​Garden City Soccer Beats Undefeated Carey

The Carey Seahawks came into the match looking to keep their undefeated season going to set the tone for the upcoming playoffs. With eleven games in the win column, the Seahawks have relied on a solid defense that has only allowed five goals on the season while their counterattacking offense has scored 39. Key to their game have been aggressive senior backs Colin Gervasi and Jason Malovich playing inspired defense in front of an outstanding keeper in Gino Cervoni. Carey’s offense looks to target senior forwards Alessandro Perna and Tyler Balsamo for their scoring chances.

Garden City came into the match to avenge the only blemish on their record, an early season 2-0 loss to Carey on GC’s home field. The game would also have an impact on the playoff seeding for Nassau County, although the Trojans still having a game remaining against Elmont. And although playoff seeds are determined by a committee of coaches, having the best record in league play would have added weight for the coveted top seed.

The Trojans have a very similar statistical record as Carey, depending on quick ball movement and strong defense that can control the ball and the game. The defense is anchored by junior keeper James Castoro and a backline of Spencer Caporicci, Connor Brock and Ryan Buccellato that use their foot skills to keep the ball moving to the open space and gain chances for the attack to move forward.

The Garden City attack is especially dangerous on set pieces, converting a high number of their 43 goals on the season from corner kicks or free kicks. The recipients of well-placed kicks from Nick Bernieri or Finn Connolly, who both lead the team in scoring, are Christian Pica and Travis Thompson, although the scoring has come from 15 different players in the lineup.

Today’s match was played no different than the season has unfolded, two tough teams battling defensively to a nil-nil first half score. Both teams had scoring chances but keepers Cervoni and Castoro came up big when it mattered most. Cervoni punching out a high ball that was targeted for the head of Connolly. And at the other end, Carey had a chance on a scramble in front off the foot of Perna that was scooped up by Castoro at the far post. Each team also had chances on dead ball fouls just outside the penalty area, but the kicks soared over the goal each time.

With a solid half under their belts each team walked off at halftime with a confident feeling for the second half. However, that confidence appeared a little stronger for Garden City as coach Paul Cutter made some minor adjustments in their attack that would produce for them. Coming out fast and attacking the ball to push it up field quicker than normal, the Trojans capitalized on a scramble just out of the reach of Cervoni as the ball fell onto the foot of Pica. Beating two defenders to the ball, Pica fired a shot that beat Cervoni and the Trojans had the 1-0 lead.

The next ten minutes were an up and down the field contest, with Carey getting a few good looks at the goal but not able to put a ball past Castoro. And when Garden City countered it appeared Gervasi was always in their path. Whether it was containing Thompson or Connolly on the outside or Tommy Poz in the middle, he always seemed to get on foot on the ball.

After a tremendous save by high flying Cervoni, the Trojans capitalized from one of their well-executed corner kicks from the foot of Bernieri. His cross into the middle found an oncoming Robert Patrissi who buried a head shot into the back of the net for the key second goal of the match. Garden City’s confidence was growing, and the next 24 minutes would prove it.

Although Carey didn’t let up on any ball, the Trojan defense upped their game, with Caporicci and Buccellato stepping in front of the attack to challenge Carey forwards each time. After Conor Brock stopped an attack with a nice slide tackle, Garden City counterattacked with Travis Thompson moving the ball quickly through the midfield. The ball found an open Bernieri 18 yards out and he calmly hit a shot into the corner of the goal for the 3-0 lead.

The last five minutes were more about setting a tone for the upcoming playoffs as these two teams are destined to meet in a third match on the season, with the winner most likely going home with a Nassau County Championship. But there’s still a lot of soccer to be played before getting to that game as Garden City has a last regular season match against Elmont. And then both teams will await the seeding meeting that will set the path to the Championship.