Arlington makes another memory, topping Kingston in a NYSPHSAA boys soccer regional final
STAATSBURG – The memories are beginning to pile up.
Arlington extended the season when it jumped on Kingston early and held on for a 2-0 victory in a NYSPHSAA Class AAA semifinal on Saturday at FDR-Hyde Park High School.
The next stop is the state final four.
“A bunch of the boys came into the season like, ‘This is our season. If we don’t go anywhere no one is going to remember it,’ Admirals defender Rian Lovell said.” We had to make some memories.”
When practice began in August, only the eternal optimists were thinking a run like this was possible.
“This is an exhilarating feeling,” Arlington forward Dylan Manriquez said. “We started to think about going to states right after we won sectionals. We realized it was only two more wins. We had the momentum and now we’re here.”
Now the Admirals are two wins from the program’s first state championship since 2012.
Arlington got more early offense, scoring in the 15th minute when Robert Sherman changed fields and Matt Mazzella crossed the ball into Manriquez for a goal.
“Our defense is the best in the area,” Lovell said. “I have to say it. Our defense is so put together and our midfield complements everything we do. We just know that after we get our goals, they aren’t going to score on us.”
Arlington has surrendered one postseason goal, on a penalty kick.
Mariquez set up Sherman, who netted the insurance goal inside the far post in the 18th minute. Five minutes later, the defense allowed the Tigers their lone prime opportunity. Andrew Foster created a takeaway with strong ball pressure and came in clean, but Nick Giorgi kicked the ball away.
Game balls
The speed of Sherman continues to be an issue for opposing teams. He reshapes the defense with each run and created the first goal, sending the ball across the field rather than engaging an overplaying crowd on the left sideline.
Rian Lovell never stops running, never stops challenging. He was again quick to the ball and took away time and space when Kingston was in the neighborhood.
By the numbers
Arlington (17-2-2): Giorgi finished with two saves.
Kingston (9-5-1): Chris Redding made seven saves.
They said it
"We know the history," Lovell said of the program's four previous state crowns. "We’ve seen the plaques. Now that we’re winning trophies, we go to the area where they are and are like, ‘That’s going to be us.’ So, of course we pay attention."
"We came out a little flat in the first half," Tigers coach Dan Hoffay said. "They play a unique style. They play with a wingback. It’s something you don’t ordinarily see in high school soccer and it poses some difficulties on the back line. We did a good job adjusting in the second half and made it more of a game, we just weren't able to break down that shell of five to find a goal of our own and make it more interesting."
What's next
Arlington plays the East Meadow (8) or Brentwood (11) in a NYSPHSAA semifinal at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Middletown High School.
Mike Dougherty covers boys soccer for The Journal News and lohud.com. Follow along on X/Twitter @hoopsmbd.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Arlington beats Kingston in NYSPHSAA Class AAA boys soccer regional
