Massapequa again heads Class AA
Massapequa High School #6 Dakota Barnathan, right, cuts through midfield as Farmingdale #22 Fernando Cortez follows him in the second half. (Oct. 7, 2010) Credit: James Escher
Massapequa graduated 16 players from its Nassau Class AA championship team, but the Chiefs are always vying for the title. The Chiefs have won seven county championships in the last nine seasons. Senior midfielder Dakota Barnathan returns and senior midfielder Max Aronica transferred from Commack. The Chiefs have speed up front and a good group of sophomores.
Hicksville returns nine starters and has a very deep and experienced team. Senior Marco Bonilla anchored a stingy defense last season. Senior Ian Gallagher can play anywhere on the field and will move from defender to forward to supply offense. Jimmy Myers, a 6-3 senior midfielder, will gain a lot of possessions for the Comets with his skill in the air.
Uniondale made the playoffs last season for the first time in 15 years and the Knights are ready to make a push for the championship. Senior forward Nyder Chardonnette is one of the top players in the county. With excellent speed, he will be a marked man. Senior midfielders Frankie Villegas and Jonathan Hernandez give the Knights an excellent trio.
Senior midfielder Casey Densing and senior goalkeeper Brian Wolfe lead a senior-laden group for Oceanside that returns seven starters.
Syosset, anchored by senior midfielder Eric Bold and sophomore midfielder Scott DeBenedettis, is always competitive
In Class A, South Side will attempt to win its third consecutive county title. Junior defender Mark Romanowski usually marks the opposition's top threat and often starts the offense. Junior midfielder Kyle Morrissey and senior midfielders Chris Harkins and Kevin Cook are very experienced.
Garden City is led by senior midfielder Sean Bingham and senior defender Ted Spanos.
Senior midfielder Glenn Hymms and junior defender Harrison Rieber pace Jericho.
Mineola hopes to make a run with five four-year starters. The defense is very good with the back line all 6-foot or taller. Senior defender Denis Lazo-Cruz and senior midfielder Christian Lird are players to watch.
New Hyde Park returns eight starters, including senior forward/defender Gianpaolo Lisena and sophomore midfielder Billy Stevens.
Anthony Leonick, a senior midfielder, and senior forward J.T. Famularo are two of 15 returnees for Island Trees, which reached the semifinals last season.
In Class B, Wheatley goes for its second consecutive county championship with a senior-laden team. Junior goalkeeper Eric Orologio and senior midfielder Alex Butwin are keys.
Carle Place is in good position to make another run to the county final with nine starters back. The team is well balanced with senior midfielder Joe Hughes and senior defender/midfielder Dom Pereira.
Friends Academy is the lone Class C team in Nassau and the two-time defending state champions. The Quakers return four starters, including senior goalkeeper Eli Rousso and senior midfielder Mike Isernio.
