Massapequa Boys Soccer Takes County Title

After a vicious marathon battle on the grounds of Hofstra University that saw regulation and overtime play go scoreless, the Massapequa Chiefs boys soccer team finally prevailed in penalty shots (3-0) to win the Nassau Class AA final against the Farmingdale Dalers.

The Chiefs had engaged Farmingdale twice before during regular season play, resulting in one Massapequa victory and one tie.

This evening's victory, in addition to netting Massapequa the County championship, also clearly cemented the Chiefs' status as top dog in their rivalry.

You would be hard pressed to find two teams more evenly matched on the soccer field than Massapequa and Farmingdale. The first two halves of their championship match were a flurry of blurred feet, with neither side able to solve the equation of their opponent's defense.

Massapequa's Brian Bartichek came ever so close to scoring late in the second half, but overshot Farmingdale's goal by a foot to the right.

Regulation play ended with neither team scoring; thus, overtime began. However, that too delivered the same result, as the Chiefs and Dalers, despite maximum effort, again were unable to translate their fancy footwork into goals. After two overtime periods, the score was still tied at zero.

It was time to get serious: both teams gathered on the field in anticipation of penalty kicks to determine the game. Farmingdale, who went first, had their every kick attempt blocked by the near-superhuman speed and dexterity of Massapequa goalie Sean Brailey.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs made every penalty shot they took; Roberto Reyna and Dakota Barnthan both nailed their kicks, and Brian Bartichek brought it home with the third and final goal, winning Massapequa the match and, more importantly, the County title.

Massapequa head coach Keith Stanley, clearly overcome with joy, was nonetheless disappointed that the contest came down to penalty kicks to decide the winner.

"I think right now my heart goes out to Farmingdale, only because it's not a way to win a game," he said. "It was about as even as a game gets. Opportunities, possession...everything was probably 50/50 in that game, and unfortunately you get this great contest - it was so long - and it ends with something like that. But they're a great team, and I feel bad for them."

Stanley said that Farmingdale repeated the same mistakes they made during their last encounter...something the Chiefs were ready to capitalize on.

"We were at an advantage," he said. "We went to PK's the last game, and every one of their guys went to the goalie's right, and tonight they did it again. So, we were at an advantage that way."

Despite kicking the winning goal of the game, Brian Bartichek felt their goalie deserved the lion's share of the credit for their victory.

"It felt great, getting that goal," he said. "I did the easiest thing, though. Sean Brailey saved the three PK's, I mean that's amazing."

While Dakota Barnthan attributed the win to the Chief's hard prep work, he also echoed Bartichek's sentiments regarding their goalie's performance.

"Farmingdale...we're rivals, but I knew we were going to win," he said. "I knew coming in that we just had to work hard, finish our opportunities. 0-0, we're going into PK's, we've been practicing them all week. Everybody made 'em tonight...the first three, that's all we had to take. Sean Brailey...he's not even human."

Sean Brailey, who made nine regulation saves and blocked all three penalty kicks, knew the match against Farmingdale would go the distance.

"We knew coming into this game that Farmingdale was a good team," he said. "There had only been one goal scored in two games so far, so we knew it was going to be a battle. We had to come to PK's, and we've been practicing all week, and we felt confident...I just anticipated the shots, and I came out on top."

Massapequa, 13-3-2, meets the winner of Brentwood/Commack to decide the Long Island Class AA final at 7:30pm at Dowling Sports Complex on Sunday, November 14. 

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