Arlington goes up and over Corning-Painted Post in NYSPHSAA Class AAA regional semifinal
YORKTOWN HEIGHTS – It was a lethal combination.
Arlington benefitted from quick thinking and quick feet in a 3-0 victory over Corning-Painted Post in a NYSPHSAA AAA regional semifinal Wednesday at Yorktown High School. The Admirals adjusted to a trapping defense in the opening minutes, going over the top and winning each footrace to the ball.
They are now one win away from a state final four appearance.
“We like to possess the ball a little bit more,” Arlington coach Kevin Davis said of the quick adjustment. “I couldn’t find any film on them, so we didn’t have any idea what we were going against. They were playing an offsides trap, which doesn’t give you a lot of space, but they allowed us to run in behind the defense and we took it.”
Anthony Cocca jump-started Arlington going far post in the opening minutes to relieve some of the pressure that comes with postseason games.
“It built our momentum up,” he said. “I think our tempo raised after that goal. We created a lot more chances after that one. When they step up, they lose momentum, so when we play the ball over the top our attackers are already running toward the ball and we’ve got some pretty fast strikers.”
Robert Sherman and Cocca routinely applied the pressure.
After getting behind the defense, Dylan Mariquez slipped around Hawks keeper Caleb Anderson for a tap-in goal in the 20th minute.
That was plenty for this defense, which posted a 14th shutout.
“Our defense is solid,” Alex Sturans said. “We just have to keep doing it. Our skills are really good and we’re physical. We’re really confident. It comes from us winning. It keeps the smiles on everyone’s faces, keeps us happy.”
Game balls
Cocca sent a message with the early goal and he kept the intensity high the rest of the game, chasing down outlets and making the defense nervous.
Anderson was the player who gave Corning-Painted Post a chance, making clutch save after clutch save.
By the numbers
Corning-Painted Post (13-4): Anderson finished with 11 saves.
Arlington (16-2-2): Martin Mlynarski got the final goal of the contest off a rebound on a corner with 35 minutes to play. ... Nick Giorgi made two saves.
They said it
"Once they got the ball, they sent it up into space and that created some difficulties we had to sort out early on," Hawks coach Chad Freelove said. "This group is usually pretty good with their backs against the wall and they did some good things for a few minutes, but it’s difficult to sustain. Arlington had speed all over the field. They were pressing well and were putting us in uncomfortable positions. They were very disciplined."
"It was a relief to play simple, play our game then at the end of the game we can play freely, play our game," Cocca said.
"We haven’t done that consistently all year, score early and play well early," Davis added. "And the boys found out today how much easier the game can be if you put one away early. It just made everyone more relaxed and we built on it."
What's next
Arlington plays Kingston at 1 p.m. on Saturday at FDR-Hyde Park.
Mike Dougherty covers boys soccer for The Journal News and lohud.com. Follow along @hoopsmbd.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Arlington beat Corning-Painted Post 3-0 in NYSPHSAA Class AAA playoff
