Garfield Gillespie’s quick goal sets the tone in Connetquot’s victory

Gillespie’s game is goal-oriented: ‘I have to score,’ Connetquot star says (& he does

Rubin, Roger. Newsday, Combined editions; Long Island, N.Y. [Long Island, N.Y]. 17 Sep 2022

Garfield Gillespie’s job on the Connetquot boys soccer team is to score, however it is much more than an assignment for the sophomore forward. He almost sees it as a higher calling. 

“I have a mindset even before the game starts: I have to score,” he explained. “I have to score for my team, for my family, for the school and for the whole Connetquot community.” 

And his head was in the right place on Friday as the Thunderbirds traveled to Longwood for the Suffolk II opener for both teams. Just 35 seconds into the game, Gillespie took a high bouncing pass from senior Matthew Iparraguirre and finessed it over the outstretched arms of leaping Lions keeper Sal Meloni and into the top of the goal. 

It proved the tone-setter as Connetquot dictated play through most of the game en route to a 2-0 victory. 

“He’s a weapon we’ve needed,” Thunderbirds coach John Zambriski said. “That goal took all the nerves out of us and made them have to play from behind.”

“When I got the ball, I saw their (keeper) as off his line and I knew I had to put it in the net,” said Gillespie, who already has four goals in five games this season. “I wasn’t surprised to have the opportunity so quick because it’s happened a lot with us.” 

Senior midfielder Daniel Widing made a pretty cross-field pass to Michael Kokolakis with just under 10 minutes left in the first half and the senior forward sent it back across the grain and into the lower right corner to make it 2-0 for the Thunderbirds (3-1-1, 1-0). 

Longwood (3-2, 0-1) sought to play a possession-style of game, but couldn’t get much in the way of an organized attack all game. Connetquot’s Widing blanketed Lions senior midfielder Peter Agelis and, more often than not, the Lions had to play long balls. That’s where senior fullback Aidan Friel led a suffocating Thunderbird defense. 

“We were just faster to the ball when they got close,” Friel said. “If we didn’t get to every 50-50 ball, we got the second touch,” Friel said. “We didn’t give them a chance to breathe down that end.” 

“We could see we were frustrating them,” Widing said. “You saw it how they were talking to each other and how they had (poor) touches.” 

Gillespie moved to New York from Jamaica in July of 2021, wasn’t aware there were soccer tryouts in August and started his freshman year on the JV. He was brought up to varsity midseason and helped the Thunderbirds reach the Suffolk Class AA semifinals, where they fell to Huntington. 

Connetquot can’t wait to see what a full season with a more experienced Gillespie might get them. 

“If he keeps putting it in the back of the net the way he has, we have a good chance to go far,” Friel said. “We get a shot at a championship.” 

Longwood 4, Floyd 3: Kerim Can scored three goals in Suffolk II. Salvatore Meloni made 10 saves for Longwood (1-1). Sept. 22

Ward Melville 3, Longwood 2: Aidan Burgueno scored the winner in the second overtime off a penalty shot to lead Ward Melville (2-1) in Suffolk II. McElroy made six saves for Ward Melville. Sept. 24

Bellport 1, Longwood 0: Brian Escobar scored the only goal of the game off an assist from Nico Reinoso for Bellport (3-1) in Suffolk II. Pedro Marroquin made five saves and Jairo Erique added three saves for Bellport. Oct. 1

Smithtown East 1, Longwood 0: Jason King scored the game-winning goal off an assist from Jared Noble with 15 minutes remaining for Smithtown East (4-2) in Suffolk II. Diego Flores made seven saves for the shutout. Oct. 5

Longwood 2, Sachem North 1: Kerim Can scored two goals to lead Longwood ( 2-6) in Suffolk II. Salvatore Meloni made four saves. Oct. 13

The boys’ varsity soccer team, Coach Giglio and Assistant Coach Aponza celebrated Senior Night with an exciting last-second overtime win against Riverhead, 2-0, ending their season with 9-7-0.

Congratulations to our senior student-athletes Peter Agelis, Can Kerim, Dylan Hanner, Ivan Lopez, Christian Torres, Salvatore Meloni, Mateo Soto, Joel Garcia, Armanie Rivera, Brandon Miller, Braedon Marr, Burton Salick, John Salazar, and Angelo Marchese! #GoLions#LCSDPride

Congratulations to the boys’ varsity soccer team on their outstanding honors at the Section XI dinner!

Brandon Miller (sr.) earned All-Conference, All-County, and was presented with the Joshua Butzke Scholarship Award. Peter Agelis (sr.) earned All-League Honors, Mateo Soto (sr.) was awarded All-Conference Academic honors, and Kerim Can (sr.) earned All-League honors while leading League II in the regular season by netting 18 goals.

Brandon Miller, Joel Garcia, and Peter Agelis (for the second year) were named to the Newsday top 100 players on Long Island.

Junior Varsity Coach Eric Stark was awarded the Section XI Junior Varsity Coach of the Year and earned the Junior Varsity Sportsmanship Award.

Congratulations to Varsity Coach Giglio, Junior Varsity Coach Stark, the entire coaching staff, and the team for an outstanding season! #GoLions#LCSDPride