East Boys Soccer Drops Newfield 3-1 in Final Non-League Game

Sachem East boys soccer controlled play and kept a talented Newfield team at bay during its 3-1 victory in non-league play Thursday afternoon.

In its final game before league play begins on Tuesday against Patchogue-Medford, the Flaming Arrows roared back for three unanswered goals after allowing Newfield to get on the board first midway through the first half.

“It’s always most important to make progress as a team and we’ve done that – from our two scrimmages to our two non-league games we’ve gotten better after each,” head coach Matt Stallone said. “You’d always like to come away with a 'W' but if you can get both that’s fantastic and we’ve been able to do that.”

Nick Schook equalized the game at 1, less than four minutes after Newfield jumped out in front. Rob Caldwell lofted a ball into the box that Schook went up and headed into the back of the goal.

East kept the pressure coming and after earning a corner in the waining seconds of the first half Demetrios Tsiokas got a piece of the ball as it sailed through the box, deflecting it in for the second Sachem goal.

“We made an adjustment in the second half and I think the boys got more offensive minded than in the first half,” Stallone said. “Not that we weren’t getting opportunities but we were taking chances and shooting for longer than 20-yards.”

The Flaming Arrows capitalized on another corner six minutes into the second half. After Newfield failed to clear the ball after the initial pressure, Ansel Ueshiro found the ball in the middle of the field and fired it past the goalkeeper. Jason Santos was credited with the assist.

“Once you get that third goal it takes the edge off the other team,” Stallone said.

Stallone was happy with his team’s performance in this game and the job they have done overall in preparing for league play.

“What’s nice about the past couple games is that guys who have been getting time, but don’t start, have been picking it up,” he said. “When they go in there’s no drop off and that’s what makes a team complete. We’re proud of them so far and to be at the spot that we are right now is a nice place to be.”