Center Moriches boys soccer

Center Moriches Boys varsity soccer had a valiant fall season, reaching the county championship game.

In Suffolk County Section XI, League IV, the Center Moriches Red Devils captivated their autumn campaign with a 12-4-2 overall record and a 10-3-1 league record consisting of nine shutout victories.

Many of the assets to the team’s success were senior defensemen Zack Rotunda and James Matera; Quinn Davidson and Ethan Chernis; senior forward Luke Rebore-Costanzo and senior goalkeeper Hunter Bernhard; as well as sophomore midfielders Alex Rotunda, Jack Passaro, and junior Marquise Miles.

In the season opener on Sept. 2, the Red Devils ended in a 0-0 stalemate with the Miller Place Panthers. Following the draw, Center Moriches boys soccer churned out three consecutive shutouts: dominating 7-0 over Bridgehampton at home; keeping the Sayville Golden Flashes off the scoreboard in a 1-0 road win; and a 6-0 conquest at Smithtown Christian.

Center Moriches fell to Riverhead Charter in their fifth contest of the year, 1-0, on Sept. 15, then two days later won 1-0 over Southampton. They took two-straight losses on Sept. 20, and 22, to Babylon and Amityville, then strung together six-straight wins: a 4-0 road shutout vs. Greenport; two-straight home wins, both by a score of 3-1 over the Mattituck Tuckers and the Southold Settlers; blew out Pierson on the road, 7-0, on Oct. 8; shutout Port Jefferson and Southampton at home on Oct. 11 and Oct. 14. The Red Devils attained their second stalemate of the season vs. the Tuckers, 1-1, then concluded the regular season in style with a 1-0 home shutout over the Babylon Panthers on Oct. 20. In the Suffolk County Class B semifinals on Wednesday, Oct. 29, the Red Devils won 5-3 in exhilarating fashion that required three overtime periods.

It was 1-1 after regulation as Ethan Chernis supplied the scoring with a goal, assisted by Quinn Davidson. After both teams traded goals in overtime, Zack Rotunda concluded the marathon in the triadic overtime period, scoring the game-winning goal on a penalty kick to send Center Moriches to the Suffolk County championship game.

Hunter Bernhard tallied seven saves in the playoff victory. Center Moriches played Babylon on Saturday, Nov. 1, and fell 1-0 in the Suffolk County Class B Division IV championship game.