MacArthur soccer aims for repeat

On the heels of a historic 2014 season, MacArthur boys soccer is shooting for another championship with plenty of new faces.

The Generals captured their first Nassau County title last year before falling in the Long Island Class AA finals to Commack, 1-0. MacArthur returns some core players from last year’s title run, but graduated 11 seniors including eight starters.

“We got hit really hard,” said MacArthur head coach Andy Atkins of the loss of several players. “We’re still learning to play together as a team.”

MacArthur’s quest for a repeat championship is led by a strong defense anchored by junior goalkeeper Sean Lyons and senior center back Justin Norcini. They helped lead a defense last year that posted 14 shutouts and only allowed five goals all season.

Senior Mike Gino also returns after tallying six points last year that included a goal against Mepham in a 3-0 quarterfinal win. Gino is serving as captain along with Norcini.

“They provide great leadership,” said Atkins of his senior captains. “They have been here for the program’s success and know what it takes to get there.”

The high level Gino and Norcini have helped raise MacArthur to included a 34-game conference unbeaten streak that ended with a 2-1 loss to Mepham on Sept. 18 and stretched back to the fourth game of their freshman season in 2012. Norcini helped extend that streak to 34 on Sept. 12 with a tying goal in a 1-1 tie with Great Neck South on the same day he kicked three extra points for the MacArthur football team.

Senior midfielder Chris Vendra has provided a spark early in the season after playing on a club team last year. He scored a crucial insurance goal during a season-opening 2-0 victory at Calhoun on Sept. 8.

Junior Joe Branciforti scored the winning goal in the Calhoun game and assisted on Vendra’s tally. Branciforti started last year before a season-ending injury in October kept him out of the playoffs.

Sophomore center fullback Andrew Sweeney is a key force on the pitch this season after making varsity as a freshman last year. Atkins is also looking for contributions from Juan Salas, Brian Kennedy, Dan Mehryari and defenseman Troy Buckley.

 MacArthur suffered a blow before the season when senior Giusseppe Barsallo tore his ACL during preseason and is out for the year. Despite his high school career coming to a premature end, Barsallo remains very much a part of the 2015 squad motivating his teammates on the sidelines.

“He is a great kid and has an amazing attitude,” said Atkins of Barsallo. “He encourages everyone to play every game like it is their last.”

MacArthur competes in Conference AA-4, but also faces five teams in AA-2 as part of a new schedule wrinkle. The Generals’ first test came Sept. 21 at East Meadow with other AA-2 match-ups slated against Hicksville, Farmingdale, Baldwin and Oceanside.

Atkins stresses the importance of being physically and mentally tough going into games and said how his players respond to this challenge will determine how far they go.

“Our goal is to win the 50-50 ball every single time,” he said.