2004 All-Long Island Boys Soccer

BY CHRIS ANTONACCI | STAFF WRITER A look at the boys soccer players who stood out on Long Island high school varsity squads in the fall of 2004.

JOHN ALBERDA
Commack, Forward, Sophomore
John Alberda is the first sophomore to receive Hi-Five All-Long Island selection since the inception of the team in 2001. Alberda had two playoff hat tricks to increase his season goal total to 26 while leading Commack to the inaugural Suffolk Class AA final. "He did some special stuff for us," Interim coach Steve Iannone said. "Hopefully, he will just keep getting better."

SCOTT BISHOP
Hauppauge, Goalkeeper, Senior
Scott Bishop set a Hauppauge record with 34 career wins and his 24 shutouts were third in school history. He had eight shutouts this season. "He is aggressive in goal," coach John Ruffini said. "You just expect him to make saves that most other goalies can't."

PAVELID CASTANEDA
Babylon, Forward, Senior
Pavelid Castaneda scored 29 goals and helped Babylon capture the Suffolk Class B title. Babylon coach Mike Livorno called Castaneda his best forward, midfielder or defender, so could not deny the Duke recruit's scoring potential. "You could go on all day about what he contributes to our team," Livorno said.

TYLER CANDE
Mattituck, Midfield, Senior
Tyler Cande had 21 goals and six assists in leading Mattituck to a second straight Long Island Class C title. "He took the leadership role to the next level," Mattituck coach Matt Litchhult said. "He brings a certain intensity and love for the game that is second to none. We were at his best when he had the ball and we let him do our damage."

MICHAEL CELENTANO
Islip, Senior, Midfielder
Coach Mike Argenziano only needed to look at Michael Celentano's feed to gauge the outcome of a game. If Celentano could maneuver through defenses, Argenziano remained confident even if Islip happened to trail. "When he is flying around the ball, we know good things are going to happen," Argenziano said. The four-year starter had 16 goals and 14 assists to direct Islip to the Suffolk Class A title.

JORDAN EDELMAN
Wheatley, Defender, Senior
Jordan Edelman's effectiveness can be quantified with this: six goals. Wheatley allowed six goals en route to the Nassau Class B title. Coach Bernie Hintz considers Edelman the most-talented sweeper in his 33-year tenure. "He has this gift when to have the ball and when to get rid of it," Hintz said.

DAN FAIELLA
Sachem East, Forward, Senior
Dan Faiella had 15 goals and three assists, and his mere presence created countless other chances to help first-year program Sachem East win the inaugural Suffolk Class AA title. "The defense gets so focused on him, we have two or three other weapons that we can go with," coach Matt Stallone said. "When he is on the field, you still have to watch him."

STEVE FREGOSI
Massapequa, Forward, Senior
Steve Fregosi, who nursed a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the inaugural Nassau Class AA final that Massapequa won, had three goals and eight assists. "He is the most dangerous offensive player in our division," said first-year coach Keith Stanley, whose team won its third straight county title.

MIKE GRELLA
Glen Cove, Forward, Senior
Mike Grella, a four-year starter, scored 16 times this season to increase his career total to 74. The Duke recruit had 27 as a junior. It was Grella's presence that put Glen Cove into ability-based Conference A-I. Glen Cove earned the second seed before it suffered a Class A quarterfinal upset. "He just took the team on its shoulders, and carried it as far as he could" coach Kevin Nolan said.

ALEX GRENDI
Cold Spring Harbor, Midfielder, Senior
Alex Grendi is the only freshman to start and is the lone two-time captain in coach Ed Moeller's eight-year tenure. Grendi had three goals and two assists in helping the Seahawks advance to the Nassau Class B final. Grendi had 11 goals and five assists as a junior.

XAVIER GUERRERO
East Meadow, Forward, Senior
Xavier Guerrero had 13 goals and five assists while leading East Meadow to the inaugural Nassau Class AA final. "He has a great nose for the goal," coach Kevin Regan said. "You need a little bit of selfishness and a little bit of confidence. He scored all of his goals when we needed it."

KENNY MAZZONE
Ward Melville, Forward, Senior
Kenny Mazzone, a returning Hi-Five All-Long Island selection, was a prolific scorer. He had 20 goals this season, following his 16-goal, 11-assist performance last season. "The best part about coaching is every once in a while, you come across a kid like this," Ward Melville coach Matt Foster said. "It warms your heart to have a kid like this."

DAN McKENNA
Chaminade, Defender, Senior
Dan McKenna became a powerful defensive presence for Chaminade, a CHSAA finalist. Chaminade actually sent passes 40 yards out to set up McKenna, who scored four goals this season. "He is physically a big kid," coach Mike Gallagher said. "He is pretty quick and pretty agile. He is very tactical and strong in the air."

KEVIN NEUMEN
St. Anthony's, Defender, Senior
Kevin Neumen made a selfless transition from forward to defense. After allowing three goals in its second game to Chaminade, St. Anthony's allowed four goals the rest of the way en route to its first Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA title since 2000. St. Anthony's coach Gene Buonaiuto said. "This is the best team I have ever had, and he had a lot to do with it."

STEVEN SCHNEIDER
Jericho, Midfielder, Senior
Steven Schneider had five goals and six assists while leading Jericho to the Nassau Class A title, its second straight county crown. "He just has an inner desire to be a good soccer player," coach William Wuest said. "He has really just developed into being a really good playmaker.''

COACHES OF THE YEAR
CHRISTOPHER VALENTINI
Nassau Coach of the Year
Westbury (14-1-1)
The second-year coach reversed a 0-12-1 season from Conference A-II while winning the Conference A-IV title and advancing the Class A quarterfinals. Westbury, seeded 14th, upset No. 3 South Side in the first round. "I tried not to bring them down; I just try to pick them up," Valentini said. "You are going to win some games and you are going to lose some games. You win, lose and draw like champions. The kids all understand it is not all about soccer." Valentini instituted an hour-long study hall before each practice to help his team focus on academics and build unity.

MATT STALLONE
Suffolk Coach of the Year
Sachem East (14-2-4)
A district broke a school apart. Stallone united a program. Stallone took over a first-year program that emerged from the splitting of Sachem into Sachem North and Sachem East. He taught a new style with a fresh approach, and it led to the school's first Suffolk team tournament title. To make Stallone's success even more historic, his program captured the inaugural Suffolk Class AA title. And it did so as the fourth seed.

HOW THEY WERE PICKED: The All-Long Island Boys Soccer Team and coaches of the year were selected after polling coaches and Newsday staff members. Staff writer Chris Antonacci wrote the player and coach capsules.

2004 All-Long Island Boys Soccer

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