Adam Vitulano sends Farmingdale to Nassau Class AAA boys soccer final a day after losing father to liver cancer
Farmingdale's Adam Vitulano, far right, and Christian Graziano celebrate their 2-1 overtime victory over Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK in a Nassau Class AAA boys soccer semifinal at Farmingdale State College on Sunday. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Farmingdale’s Jonathan Perez readied himself for the Dalers’ ninth corner kick against Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK. He stepped up and delivered an in-swinging cross that nearly snuck into the back of the net before Hawks defender Michael Greenspon just barely kept the ball out.
Farmingdale’s Adam Vitulano was one of several jostling for position in the box.
The junior had just gone through something no kid should have to endure, losing his father to liver cancer a day earlier.
So when that ball rolled in front of him, he had one thought in mind.
“I was just thinking about my dad,” Vitulano said. “About how, right here, this is the moment where I’m going to make him proud. So I did. I put the ball in the back of the net and we got the dub.”
Vitulano scored with 10:39 left in the second overtime and ran screaming to a rabid student fan section as No. 3 Farmingdale beat No. 2 Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK, 2-1, in a Nassau Class AAA semifinal Sunday at SUNY Farmingdale.
A look at Adam Vitulano’s game-winning goal❤️
— Michael Sicoli (@Michael__Sicoli) October 26, 2026
After losing his father yesterday, he carries Farmingdale to a county final with his game-winning goal in double OT against Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK.#TheBeautifulGame@NewsdayHSsports pic.twitter.com/Yy9DC7eAJy
“He’s got 26 guys and two coaches that just love him to pieces and have his back,” Farmingdale coach Brian Weber said. “To have him celebrate with the fans tonight, it’s the best ending there could be.”
Farmingdale (12-3-3) will face No. 1 Oceanside at SUNY Farmingdale at 2 p.m. Saturday in the county final in search of the first outright county title in program history.
“It’s an unbelievable experience,” Vitulano said. “I heard it’s the first time in a while that Farmingdale is going there. This is the team that I’m most proud that would do it.”
Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK (12-2-3) took the lead on Andrew Melville’s goal in the 21st minute, as he forced a turnover before ripping a gorgeous shot to the top right corner for the Hawks. Melville is one of eight seniors for POB JFK, as is impressive goalkeeper Jacob Glass, who made seven saves.
“It’s been a great year,” POB JFK coach Christine Ho said. “The biggest part of it was the team chemistry, and I think it starts with [the seniors].”
Farmingdale found its equalizer in a fashion similar to its winner. Christian Graziano’s corner kick wasn’t properly cleared, which allowed Anthony Princi to score in the 51st minute.
Graziano and Perez were instrumental for the Dalers, helping the team dominate possession for most of the second half and overtime.
Weber and Vitulano praised the team’s toughness, with no player featuring that more than Vitulano himself.
The junior said he knows what his father would’ve said if he had been there Sunday night.
“He’s so proud of me,” Vitulano said. “He’d say, ‘You’re an animal, bro. You’re in the box. That’s all you need to do.’ ”
Michael Sicoli covers high school sports for Newsday. He graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and left with a master’s degree in sports journalism in 2023.
