MacArthur's brotherhood strong in win over Glen Cove
James Eden of MacArthur celebrates his goal during a Nassau boys soccer game on Wednesday in Levittown. Credit: Dawn McCormick
As James Eden recalled it was the final days of August when the MacArthur boys soccer team made the journey en masse to Wantagh. The destination was a hair salon. The mission was to emerge as team of bleach blondes. The senior forward explained “we wanted to get the brotherhood going early.”
Senior forward Austin Roth opted out because he hadn’t taken his senior photo and senior midfielder Jack Mauer, who also kicks for the football team and will attend the U.S. Military Academy next fall, passed because he is a non-conformist. Nevertheless, the Generals’ brotherhood — including those two — looks strong.
It was on display for all to see as host MacArthur played quick on offense and disruptive on defense to post a 2-0 Nassau A East victory over Glen Cove on Wednesday.
“We know (Glen Cove) is a good team and that they played for county (championship) last year,” Eden said. “That raised the motivation today and we harnessed the energy.”
“When we had the ball we did a good job of finishing for the goals with our quickness,” Generals coach Andy Atkins said. “Glen Cove is a very good technical team that plays a possession style. We did a good job of not letting them have time to dribble.”
Eden broke a scoreless tie with a first-half goal and assisted on junior forward Cristian Perez Franco’s second half goal. Senior midfielder Kieran Weber spotted Eden slicing toward the goal from the left side and got the ball to his foot; Eden nearly lost the handle but corralled it to make the shot and score for MacArthur (2-0-1, 2-0).
Junior midfielder Luca Paletta, who Atkins said didn’t figure to get much playing time coming out of tryouts but has earned the opportunity to play key minutes with his work ethic, found Eden getting out on a foray early in the second half. Eden headed the ball up past the defense and Perez Franco was all alone behind it. Though he’d missed 25 minutes in the first half to a thigh bruise, he craftily maneuvered for the second Generals score.
Glen Cove (2-1-2, 0-1-1) has serious weapons in senior Londell Wheeler and sophomore Enry Hernandez. Senior keeper Tyler Behr and senior stopper Jack Longobucco played major roles in neutralizing them. Behr had eight saves. Longobucco — moved recently to stopper because of an injury — used his speed to the ball to break up some potential Big Red chances.
“(MacArthur) had more speed up top, played a physical style and dominated in the counter game,” Glen Cove coach Brian Smith said. “the more technical team doesn’t always win.”
Roth said he plans to join the bleach blondes soon. No one is sure about Mauer. But what the Generals know is that they must sustain the unity.
“It’s a good start to this season,” Weber said, “but we’ve got to keep together and keep it up.”
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
