Rams show early promise
Eager to turn the page on last season when injuries decimated its roster and greatly contributed to a 1-10-1 finish, West Hemptead’s boys’ soccer team split its first four games and took its Conference ABC-V opener, 5-1 at Elmont on Sept. 16.
“We had a ridiculous number of significant injuries last year, but we’ll be a better team this year because of it,” Rams coach Chris Van Kovics said. “We have good senior leadership and depth. We’ll use 17-18 players in a game.”
The offense has produced nine goals in the last two games after scoring once against both Lynbrook and Mineola in the Mineola Cup Tournament. West Hempstead dominated Glen Cove in its final non-league tune-up and needed only two minutes to get on the board against Elmont. “We’re scoring goals, so that’s a really good sign,” Van Kovics said. “The kids are distributing the ball well and sharing it.”
One of the team’s four senior captains, forward/midfielder Joe Criollo, had a goal and an assist in the conference opener. “He’s a playmaker,” Van Kovics said. “He wants the ball and he’s confident when he gets it.”
Another captain, midfielder Leo Saliba is a key at both ends of the field. He totaled three goals and one assist through four games and also provided defensive support to a back row led by captains Ben Abelido and Dan Boehm. Abelido is the unit’s vocal leader, while Boehm has a nonstop motor and can blast the ball. They’ll rotate between the sweeper and stopper positions, and Abelido could also see time at midfield.
Juniors Vinny Lopez and Chris Mosca are integral pieces to the defense as well. Both have speed and solid marking ability, and Mosca takes all the free kicks inside the Rams’ zone. The last line of defense is junior goalkeeper Vinny Gazzara, who averaged eight saves through the first four games. “Vinny’s not afraid to mix it up,” Van Kovics said of Gazzara, who posted a shutout against Glen Cove, 4-0, on Sept. 15. “He’s been a nice surprise. Coming into the year, we didn’t have a goalie with varsity experience.”
