Farmingdale boys soccer's Jonathan Buonomo stonewalls Oceanside in PKs; Dalers win Nassau 'AAA' crown
Farmingdale goalkeeper Jonathan Buonomo celebrates after a win over Oceanside in a Nassau Class AAA boys soccer championship game on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, in Farmingdale. Credit: Kelvin Loarca
After 110 minutes of tense, scoreless soccer, the heavy weight and fate of Farmingdale’s championship dreams rested with its goalkeeper, Jonathan Buonomo.
The Nassau AAA title game was headed for penalty kicks Saturday at Farmingdale State — top-seeded, undefeated Oceanside vs. the No. 3 Dalers, looking to make program history because Farmingdale had never won an outright county championship.
“To win that game, it was on me,” Buonomo said.
The senior was up to the pressure. He couldn’t be beaten. Meanwhile, his teammates, Noah Bekele and Anthony Princi, scored.
Farmingdale technically took a 1-0 win after posting a 2-0 edge in PKs.
The Dalers — county champs.
“It’s amazing, I mean, first in our school history,” Buonomo said. “It’s just amazing I could be the one to give it to us in that final moment of the game.”
Back in 2010, Farmingdale was a co-champ with Massapequa because that game was tied heading for PKs. But Massapequa advanced after converting more of them. Nassau changed the rule after last season, no more co-champs.
“I couldn’t be more proud of [my players],” coach Brian Weber said. “Farmingdale is a really, really unique and special place. I’ve been privileged to work for them for 27 years now, and it just means everything to me.
“I’ve been in that gymnasium, looking at the banners, hoping that one day we could put one in there for the soccer team. Lot of the older guys, years down the road, came back and texted us: ‘Go win the chip, Weber. Go win it. Bring it back home to Farmingdale.’ And the kids, man, they did it today.”
So the Dalers are 13-3-3. They will play in the Long Island Class AAA championship game in a state subregional contest Wednesday at Patchogue-Medford against the winner of Sunday’s Suffolk AAA final between Commack and Lindenhurst.
“I think we faced our toughest opponent in the finals,” Princi said of Oceanside. “I think in the LIC, I think we can definitely win. We have a good chance.”
On the first Oceanside PK attempt, Buonomo dove to his left — save.
“Going into there, I knew pick a side, commit, no hesitation, just eyes on the ball and go,” he said.
Collin Schirrmacher countered with a diving stop for the Sailors.
On the second Oceanside PK attempt, Buonomo dove to his right to get a piece, then dove back the other way to keep the ball out.
Bekele then put the ball in the right side of the net.
On the third Oceanside PK attempt, Buonomo dove to his left — save.
But he moved too soon. Do over.
He dove to his left again — save again.
Princi then put the ball in the right side of net.
The fourth Oceanside PK attempt went wide. It was over.
“I think [Buonomo] just showed the county what he brings to the table for our team,” Weber said.
Buonomo made 12 saves across regulation and the two overtime periods.
“I think we put on a clinic defensively,” said Princi, the standout senior center back.
Schirrmacher made seven saves, including a diving stop in the first half. But the Sailors ended at 14-1-3.
“The first loss is the last game is super hard,” coach Patrick Turk said. “It’s going to take a while to digest this one. I’m just so proud of the boys for the effort. … I wish it wasn’t ending today.”
