Hicksville's Stone Strongin gets congratulated after his goal against Massapequa...

Hicksville's Stone Strongin gets congratulated after his goal against Massapequa on Sept. 19, 2017. Credit: Peter Frutkoff

There’s nothing flashy about Hicksville boys soccer player Stone Strongin. Well, maybe except for his name.

Is it any surprise that with a first name like Stone and a last name that begins with Strong, that the Comets center back is his team’s rock?

Strongin, a junior who has already verbally committed to Hofstra, scored two second-half goals, then dominated on the defensive side as host Hicksville defeated Massapequa, 4-2, in a Nassau AA crossover game on Tuesday.

“He’s just so solid for us,” said Hicksville coach Scott Starkey of Strongin. “He’s not as flashy as some of the other guys but he’s constantly solid and smart.”

Strongin took a feed from Jose Gil Mejia and gave Hicksville a 2-0 lead just a minute into the second half.

Massapequa, which had the better part of play in a first half despite trailing 1-0, finally got on the board in the 61st minute when defender Erik Treble set up forward Jake Bresnihan.

Less than a minute later, Gil Mejia scored unassisted as the Comets went up 3-1. Strongin added his second goal in the 65th minute when he made a 20-yard run and blasted a low bullet under Chiefs goalkeeper Mohnish Aggarwal (6 saves).

“I say (Stone) is not flashy, but he took the ball down the field and buried it when we needed it,” Starkey said. “(Massapequa) kept coming at us, and he kept answering for us. He and Jose. Every time we needed an answer one of them did it; one of them stepped up.”

Gil Mejia, a junior, knows why he is playing better this season.

“I’m more confident,” Gil Mejia said, “because I have great players next to me like Stone.”

Strongin moved from forward to his usual center back position midway through the second half, and settled down the Comets’ backline.

But Massapequa (1-3) struck once more when Brenishan set up Dakota Lambrou in the 68th minute. Massapequa has now lost four straight games (including non-league), while Hicksville — which received a great effort from goalie Ryan Miller (7 saves) — has won four straight.

“Our main goal is to keep our winning streak going,” Strongin said. “The longer the streak, the more confidence we get.”

Does it matter to Strongin where he plays on the field?

“Wherever I fit in on the team is where coach wants me to play,” Strongin said, “and that’s where I’ll play.”

Nothing flashy from Strongin. Just solid, like a Stone.

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