Sports

Boys Soccer: Tuckers use their heads to take out Southampton

Mattituck's James Hayes, left, and Southampton's Jacob Villalobos keep their eyes on the prize during Tuesday's county semifinal. (Credit: Garret Meade)
Mattituck’s James Hayes, left, and Southampton’s Jacob Villalobos keep their eyes on the prize during Tuesday’s county semifinal. (Credit: Garret Meade)

SUFFOLK COUNTY CLASS B SEMIFINAL | TUCKERS 3, MARINERS 0

Mattituck advanced to the Suffolk County Class B high school boys soccer final for the fifth consecutive season with a convincing 3-0 semifinal win over Southampton on Wednesday afternoon.

Striker Mario Arreola scored off a pair of headers in the opening 16 minutes as the Tuckers tallied all of their goals off head shots in the first half at Robert Muir Athletic Fields in Mattituck.

The four-time defending county champion Tuckers (14-2) will face the winner of the Center Moriches-Hampton Bays semifinal at Diamond in the Pines in Coram on Saturday. Center Moriches is scheduled to host Hampton Bays tonight.

Arreola made fast work of the Mariners (8-7), striking with the match only 39 seconds old. He headed in a right-wing cross from Joe Tardif that goalkeeper Garrett Pike caught on the goal line. At first it appeared Pike was going to be awarded a save, but the linesman on the far side, pulled his flag out to alert the referee it was a goal.

Captain and midfielder Paul Hayes, who had his nose broken in a League VII victory over Southampton earlier this month, gained a measure of revenge when he headed in a Kevin Williams free kick from close-range at 12:47 for a 2-0 lead.

Arreola increased the advantage to 3-0 at 15:45 as he nodded in a Kaan Ilgin corner kick at the far left post. He has scored in eight consecutive matches.

Senior goalkeeper Ben Knowles recorded the shutout.