Porters upset Tuckers in homecoming soccer match

Greenport soccer co-captain Luis Morales experienced conflicting emotions on Friday.

One minute, he was ecstatic after scoring off a long free kick that boosted the Porters to a 2-1 overtime upset of host Mattituck at its homecoming in a Suffolk County League VI match.

“It was a feeling that I can’t really describe,” Morales said. “It was just a wonderful feeling.”

Several minutes later, the senior defensive midfielder was much more subdued after his father told him that his aunt Dora, his mother’s sister, had passed away in Guatemala.

“I was stuck in emotion,” he said. “I was like, damn. She was the one that really was watching me and how that moment went through. I’m a religious man, so I believe that she helped it happen. God works in mysterious ways. I just felt like that goal was for her.”

The Porters (2-6-1, 2-5), a Class C team, entered the match on a six-game losing streak, since a 9-0 triumph over Bridgehampton on Sept. 8. The Tuckers (5-1-1, 4-1-0) were unbeaten in the league and ranked fourth among state Class B teams.

“If there was ever a team that needed a win to turn its season, it was us,” Greenport head coach Greg Dlhopolsky said.

Mattituck head coach Dan O’Sullivan gave the Porters their due.

“Tough result but you have to tip your cap to Greenport,” he said. “They had a defensive game plan and executed it very well.”

The Porters made sure Tuckers’ leading goalscorer, forward Connor Searl (six goals), and playmaker Andy Mancia (five assists) could not do much damage.

“Greg always gets them up for the North Fork derbies, and you know you’re going to get everything they have, and then some,” O’Sullivan said. “I thought both teams played very hard from the opening whistle given the tough weather conditions.”

O’Sullivan was referring to a prevailing northeast wind that included gusts up to 40 miles an hour.

“The weird thing about this game is neither team scored against the wind,” Dlhopolsky said. “We had the wind in the first half, and we scored. Mattituck got the wind in the second half, and they scored. And then we had the wind in overtime.”

Greenport struck midway through the opening half on Jordan Martinez’s goal off a Walter Purizaca feed, past goalkeeper Cris Cuellar. Mattituck equalized behind Charlie Carter’s tally in the second half past keeper Jesus Rios.

With time running down in the first OT, Mattituck was called for a handball just inside the center line.

“I have to put it in the box because there’s nowhere else to put it,” Morales said, explaining the scoring sequence. “I just get comfortable. I take a few steps back, deep breath. I was like, ‘God, please let this go in.’ I strike the ball, and it comes off a deflection.

“I just see the net shake a little bit. I’m like, ‘Oh my God! The ball went in!’ “

Morales said that it was the most important goal he had scored.

“Mattituck is a team that’s just been able to beat us,” he said, “But we showed heart. … We came into the game with the mentality of we had nothing to lose, and we just wanted to enjoy the time we had.” 

Dlhopolsky lauded center backs Juan Vivas Flores and Henry Merino, left back Isiah Malinowski, and Rios (eight saves) for their superb performances.

“The two center backs were phenomenal,” he said. “Juan was amazing on the backline, just a wall. They have a lot of really physical, fast attackers. He was able to either win balls that they’re accustomed to winning or at least be difficult enough that they weren’t able to get good shots off. The defense was great. It was a team effort.

“Jesus made two great saves, a one-handed diving save, and another one on a breakaway.”

Both coaches planned to use the result as motivation.

“I know they were very excited after the game and will use that win for momentum moving forward,” O’Sullivan said. “As for us, we are turning the page to this week and four upcoming games.”

Afterwards, Dlhopolsky told his team: “If you didn’t believe, you better believe now.”

“That’s kind of the feeling they have right now, that this season hasn’t gone the way we’ve expected and that we’re better than how it’s gone,” he told a reporter. “Winning that game is going to go a long way in reminding them of how we can play and what we can be as a team.”