Vincent Puglisi, West Islip boys soccer roll into state championship final
West Islip's Joseph Blackton goes for a header along side Fayetteville-Manlius Antoine Aombe in the first half during semi-finals at Middletown during NYSPHSAA championships, Saturday. Credit: Thomas La Barbera
MIDDLETOWN — When West Islip needed Vincent Puglisi the most, he came through in a few key spots in Saturday’s state semifinal.
The junior defender blocked a potential goal with his team clinging to a one-goal lead. Later, he made a huge strip of Syracuse-commit Antonino Pagano in a dangerous position.
The Lions offense took care of the rest and scored four times in a span of 11 minutes to earn a convincing 5-1 win against Fayetteville-Manilus in the state Class AA semifinal at Middletown’s Faller Field.
West Islip (19-2-1) faces Hilton at 10:45 a.m. Sunday in the state final. The Lions, who earned their first Suffolk title since 1973, will play for its first boys soccer state title in program history. (The state championships started in 1978.)
"We’re a bunch of athletes with great chemistry who have been playing for years and years," Puglisi said. "We’re always together."
Aiden Lodie went far post in the 17th minute to open the scoring for the Lions. West Islip goalkeeper Lucas Iacono (5 saves) made three key stops within a five-second span with 17:13 left in the first half to keep F-M off the scoreboard.
When Iacono was caught out of position later in the match, it was Puglisi who was there for him and the Lions.
"Having played in the back, I knew where I should be," said Puglisi, who was right in the middle of the net and cleared a potential goal away with 26:37 remaining. "Lucas has got my back, and I got his. I reached for [the ball], I slipped a bit, but I was just happy to get it out."
A few minutes later, Puglisi took the ball away from Pagano, who was shut down by the Lions’ defense. At least three different WI defenders man-marked Pagano throughout the match. (Pagano scored a meaningless penalty kick with 6:07 remaining for his 41st goal of the season.)
The Lions' Joey Blackton scored in the 63rd minute. Lodie added his second goal in the 66th minute, and Blackton had his second in the 69th minute. Senior sub Zack Siano’s goal in the 74th minute sent the Lions bench into a frenzy.
"It was crazy, honestly," said Siano, who scored his first varsity goal. "It’s the state [semifinals] and I get thrown on the field and scored."
The season of firsts continues for West Islip, which could be 80 minutes away from its first boys soccer state crown.
"We come into these games expecting that nothing will be given to us," Puglisi said. "This season we finally have been given the respect we deserve."
