Photos courtesy of the Amityville Union Free School District
The Amityville Union Free School District congratulates the Amityville Memorial High School Warriors varsity soccer team on winning their third New York State championship.
On Nov. 13, the Warriors defeated the Beacon High School Bulldogs 4-0 to win the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class A championship at Middletown High School. The game was highlighted by the performance of senior striker Hugo Rodriguez, who finished the game with two goals and an assist. Senior goalkeeper Matthew Katz also played an outstanding game with five saves to secure a clean sheet. Led by the coaching staff of head coach Michael Abbondondolo and assistant coaches Chris Gannon, Greg McCoy, Michael Abbondondolo Sr. and Berten George, the Warriors finished their remarkable season with a record of 20-1-1 and were ranked 16th in the nation. The Warriors also became five-time Suffolk County and Long Island champions, and they won their seventh consecutive league title.
The Warriors varsity soccer team finished their remarkable season with a record of 20-1-1.
Last year, the Warriors made it to all the way to the New York State championship where they lost to Somers High School. The Warriors graduated some impact players in the Class of 2022 who went to schools such as Boston College, Queens College and St. Joseph’s University.
“This year, we were poised to be ready to get back there and win it all,” Mr. Abbondondolo said. “We already had a tough league schedule ahead of us and we also put together a tough non-League schedule to best prepare ourselves to be our best version at the end of the season when it matters most. Through many challenges, we were able to navigate the season in a way where we learned great lessons while still getting results.”
The Warriors faced teams from New York City along with Westtown School, a preparatory school in Pennsylvania. They played Westtown in Albany during the middle of the season in the NXT LVL Invitational Showcase where the game finished in a 0-0 draw. The showcase featured more than 20 college coaches. In addition to having a challenging non-League schedule, the Warriors’ league schedule was just as tough.
Mr. Abbondondolo said that their major turning point was towards the end of the regular season when they played undefeated John Glenn High School in league play on Oct. 12 and Senior Day on Oct. 14 against Kings Park High School, a competitive playoff team. Then, in less than 24 hours, the Warriors traveled to Randall’s Island to play Martin Luther King High School who won the City Championship and is ranked eighth in the nation.
“We designed the schedule to truly find ourselves, and we did,” Mr. Abbondondolo said.
Mr. Abbondondolo added that the only “blemishes” on the Warriors’ remarkable season record was their tie to Westtown and a loss to MLK. Once the playoffs began, the team never looked back as they outscored their opponents 22-3.
“In the playoffs, the team, community and everyone in Amityville really rose to the occasion as our path through the playoffs was a memorable one,” Mr. Abbondondolo said. “We are so proud of all the effort put forth by the boys and their dedication to each other. We are so happy we could represent Amityville in a way that everyone can be proud of. There is a lot of pride in the program, and we are thrilled to bring the state championship back home.”
The district congratulates the Warriors on capping off another historic season with a state title.
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