Raiders Boys Soccer Edged Out By Sachem East

A shot that would have tied up Patchogue-Medford Raiders summer league boys soccer team in their postseason game against Sachem East went just wide of the net in the last ten seconds, resulting in a 3-2 loss at Centereach Park Wednesday. The loss ends the Raiders' (4-4-2 in season play) postseason run as the Arrows advance to the final round against Ward Melville (6-4).

East's Ansel Ueshiro, set up by Jason Santos, struck first in the sixth minute before teammate Nick Schook had returned it to the back of the Raiders' net unassisted five minutes later. The Raiders, lagging in possessions but not about to surrender to a shutout, answered back at the 18-minute mark off a score by Garrett Smith.

Ueshiro, this time hooked up by Schook, chalked up another score in the first 1:30 of the second half, with the final score by Raider Steve Vaughan on an assist by Bobby Cranor with four minutes to go.

Keith Orlando, in goal for the Raiders, made eight saves. Matt Bonomini (first half) and Will Silber (second half) combined for eight saves for East.

Raiders coach Steve Vesey said that he was proud of his team's persistence as the game went on. Talking up his team postgame in preparation for fall practices next week, he said that holding a spot in League I against squads like East, Melville and perennial powerhouse Brentwood during the normal season - where one-goal games regularly keep teams on their toes - is difficult but possible with added effort.

"They were up 2-0, and we came back," he said. "East was the better team, but I like that we fought back and kept coming back."