Commack keeper Amereno excels in 0-0 tie
Commack's goalie Jake Amereno makes a great save with minutes left in the game. (Sept. 12, 2011) Credit: Bob Mitchell
Jake Amereno changes the game in many ways for the opposition. Commack's senior goalkeeper often was grabbing corner kicks out of the air Monday. If the ball was in the box, he found a way to corral it, too.
If a critical save was needed, Amereno made it. He made 11 saves and kept Commack in the game in a 0-0 tie Monday against host Half Hollow Hills West in a non-league boys soccer season opener.
"I tried to be a little more aggressive," Amereno said. "I knew they would try and play some balls over the top. I tried to win the ball in the air and take that element away from them."
Maryland-bound Donovan Fraser had a chance to score with 2:08 left in the game and shot it wide. Forty-two seconds later, Dylan Greenberg had a point-blank shot in front of the net and Amereno made the save.
"I tried to come out to cut the angle," Amereno said. "He mishit it and I was able to stop it."
Said Greenberg: "I thought I was going to finish it. I didn't see where the goalie was. I should have kept my head up. I kind of kicked the ground and I should have put that away."
Greenberg, a sophomore midfielder, is being recruited by many Division I schools.
"Nine times out of 10, Dylan is putting that in," Hills West coach Doug Gannon said. "He's a national player. I'll take that same opportunity in November and he will put it in."
Hills West dominated play in the first half, and it was even in the second. Joe Sagsveen made four saves for the Colts.
Commack lost in the Suffolk Class AA final last season, and the Colts were undefeated before losing in the quarterfinals.
"It was embarrassing," Fraser said. "Last year, we were a bit cocky. We can't let that happen. We're very happy with the [tie]. We had some chances but didn't put them away."
Hills West extended its unbeaten streak during the regular season to 30 games. The Colts are aiming for their first county championship since 2007.
"It was a good tie," Gannon said, "especially against one of the better teams around. We had it circled on our calendars. This could be a playoff preview. We are two of the better teams in the county."
