Nick West, Esteban Valverde lead East Hampton boys' state semifinal victory

MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. -- East Hampton's Nicholas West was favoring his left foot as he walked off the field. He said it had been stepped on late in the first half -- a half in which West's play had been spectacular.

The Bonackers' leading goal scorer shrugged off the pain after the game and said it was no big deal. No issues with it.

"I'll be fine," said West, smiling, as he embraced his family and friends after his team beat Jamesville-DeWitt, 3-0, to advance to the state Class A boys soccer final at 10:30 a.m. today against Greece Athena. "I've got too much adrenaline in me right now to worry about something like that."

West's energy was apparent throughout East Hampton's convincing victory.

None more so than in the first half, where West scored in the 11th and 16th minutes to give the Bonackers (18-1-2) a 2-0 lead. Driving hard to the goal line, West drilled a left-footed shot on goal that was deflected off a Jamesville-Dewitt defender and into the net to open up the game's scoring.

"It was a confidence-booster, that first goal. It sure helped us keep our composure," said West, who now has 25 goals. "There was still work to do after that first goal."

With the help of Esteban Valverde, West didn't waste much time. Valverde's cross landed off the crossbar and was then headed home by West, who went all-out to make sure the Bonackers had a two-goal lead. "I saw Este dribble through and he hit a great shot," West said. "I put as as much power into the header as possible, so that the goalkeeper couldn't see it."

Valverde, who returned for the postseason after fracturing his collarbone in the third game of the season, scored his first of the season in the 55th minute to seal it.

"I anticipated the situation, ran on to the ball and took their goalie out of the play," Valverde said. "I'm happy that we get to keep going. We had those nerves going at the beginning, but there was great joy there."

The early goals made things much easier for players like Christian Barrientos and Bryan Oreamuno, who were instrumental in helping "stabilize the midfield," Barrientos said.

Not much got through, and when anything came close, Nick Tulp was there to make one of his five saves. "We got the ball wide, got it to the outside and attacked their outside backs," Barrientos said. "We were able to calm things down. We meant business. This is our field, we kept saying."

Oreamuno never felt Jamesville-DeWitt was able to get its game plan going, which was to get the ball "over our heads," he said, and deep into the Bonackers' end. "We wouldn't allow that," Oreamuno said.

"The key for us was using our flanks, the outside wingers, who got the ball to the outside and crossed it into the goal box," said Oreamuno, who said he is dedicating the season in honor of his late grandfather, Enrique Leon. "It means a lot to me and it would be great if we can bring the title home."