Lengthy Island could have its personal Chiefs dynasty come Friday evening.
Undefeated Massapequa soccer is on the doorstep of highschool historical past with an opportunity to win the Nassau County title three straight seasons — a feat by no means completed on the Convention I degree, based on this system.
“All of us grew up all collectively,” Chiefs senior linebacker and tight finish Anthony DiNello advised The Publish of taking part in Massapequa Mustangs youth ball as little children earlier than reaching highschool.
“We have been working, actually for this second, our complete total lives — for us to win as a lot as we might.”
These days, the checklist of the Chiefs’ current victories is the one factor longer than the road on the native burger joint, All-American.
Massapequa’s present 10-0 staff hasn’t misplaced since Week 1 of the 2024 marketing campaign, the place it got here up narrowly quick to Oceanside, 42-39.
As destiny would have it, the Chiefs will rematch the Sailors — whom they carefully beat 36-33 final month due to a late DiNello landing — Friday evening at Hofstra College.
Excessive tide
Either side agree that the previous is up to now, and the Nassau County title might be performed on an excellent keel, as Massapequa has to undergo whitecaps in a really blue-collar model of soccer to earn the three-peat.
“We don’t have any true superstars, and we do issues as a collective. The blokes are actually selfless,” Oceanside head coach Robert Blount mentioned of his “resilient” 7-2 staff that discovered silver linings within the regular-season matchup.
“It was a second of, ‘Hey, let’s work out who we’re.’ I used to be actually pleased with how the staff reacted to that, and so they ended up simply persevering with to progress in the correct course.”
Chiefs head coach Kevin Shippos is aware of that there’s sufficient hype for this showdown, and he doesn’t want to put it on thick together with his group.
“We are saying it on a regular basis, we’ll play anybody, anytime, wherever,” he mentioned after Wednesday’s follow in Massapequa’s frigid canal-front tundra, municipally referred to as Burns Park.
The chief of the Chiefs can be conscious that his guys can deal with the emotional aspect on their very own, as he knew this technology can be particular since they performed their Mustang days on the identical area.
Chief executives
“They’re coming into the highschool, close-knit, family-oriented,” Shippos mentioned. “It simply carries ahead for the following 4 years.”
The tight bunch has weekly pre-game pasta events, “prayer” the place they air out emotions from the week prior, NFL Sundays, and religiously chow down at Chick-fil-A on Mondays.
“We keep collectively and eradicate the little cliques inside the staff,” mentioned senior security and wideout Cole Villalta.
Their camaraderie pays off throughout next-man-up moments.
Senior offensive and defensive lineman Tristan Tarasi vividly recalled his little brother, junior exterior linebacker and tight finish Giovanni, shining throughout his varsity debut towards Freeport, recording a pick-six.
“I used to be at all times pushing him within the offseason, telling him that your title goes to get referred to as and to work for that beginning spot,” Tristan mentioned.
“I haven’t performed soccer with him for like 9 years till he received pulled up… It’s fairly particular, my final 12 months that we get to play collectively, and that we have been on the run that we’re on proper now.”
When the little brother’s second got here, Chief Nation welcomed him with open arms.
“I’ve my precise brother on this staff, however all of them are my brothers now,” Giovanni mentioned.
“Simply being so shut collectively, that’s what’s actually been a part of our success this 12 months.”
The older Tarasi, a four-year varsity participant, can be relishing the second as he seeks to finish on the best doable notice, bringing extra {hardware} to an space that fiercely loves its Chiefs.
“Everybody who lives on this city bleeds blue and gold,” he mentioned.
“However to be trustworthy with you, we don’t must be reminded. The inspiration comes from inside us.”
