Pearl River Boys Soccer Defense Stifling Opposition

Pearl River's first meeting with Lakeland this season ended in a 1-0 loss at home.

The Pirates have been far more used to seeing zeroes show up on the other team's side of the scoreboard this season.

Pearl River enters its rematch with Lakeland in the Section 1 Class A quarterfinals owning a 14-1-2 record with nine shutouts to the Pirates' credit.

This from a defense that entered the season needing players to step up around senior sweeper and team captain Sam Berry.

"Sam  has been the leader," Pearl River Coach Damon O'Keefe said. "It's 10 shutouts and he's the reason why. Don't get me wrong. The keepers have been playing great, but Sam is the catalyst in the back.

"The sweeper position at times can be a (thankless) position because you're not the one scoring and you're not the one getting assists, but you are the one controlling things and he does a great job of doing that."

Cueva, another senior, has also been a key, racking up most of the shutouts with Austim Maggilio also seeing time in goal.

"Justin was splitting some games with Austin at the beginning of the year, but Justin has kind of taken over," O'Keefe said. "This is a really big year for him. He's been one of our most improved guys. He is really focused and making some great saves."

Senior Jake Tedesco has also stepped up his game on both ends. O'Keefe called him the Pirates's most physical player. Tedesco is strong in the air on both ends. He has five goals off corner kicks this season.

"He has really improved from last year," O'Keefe said. "His first touch and his ability to distribute the ball. We knew he would be physical and win balls for us in the air. We didn't realize he would do the distributing he's doing. He is all over the place for us back there. He is able to really start our transition forward."

The Pirates needed young players to step up on defense around the seniors and sophomore Chris Coughlan has done exactly that, often marking the other team's top scoring threat.

"Chris has been great," O'Keefe said. "He has had a great season for us. He marks the best strikers every time out there. He has done a nice job for us shutting them down. For a sophomore, that's pretty amazing.

Freshman Vincenzo Galvano starts at the other back, with sophomore Matt Neroda and junior Richie Masley coming in based on the situation. O'Keefe said that Galvano has played more than any freshman he has ever had in the past.

Berry said that the mix of seniors and upperclassmen on the defensive end work well together.

"A lot of it has just been communication and helping each other out," Berry said. "Someone makes a mistake, be there for them. Give them advice when you can."

Much of that falls to Berry as the captain in the back.

"I have to talk more," Berry said. "I have got to tell them when they are doing something wrong. When they do something wrong, I've got to support them. I have got to do everything I can to help them grow into the position."

And when he sees those efforts by the Pirates' defense resulting in a shutout?

"It's perfect," Berry said with a smile.

Berry admitted after Pearl River's victory over Panas in the first round of the playoffs that the Pirates are happy to have another shot at Lakeland.

"We're hoping to see them and we are hoping to really finish," Berry said. "Last game, we had a lot of opportunities and we couldn't finish. I think we can play much better than last time."

Lakeland is also a team that has offensive talent and a strong defense, which is backed by goalkeeper Steven Reiche. Reiche's shutout of Pearl River was his seventh in the first nine games this season.

"There is a lot of inspiration for our next game," O'Keefe said. "A lot of it has to do with the fact that it is our only loss of the season. They knocked us out of the tournament a few years ago. We do not want to have that happen again. It's a nice rivalry we are developing with them."

Scoring first is also a key. In the first meeting, Lakeland simply packed its defensive zone after taking the lead.

"Our challenge tomorrow is going to be not allowing them to score on set pieces and corner kicks," O'Keefe said. "That’s what they look to do. When we got done practicing today, we were talking about not picking up silly fouls tomorrow. Not giving them the 30-yard and 25-yard direct kidsk. That’s where they do a lot of their scoring."

The semifinal game against Lakeland was initially scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday at Pearl River High School, but at least the location will have to be moved. O'Keefe said the field is unplayable after Saturday's snow on top of the rainy mess from Oct. 27. Pearl River played Friday on the artificial surface of the Orangetown Mighty Midgets Complex in Orangeburg and that is most likely where they would play Tuesday.

The game date and time could also be changed due to school closings related to ongoing power outages in the Lower Hudson Valley. Pearl River High School will be open Tuesday, but Lakeland will not.

Pearl River's smaller, natural-grass field created some problems the first time around for Lakeland, which plays its home games on an artificial surface.