Thursday, October 1, 2026
North Shore boys soccer weaved a grandiose 2025 campaign, rolling to a 6-1-3 record in Conference A-2.
The Vikings nearly beat eventual Nassau Class A finalist Friends Academy in the quarterfinals. In fact, the Vikings held a 1-0 lead with 10 minutes left before letting it slip away in a 2-1 overtime loss.
Four key players have graduated and now playing college soccer, including leading scorer Henry Cardozo at Mount St. Vincent’s.
But that doesn’t mean the Sea Cliff/Glen Head program is down and out with a roster of just four seniors. Hardly. Not with a very promising midfielder, junior Emil Samuels, being let loose.
“Our division is going to be strong but we’re still very competitive,’’ Vikings coach Mike Bishop said. “We’re young. But I’m not going to say it’s a rebuilding season. I think we can really compete. I’m happy with what I see so far. And it bodes well for next year with sophomores and juniors starting.’’
One of those juniors, Samuels, notched 5 goals and 4 assists for 9 points. He’s a midfielder who may to play some wing to add scoring punch. Samuels scored both North Shore goals in last Friday’s 2-2 season-opening draw with Valley Stream South.
Samuels left the Friends Academy game early with an injury and it hurt North Shore’s chances. “We’ll try to push him a little higher on the field to get some more goal contributions,’’ Bishop said. “He’s got vision on the field and is a workhorse.’’
Senior captain, Luke Launer, a winger, may need to mount more goals this season. But Launer isn’t worried about North Shore’s status.
“I think the team is less technical, but we have more grit and want than we did last year,’’ Launer said. “The practices feel different with intensity this year. Even though we’re less technical because so many good players left, you can tell this team wants it differently.’’
Launer notched 4 goals, 2 assists in 2025. “The biggest part of my game is playmaking,’’ Launer said. “I definitely want to score goals but I want to be the guy on the team that’s setting other people up for success.’’
Joining Samuels at the midfield are junior Vincent Marotta, who is defensive-oriented, and new addition, sophomore Aiden Vazquez.
“(Marotta) might contribute goals but he’s very technical, reads the game very well and is a good passer,’’ Bishop said. “He’s really improved since last year.’’
Vazquez moved back to Long Island after spending last year in Texas. “He’s a nice addition to the team, an all-over-the-field-type player,’’ Bishop said.
On defense, senior centerback Milton Sierra Velasquez is solid and will assist new goalie, sophomore Alex Lemontowski, who replaces graduated Finn Duffy. Lemontowski is up from JV. “He’s a great keeper to take over the reins,’’ Bishop said.
Junior forward Anthony Greco also moves up from JV, where he starred. He will be asked to score goals. Senior Lorenzo Graziosi will pitch in at midfield when he returns from a back injury.
“Scoring goals, I have the pieces but I have to put it all together,’’ Bishop said. “Those three in the midfield are good but we have to figure who’s going to contribute with goals. I might have to push Emil to forward if we’re struggling.”
