Ward Melville Summer Boys Soccer Shuts Out Newfield

Toppling the top-tier Newfield squad in a postseason upset Wednesday evening, the Ward Melville boys' summer league soccer team (6-4) shut out the Wolverines 2-0 in the semifinal round at Centereach Park.

Scoreless at the half, Vinny Battaglia capitalized off a succession of shots off the post to drive in the first goal at 10 minutes into the second half, holding steady on all fronts until the final score was booted in with only a minute left, when Alex Guadagno took an assist from Matt Altebrando and hooked the ball in on a right-side chance.

"It was pretty even for the first half, about the same amount of shots on goal. In fact, they may have had more," Ward Melville assistant coach Andy Degrassi said. "They were bigger than us, but we just outplayed them."

Degrassi also credited Battaglia's marking up of the Wolverines' main striker, Sam Durkot, to deny further scoring opportunities. Patriot goaltender Matt Kerman made 11 saves.

Ward Melville will face Sachem East in the large-school summer league finals at Diamond in the Pines park in Coram Monday evening at 8:45 p.m.