave No. 9 Wantagh a 2-1 victory.

“Both goals were great setups by teammates,” said Ireland, who scored the game’s opening goal midway through the first half on a semi-breakaway after gathering a through ball from senior Charlie Mazzer. “I knew once we got the second one, we couldn’t let what happened after the first goal happen again,” he added. “Coach [Tom Ligouri] always stresses the next five minutes after we score is very important.”

The Falcons, behind seniors Brian Garay and Patryk Wasilewski, turned up the pressure in crunch time but couldn’t pose a serious threat against Wantagh senior goalkeeper Matt Reich, who made two of his five saves in the second half both off Wasilewski. VSS senior Chris Peralta made five stops.

“It was two good teams going at it in a game that could’ve went either way,” VSS coach Rich Boyd said. “On the winning goal, it looked like Ireland got his foot on the ball a split-second before our defender or goalie could get it. He was in the perfect spot.”

Ligouri said in addition to a tough opponent, the grass field at Valley Stream South made Wantagh’s task even greater. “We weren’t pleased with our seed and it’s not the playing conditions we’re used to, but I told the kids to rise up and meet the challenge because the road in the playoffs is never paved smoothly.

“I knew coach Boyd would have his guys fired up to play,” he added. “They have a handful of crafty players and it was a physical game as we expected it to be.”

Wantagh (9-4-1 overall) advanced to face top-seeded Jericho in the quarterfinals on Wednesday night, after press time, with a spot in Saturday’s semifinals at Hofstra on the line. South finished 8-4-1.

The Falcons nearly took the lead five minutes into the game when a shot rolled behind Reich and along the goalmouth before it was cleared from danger. They broke through in the 31st minute, about 10 minutes after Ireland’s opening tally, off a mad scramble in the box. Reich made a tremendous diving save off Wasilewski and the rebound bounced around before junior Keyshawn Newman popped it home for a 1-1 tie.

“It felt like the rebound sat there forever,” Ligouri said.

Scoring chances were few and far between in the second half. Mazzer, Chris Avena, Thomas Deedy and Brendan Harrington led Wantagh’s defensive effort, while Liam Tormey, Josh Hernandez, Nick Schapira and Pablo Rodriguez did the same for South.

The winner was Ireland’s ninth goal of the year to go with six assists.