East Islip's new defense helps in Brentwood upset

East Islip junior Billy Wharry entered Monday’s game against Brentwood with moderate expectations.

After all, his team’s opponent was ranked 23rd in the country and hadn’t lost to East Islip since the 2002 playoffs, according to coach Ray Lang.

“I know Brentwood is a great team so I didn’t know how well we’d actually play, to be honest,” said Wharry, a first-year varsity starter, on Tuesday.

Yet with exceptional play from their defensive unit and Wharry’s goal 5:44 into overtime off an assist from Michael Simonetti, East Islip upset host Brentwood, 1-0, in a non-league game.

For Wharry, the feeling of scoring the winner in a big upset in the season opener is a bit hard to describe with words.

“Oh, man … It was just amazing,” he said, laughing.

Equally extraordinary was the play of goalkeeper Frank Noviello, who had 16 saves.

“It was a very defensive game and we just knew we were going to get hammered
by a high-pressured attack from Brentwood,” Noviello said. “I could sense the defense getting tired late in the game and I knew I had to just keep making key stops for us.”

Against Brentwood, it seemed to work well. A flat four can play high up the field with high pressure defending, but using it means a quick goalkeeper that is good at playing with his/her feet is vital, Lang said. The goalkeeper must be good at coming outside the penalty area to clear long balls over the top and be available for back passes in order for it to be successful.

“We practiced it over and over and over again,” Noviello said.

East Islip lost to Huntington in the first round of the Suffolk Class AA playoffs last year. In a preseason coaches’ poll, the Redmen were selected to finish second in League IV, and Lang said he expects the team to be a bit improved.

It is vital, Lang added, for his players to not let the big win get to their heads.

“I told them it was great," Lang said, "but nothing is won in September.”