Graziano's Corners: Farmingdale's 2-1 Victory Sets Record Pace
Two second-half headers from set pieces secured the Dalers' first outright Nassau title and advanced them to the Southeast Regional final.
By Julian Schulz ·
Farmingdale advanced to the Southeast Regional final after defeating Lindenhurst 2-1 on Wednesday night.
The victory marked a milestone for the Dalers, who became the first program from the island to win a Long Island Class AAA championship in this format. Christian Graziano delivered two corner kicks from the right side that directly resulted in both Farmingdale goals. Patrick Molite headed in the first of these with the score still 0-0 in the second half. Anthony Princi headed in the winner with 5 minutes and 24 seconds remaining on the clock.
The match required a comeback effort after Lindenhurst equalized. Gianni Lombardi scored a goal with 12 minutes and 35 seconds left to make it 1-1. The Bulldogs had entered the game on an 11-1 winning streak, which included victories over Brentwood and Commack in the county tournament. Lindenhurst finished the season with a 13-6 record after claiming their first Suffolk county crown.
Farmingdale's path to the final was defined by resilience in high-pressure matches. The team finished the regular season with a 14-3-3 record. Their postseason run included a quarterfinal win against No. 6 Port Washington. They then survived a double overtime match against No. 2 Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK in the semifinals. In the Nassau final, the Dalers defeated top-seeded Oceanside in a penalty kick shootout. Senior goalkeeper Jonathan Buonomo stopped every shot taken by the opposing team during the shootout.
Coach Brian Weber noted the team's work ethic as a key factor in their success. "Farmingdale, man, we’re a bunch of hard-working grinders …" Weber said. He emphasized that the players show up in all weather conditions and listen to instructions. "Everything is first ever now for us," Weber said. "I can’t be more proud of this group of kids."
Graziano credited the team's training for the set pieces. "We work a lot on set pieces," Graziano said. The Dalers will face Section I champion Mamaroneck at 12:00 p.m. Saturday at Byram Hills in Westchester. This will be Farmingdale's first appearance in the regional final stage.
The team last reached the county quarterfinals in the previous season. Their 2010 title was shared with Massapequa after a tie went to penalty kicks, which Massapequa won. This season marked the school's first outright Nassau championship.
