2006 All-Long Island Boys Soccer

BY JEFF GOLD AND JOSEPH STASZEWSKI | Newsday Staff Writers
December 17, 2006
A look at Long Island's best boys soccer players from the 2006 season.


JOHN ALBERDA

Commack

Forward, Senior

John Alberda is an amazing goal scorer. He finished his career with a school-record 86 goals. This season, he had 19 goals and 23 assists. He was double- and triple-teamed by virtually every team, and led Commack to the Suffolk Class AA final. He was named all-state and is headed to Hofstra.

WILBER BONILLA

Long Island Player

of the Year

Brentwood

Midfielder, Senior

Wilber Bonilla is the prototypical playmaker. He can make delicate touch passes and perfect lofting crosses. He rarely loses the ball. He had nine goals and 14 assists this season. Bonilla, who will play at Hartwick next year, led Brentwood to the Class AA state final and was named the state's player of the year. He also is Newsday's Long Island Player of the Year.

JOE BRANTMEYER

Center Moriches

Forward, Senior

Joe Brantmeyer led Center Moriches to an 18-2-2 record and an appearance in the Class B state championship game. He had 23 goals, including the winner in Center Moriches' state final four victory. He was named the Suffolk League VII MVP in 2005 and 2006. He was also named all-state.

RYAN BRODE

St. John the Baptist

Midfielder, Senior

Ryan Brode scored 18 goals and had an astounding 30 assists. The All-American and CHSAA MVP has exceptional field vision and can anticipate where the next pass needs to go. His athleticism makes him adept at winning balls in the air.

GUSTAVO DIAS

Nassau Player of the Year

Mineola

Forward, Senior

Gustavo Dias became Mineola's all-time leading goal scorer this season. He finished with 60 for his career and 16 this season. The all-state selection was the centerpiece of Mineola's resurgence the last three seasons as it compiled a record of 40-12. He is Newsday's Nassau Player of the Year.

MATT ERNST

Chaminade

Midfielder, Senior

Matt Ernst had nine goals and seven assists this season, but most importantly, he was exceedingly clutch. Four of his goals were game-winners. The CHSAA All-State selection and team MVP scored on a penalty kick to seal the state championship game and had the tying goal in the league title game.

SEAN LYNCH

Oceanside

Goalkeeper, Senior

The four-year varsity starter is one of the most technically sound goalkeepers on Long Island. The All-State selection's leadership helped a young Oceanside team to much of its success and gave it a playoff win by stopping three penalty kick against East Meadow.

STEVE MORALES

Farmingdale

Midfielder, Senior

Steve Morales, an all-state selection, is a wizard with the ball. Though he would rather set up a teammate than shoot, Morales had two goals in the playoffs including the lone score against Freeport in the Class AA quarterfinals.

DAVID PINTO

Valley Stream South

Midfielder, Senior

David Pinto had 15 goals and 14 assists this season. When he had the ball, no one took it away. He was the Nassau Conference ABC-II player of the year and his ability to make his teammates better led Valley Stream South to the Nassau Class A title.

MIKE PORCELLI

West Islip

Midfielder, Senior

Mike Porcelli finished an outstanding career by scoring 10 goals and adding three assists in his senior season. For his career, he had 47 goals and 10 assists. He was named all-state.

JOHN ROGENER

Half Hollow Hills West

Midfielder, Senior

John Rogener had eight goals and added 13 assists this season and his 34 career assists are a school record. He was named the Suffolk League IV MVP and made the all-state team.

YANNICK SALMON

Westbury

Midfielder, Senior

Salmon's statistics alone - seven goals and two assists - don't tell the story. The four-year varsity player's exceptional vision and decision-making helped him create scoring chances for teammates and his leadership should have lasting effects on a young team.

CHRIS TEMPERA

Sayville

Defender, Senior

Chris Tempera was the sweeper on Suffolk's stingiest defense. Sayville allowed nine goals all season, the best in the county and a school record. He also scored two goals on penalty kicks.

GREG TINARI

Sachem East

Midfielder, Senior

Greg Tinari was a dynamic midfielder for the Flaming Arrows. In the open field, few broke down defenders the way he did. He had six goals and 10 assists this season and was named all-state.

ALL- LONG ISLAND COACHES

RICH BOYD

Nassau Coach of the Year

Valley Stream South

Rich Boyd guided his team to its first Nassau title since 1998 when it won Class A. The win completed an amazing turnaround from a team that had only one win and seven ties last season. He credits the team success to its unity, something the coach should get much credit for developing.

CHRIS O'BRIEN

Suffolk Coach of the Year

Center Moriches

Chris O'Brien led Center Moriches to the Class A state championship game, where it lost to Section I's Albertus Magnus, 1-0. The season came a year after Center Moriches lost in the first round of the Suffolk playoffs. Center Moriches played with a sense of urgency during the season, and the coach never let his team get complacent.

Copyright © 2008, Newsday Inc.

Scores / Schedules

Upload your high school video

Upload your high school video

Send us clips of your favorite athletes in action!

Upload your own video