Spitaleri's double-OT goal leads Center Moriches boys
Center Moriches' James Whelan wins a header past Mattituck's Joe Pfaff during the Suffolk County high school soccer game. (Oct. 8, 2010) Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
With less than 30 seconds to go in the second overtime Sal Spitaleri was in front of the Mattituck goal and when he saw the ball coming his way the Center Moriches senior knew exactly what to do.
"Hit it in," Spitaleri said as he gasped for his breath. "Take that win, take that W."
Spitaleri buried the game-winning goal with 24 seconds remaining in double overtime to lead Center Moriches past Mattituck, 3-2, Friday in a thrilling Suffolk League VII boys soccer match.
"To see that ball come across and Sal drill it into the back is just revenge for the overtime loss they gave us," Center Moriches defender Sonny Saguto said. The Red Devils' only loss came to Mattituck, a 1-0 double-overtime match, Sept. 20.
Center Moriches (9-1, 6-1) nearly lost the game only moments earlier; with five minutes remaining in the second overtime a bouncing ball, only inches from going into the Center Moriches net, was knocked away by Saguto.
"I started heading toward the goal and my focus was get anything on the ball to get it out," Saguto said.
Mattituck (9-1, 6-1) led 2-0 at halftime thanks to Kevin Reyer and Andres Aldaz.
"We said at halftime that 2-0 is the worst lead in soccer because there's some complacency involved," Center Moriches coach Chris O'Brien said. "You think you can relax a little bit."
Center Moriches, the defending state Class B champion, broke through in the 62nd minute on a goal by James Whelan.
"I told the guys at half that the next goal was the most important and they scored it," Mattituck coach Mathew Litchhult said. "They got the momentum.
Less than three minutes later Whelan once again had the ball at his feet in Mattituck's end and went down the end line, served a ball away from Mattituck's 6-4 goalkeeper Cody Huntley, and found Brian Alifano, who buried it to tie the score at 2.
The teams are now tied atop the League VII standings, each with a 6-1 record. O'Brien said when the teams meet in the playoffs, the outcome matters most.
"It's nice to come square with these guys," O'Brien said. "We both have given each other a loss.
"It's not the first or second time you play each other it's the third time that really counts because it's a go-home game."
