By Dylan Butler
With both teams having already clinched PSAL boys soccer playoff berths, there was little left for Newtown and Newcomers to play for Friday other than pride.
But for the Newcomers boys soccer team that was more than enough in a 1-1 tie.
While other teams would be thrilled with garnering a point against Newtown, a program steep in winning tradition, it was not enough for Newcomers, a relative, well, newcomer to the PSAL.
“This team has a lot of pride, they don’t like to lose,” said Newcomers head coach Louis Llull. “We really wanted to beat Newtown. Character is all we have. We play with our hearts.”
Despite only returning two starters from last year, Newcomers (9-2-1 Queens A West) clinched its second straight playoff berth. The key to the Lions success this year has been its stingy defense, led by junior goalkeeper Elvir Prasovic.
“We’re rebuilding every year,” said Prasovic. “Nobody believes we’re good. They think its luck because we always have to rebuild.”
Newtown (10-0-2 Queens A West) has also relied on a solid defensive core. Led by sensational sophomore keeper Francisco Gonzalez, the Pioneers have allowed just five goals in its 12 games.
Newcomers sophomore Dariusz Stankiewicz is in that select group to score on Gonzalez, as he flicked Carlos Guzman’s cross into the net from 16 yards out to put the Lions in front, 1-0, 30 minutes into the game.
The lead held up for 27 minutes until Newtown, which had played flat in the first half, netted the equalizer on one of the few scoring chances either team had in the game.
Juan Orazco’s low corner kick bounced through the box where Alvaro Mosquera’s shot was blocked. Jackson Rodriguez pounced on the rebound and slotted it past Prasovic from five yards out to tie the score at 1 for Newtown in the 57th minute.
“This team never gives up,” said Newtown head coach Howie Ranzer. “The best compliment I’ve ever gotten from another coach is, ‘the reason your team is always good is that they never tire and they never give up.’”
Edison 6, Arts & Business 2. Francisco Gongora netted a hat trick and Noe Canales added a goal and an assist for the Inventors.
Far Rockaway 4, Van Buren 2. Val Torey scored three goals and Jeffrey Wright added another goal for the SeaHorses (8-3-1 Queens B South).
Flushing 4, Bowne 1. Trailing 1-0 nine minutes into the game, the Red Devils scored four unanswered goals to close out the first half. Jun Hun Seo scored two goals and Jing Jun Kuan and Yoon Ku Chon added a goal apiece to lead Flushing.
Robert F. Wagner 2, Arts & Business 0. Santiago Arango made four saves to earn his third straight shutout for Wagner. Paul Naranjo and William Marulanda scored for the Panthers.
Bayside 6, Lane 0. Jason Krese had two goals, Emre Aksu, Jeremy O’Brien and John Gallego scored a goal apiece and Tallin Lamonaca and Carlos Cuadros shared the shutout, making three saves apiece to lead the Commodores.
Cardozo 4, Forest Hills 0. Freddie Hernandez, Alex Cho, Rob Snyder and Frantz Porres scored for Cardozo (9-3 Queens A East). Forest Hills finishes 2-7-3.
After winning the PSAL B city title last year, Bayside completed a very successful first season in the A division, clinching the Queens A East title with a 9-1-2 mark. Thanks to winning the division, the Commodores have a bye into the second round of the playoffs, where they will host the winner of Fort Hamilton/Beacon Friday.
All PSAL first- and second-round games start at 2:30 p.m.
Newtown also gets a first-round pass courtesy of finishing first in Queens A West. The Pioneers host the winner of New Utrecht/Monroe in the second round Friday.
Cardozo (9-3) edged out Flushing for second place in Queens A East and will get an all-important first-round home game as the Judges host Clinton (7-3-3) in a game scheduled for Wednesday. Should Cardozo advance, they will play at Brooklyn A West champion Madison (11-0-1) Friday. Flushing (7-2-3) hits the road for a first round game against Walton (8-6) Wednesday and if the Red Devils win, Terry McLaughlin’s team has the unenviable task of playing at defending champion Martin Luther King (14-0) in the second round Friday.
Newcomers hosts Curtis (7-6-1) in a first round match at Flushing Meadows Corona Park Wednesday. A Lions win sets up an intriguing second round game at Bronx A-I champion Truman (8-1-4) Friday. Aviation (5-4), which finished in third place in Queens A West, is at Hunter (8-2). The winner plays at Brooklyn A Central winner Wingate (10-1-1) Friday.
Following the second round, the remaining teams will be seeded for Monday’s 2:30 p.m. quarterfinals. The semifinals are Nov. 14 at 2:30 p.m. at the higher seed and the PSAL A final is Saturday, Nov. 17 at 12:30 p.m. at Long Island University.
In the B division, Springfield Gardens (11-2) captured the Queens B South regular season title and hosts Bushwick (6-4-1) in a first round game Thursday. Thomas Edison (11-0-2), the Queens B North regular season champions, hosts Randolph (9-3-3) in a first-round game Thursday.
Campus Magnet (6-4-3) earned a wild-card berth and will face Environmental Studies (7-4) in a play-in game scheduled for Wednesday. The winner will face either Erasmus or Health Professionals in the first-round Thursday.
Robert F. Wagner (8-3-2) finished second in Queens B North and will head to the Bronx to take on Bronx B division champion Lehman (9-1-1) Thursday.
The remaining eight teams after the first round will be seeded Friday before Tuesday’s quarterfinals. The semifinals are Thursday, Nov. 15 at 2:30 p.m. at the higher seeds and the PSAL B final is Saturday, Nov. 17 at 10 a.m. at LIU.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at Timesledger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 143.
