Long Island Class AAA champion Farmingdale falls in Southeast Regional boys soccer final
Farmingdale huddles during a state Class AAA Southeast Regional boys soccer final on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, in Armonk. Credit: George Caratzas
ARMONK — The ticket to the final four was sitting there for Farmingdale, riding a one-goal lead from the first half. Just 22 minutes stood between the Dalers and a trip to Middletown, but Mamaroneck was pressing for the equalizer.
And then the Tigers tied them and passed them Saturday in a span of two minutes and 48 seconds.
“We didn’t attack enough,” Dalers senior goalkeeper Johnny Buonomo said. “We parked the bus too early and that’s what happens.”
So the bus will be leaving from Mamaroneck Friday, bound for the state Class AAA boys soccer semifinals at Middletown High, instead of from Farmingdale.
The Tigers held on for a 2-1 win at Byram Hills, taking the Southeast Regional final and ending a sensational season for the Dalers.
“It’s a tough one,” coach Brian Weber said. “I thought we outplayed them in the first half. We got a 1-0 lead going into the second half. We knew it was going to be tough. It’s an 80-minute game. We gave it everything we had.”
These players did things that had never been done before by a Farmingdale boys soccer team. The Dalers claimed the program’s first outright Nassau title and first Long Island championship, qualifying them for their first regional final. They finished at 14-4-3.
“We made it as far as we could, made it further than we thought,” said Buonomo, who was spectacular/unbeatable in the penalty kick phase when Farmingdale beat Oceanside for the county crown. “I’m just happy that I’m able to be in this moment in this game, and I was able to do it with my teammates, my friends, and just enjoy the ride.”
The ride came to a sudden stop.
Isayah Lopez fed Michael Zambrano, and Mamaroneck pulled even with 21:19 on the clock. Then David Lopez made a throw-in from the left sideline and Rintaro Nagaoka flicked the go-ahead goal past Buonomo, who otherwise posted five saves.
So Mamaroneck made the final four for the first time since 2021, giving the 18-2-2 Tigers the opportunity to again pursue the program’s first state title.
“We’ve got another chance,” coach Nick Mangan said. “This is where we were five years ago. But it’s a really special group. And I keep telling them: ‘You’ve got to feel like it’s our time.’ ”
It looked as if it was going to be Farmingdale’s time for a good while.
Evan Covatti scored from in close in the 11th minute. But the Dalers couldn’t add on.
“They gave us every single game 110% effort,” Weber said. “I love each and every one of them. I’m so proud to be their coach. They deserved to get his far, and we just got beat today. And that’s OK.”
