Tirado save ignites Oceanside's run

With six seconds remaining in a 2-2 tie against Freeport on Sept. 10, Oceanside boys’ soccer goalkeeper Bryan Tirado suddenly found himself in a one-on-one battle with Red Devils’ star forward Bryant Cruz just outside the box after a defensive breakdown. Cruz saw an opening in the top right corner, but Tirado leapt with all his might and punched the ball away during its upward trajectory to preserve the deadlock.

A goal would have given the Sailors a second straight loss and a 1-2 record. Instead, the team was fueled by the improbable stop and posted consecutive 2-1 victories at Uniondale and Westbury in the next two contests to put them among the early contenders for the Conference AAA title.

“It was a big jump for the team,” coach Patrick Turk said of the Freeport stop. “We had a mistake right there at that point. That kid should’ve never been open for that shot, but he was, and bam, Bryan saves our whole butt.”

Tirado inherited the goalie position this season and has made the most of his opportunity by making six more saves against Uniondale on Sept. 12 exactly a week a week after stopping all seven Herricks shots on goal in the season opener. He has 28 saves in four appearances this season.

“He just crushes it,” Turk said. “His work ethic is stellar.”

Sophomore Collin Schirrmacher started at Westbury and had seven saves, including one in the first half where he jumped to tip a long shot over the crossbar.

Senior Franco Visone has been another hero during the Sailors’ mini run by scoring all four goals in the last two games, including the tiebreaking marker with about 16 minutes left to beat Uniondale. Visone, who wasn’t with the team last season, didn’t ease up during a scrimmage against Manhasset last Saturday and scored in a 5-0 win.

“It’s been great getting Franco back in the mix,” Turk said. “He cemented himself with a spot on the team as a captain and he has put his mark on what he’s capable of and the boys are responding.”

There is plenty of depth at the forward with seniors Nicholas Genna and Derek Gromling and juniors Zachary Minsky and Lucas Schachtel all playing well, according to Turk. Genna’s breakaway goal tied the Freeport game with just over 31 minutes left after the Sailors trailed 2-0.

Midfielder Sean Mahoney scored against Herricks and “impacts the game” with his long-range shooting and passing ability and fellow junior Joey DePalma has provided a spark off the bench and assisted on Visone’s game-winning goal against Uniondale. Turk also lauded the play of senior midfielders Dylan Denenberg and Greg Karaduzovic.

Junior Dylan Wassenbergh has two goals on the season and has been a “brick wall” on defense, Turk said, and senior Parker Roth has two assists from the back end. Juniors Gavin Joyce and Greg Profitlich and seniors Keaton Levine and Luca Nagrowski round out the corps.

The Sailors return home to face Farmingdale on Thursday.