Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK boys soccer beats Massapequa to reach Nassau Class AAA final
Nicholas Shuleshov #5 of Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK scores a goal on a header against Massapequa during a Nassau Class AAA boys soccer semifinal at Farmingdale State on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024. Credit: David Meisenholder
The day was Sept. 19. It was the day something unusual happened. The Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK boys lost their one and only soccer game.
Otherwise, the Hawks won 12 and tied two. They posted 10 shutouts and outscored the opposition by 30 goals across their first 15 games.
That one team to beat them was Massapequa. The rematch came in game No. 16 Tuesday night at Farmingdale State College, a game with much higher stakes — the Nassau AAA semifinals.
“This game, it was all about heart, desire, and we wanted that revenge,” junior center back Nick Shuleshov said afterward.
They got it. Shuleshov scored a goal and anchored an airtight defense in the top-seeded Hawks’ 2-0 win over No. 5 Massapequa.
After claiming the AA crown in 2022, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK fell against East Meadow in the 2023 AAA final.
So make it three straight years in a county title game.
“It’s amazing,” Hawks coach Christine Ho said. “That’s something we’ve talked about all year is getting to November, which we knew would be the championship game. So we’re really, really excited.”
They will play for the championship at 6:30 p.m. Sunday back at Farmingdale State against the winner of Tuesday night’s other semi between No. 3 Syosset and No. 7 Uniondale.
“I think this team has the most potential to make it as far as they can this year,” Shuleshov said.
Shuleshov has been a large reason why Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK has conceded all of five goals in this 13-1-2 run.
“He’s our leader back there,” Ho said. “He’s our organizer.”
Massapequa edged the hosting Hawks, 1-0, the first time.
This time, the Hawks went up 1-0 with 7:59 gone in the first half.
Manny Paolo headed the ball in front. A Massapequa defender tried to clear it, but he sent it past Nicholas Ambrosio for an own goal.
Then Shuleshov took out insurance 4:32 into the second half, scoring on a header off a throw-in from Ryan Misiti. “Beautiful throw,” Shuleshov said. “I don’t think it could’ve been any more perfect, right to my head.”
Tommy Petrsoric made a diving stop with a little more than eight minutes left, preserving the shutout.
So Massapequa finished at 6-6-4. “I couldn’t be more proud of these guys,” coach Matthew Burke said.
“They did a tremendous job. We had our backs up against the wall a few times. Playoffs weren’t even a guarantee. And then they stepped up.”