Sports

Boys Soccer: Riverhead has the chances, but not enough goals

Riverhead's Jonathan Perez rises to head a corner kick while being challenged by Newfield's Connor Timmonds (10). (Credit: Garret Meade)
Riverhead’s Brian Elejalde rises to head a corner kick while being challenged by Newfield’s Connor Timmonds (10). (Credit: Robert O’Rourk)

WOLVERINES 3, BLUE WAVES 1

This definitely was a tough one for the Riverhead High School boys soccer team.

The Blue Waves certainly had more scoring chances, but Newfield made the most of its chances and recorded a 3-1 Suffolk County League III victory in Selden on Tuesday afternoon.

Anthony Mauri, Eric Reimann and Patrick Egan found the back of the net for the Wolverines (1-3, 1-1) while Anthony Antunes tallied for Riverhead (1-1, 1-1) in the sometimes chippy and always physical encounter.

Mauri converted a long pass from Nicholas Massey from close range in the 26th minute to lift the hosts into a 1-0 lead. Eight minutes into the second half, Reimann gave the Wolverines some breathing room as he scored off a long free kick by Michael DiDominico past goalkeeper Ryan Diresta for a 2-0 advantage.

Reimann was fortunate still to be playing because he stopped an onrushing Riverhead forward, Phil Barabanov, who had only the goalkeeper to beat. The referees, however, did not issue a card — yellow or red — on the play, though Barabanov definitely was impeded.

The Blue Waves wouldn’t give up as they pulled to within one in the 53rd minute as Atunes cracked a hard shot while running down the right wing. Goalkeeper Sean Kelly got a hand on it, but the shot had enough power to still find its way into the net.

Only two minutes later, Riverhead almost equalized as Karol Birycki volleyed a close-range attempt off the crossbar and out of bounds.

And just three minutes after that, Egan connected for a vital insurance goal on a scramble in the penalty area.

Riverhead pushed up for the rest of the game as Newfield positioned 10 players behind the ball. It was difficult to solve the maze of players guarding the penalty area, especially on corner kicks, as defenders blocked shots or Blue Waves players sent their efforts just wide of their intended target.