Amityville sets the bar high

A fresh new soccer season is upon us. For the Amityville boys, the team is looking to bounce back after losing in the county final a season ago.

Mike Abbondondolo is in his 12th season as the head coach. His goal is to get the Warriors to move forward together.

“With our program, we have high standards,” Abbondondolo said. “When days aren’t as joyful, can you remain positive and collectively, as a group, work through problems?”

Amityville has a bunch of talented players returning.

“The group has really blossomed,” Abbondonolo said. “It’s been awesome to see them come into their own.”

John Arango, Briam Rivera, and Denis Hernandez are all returning for their senior campaigns. Arango, thanks to his very high soccer IQ, was named All-Conference last fall and enters the year as a captain. Rivera, an All-League selection in 2023, is versatile in terms of the amount of positions he can play. He has tons of energy, Abbondondolo said, which is needed. Hernandez brings a lot of leadership to the team as this will be his third year on varsity. He’s a player who’s best attribute is off-the-ball movement, which can be valuable in transition.

Those three players along with other key contributors who return such as Anthony Salvador, a center back who is a solid one-on-one defender, Aidan Johnson, a talented midfielder playing his third season on varsity, and Saul Fernandez, a gritty defender who can also present a threat in the attack, makes Amityville tough to handle.

Another player to keep an eye on is newcomer, Javier Newman. “We are very excited about Newman,” Abbondonolo said. “He’s very quick and is a strong striker so we are expecting him to have a very big year.”

When you have the amount of success that Amityville has had as of late, it can be difficult to reach expectations because of how high it sets the bar. There is a lot to prove for the Warriors going into the 2024 campaign.

“We feel as if we are underrated,” Abbondonolo said. “Since we’ve had so much success, there’s this feeling that we won’t climb back and get that same success again. The guys are motivated for sure.”

For a team that is facing tons of pressure, it’s important for them to stay loose and calm. “The vibe and mentality of the team has been nothing short of phenomenal,” Abbondonolo said.

As a member of League VII in Suffolk County, Amityville shares a division with other talented teams like Harborfields, Kings Park, and Islip. Coming off of a 10-4 season in the league, its season will open up on the road against Half Hollow Hills West. The home opener is against Westhampton.