Wind blows Mattituck's way
8 second-half goals turn one-goal game into rout
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The difference was night and day.
The Mattituck Tuckers boys' soccer team, on the strength of Danny Hudson's breakaway goal two minutes into the first half, held a surprisingly slim 1-0 lead at the half of Friday's home match against the Wyandanch Warriors. While the unbeaten Tuckers put pressure on Wyandanch, a gusting wind and strong midfield play by the Warriors prevented Mattituck from blowing the match wide open.
But with the wind at its back in the second half, it was an entirely different Mattituck team that swarmed in front of the Wyandanch goal. Hudson, again, scored two minutes into the half. Steve Milner followed with a pair of quick goals. The Tuckers ended up striking for eight unanswered second-half goals for a 9-0 rout.
"This was a game we expected to win, but we came out back on our heels," Mattituck Coach Mat Litchhult said. "Once we got the wind in the second half, I hoped we'd put more pressure on them and we did. Overall, I was happy with the way we played and how we succeeded."
Nick Italia added a pair of goals later in the half. Alex Gamberg, Melvin Herrera and Chris Milner also scored. Ryan Connell had assists on three of the goals. Three Mattituck goalkeepers -- Bill Birkmier (two saves), Jon Verity (two) and Brett Jermusyk (one) -- combined to post the shutout.
The win improved Mattituck's record to 9-0, 5-0 in Suffolk County League VII. Wyandanch is 1-9, 1-5.
The previous day, Mattituck traveled to Babylon (0-9, 0-5) and came away with a 5-0 win. Milner, James Cook and Alex Doubrava netted first-half goals for the Tuckers.
Milner took a perfect pass from Hudson and tapped the ball into the goal. Cook blasted in a rocket of a shot from 25 yards out that deflected in off the goalie. Doubrava volleyed in a cross from Nick Italia. Charles Pellegrino and Hudson had second-half goals. Birkmier recorded three saves and Jermusyk had one stop in goal.
Litchhult said Babylon has always been a tough place for his team to play. "We came out and did what we had to do," he said. "Once we went up by three goals, it put them under a lot of pressure and we were able to take advantage of that in the second half."
Litchhult said the Tuckers' home game tomorrow against rival Center Moriches will be another measuring stick game. Mattituck won at Center Moriches, 3-0, earlier in the season.
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