Patriots' Defense Key in Summer League Win

Opening with its first shot on goal in less than a minute, Ward Melville's boys' soccer team came out to a strong start in the Brookhaven summer league playoffs against Sachem East. East wrested some control back in the second half but struggled to find the equalizer, and despite its final push of the game resulting a shot on goal with fifteen seconds on the clock, the Patriots took a 2-1 victory over the Arrows at Coram's Diamond in the Pines park Monday night.

Ward Melville racked up both goals in the top half and in relatively quick succession, leading off with Christian Marcel's penalty kick booted into the net's right corner at 21:10, followed less than five minutes later by Alex Guadagno's free kick at 16:44.

Midfield battles in the second half gave way to a more balanced match, with shots and saves by both sides. East's Eric Lopez scored off a free kick at 22:44 to go, denying Ward Melville the shutout but ultimately falling short of the needed follow-up to force overtime.

"We got outplayed," said East coach Tom Fank, graciously accepting defeat while crediting Ward Melville with a job well done. "We started slow and it was just too late to recuperate. But they're a great team and they deserved to win."

Ward Melville assistant coach Andy Degrassi credited Nick Bachmair, Jake Labriola, Billy Gibbs, Shane Dineen and Richie Pisacone, who put up solid defensive efforts for the win.

"In the second half, there was a lot of pressure," Degrassi said.

Matt Kerman, in front of Ward Melville's net for the duration of the match, tallied eight saves. East's Matt Bonomini and Will Silber, splitting goaltending duties for the first and second half respectively, combined for 10 saves.

Ward Melville is slated to return to Diamond in the Pines Park Wednesday evening to play small-school boys varsity champs Sayville at 7:15 p.m.