North Shore boys soccer's Henry Cardoza scores lone goal in win over Lawrence
Henry Cardoza (14) rejoices with teammates after he scored the lone goal in Nassau Conference A-II boys soccer game against Lawrence on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Edgar Cardoza has shared some words of soccer wisdom with his son.
“My dad always tells me, ‘Look at the goalie. See if he’s far out,’ ” said Henry Cardoza, North Shore’s standout senior forward/midfielder.
So he saw Lawrence’s standout senior goalkeeper, Gabriel Rosales, off his line Friday, “in the middle of his 18(-yard box) there.
“And I just said, ‘Why not?’ ”
Cardoza took a shot from about 45 yards from the goal. Rosales couldn’t catch it cleanly, a rare miscue for him. The ball rolled into the net in the ninth minute. And it held up.
The Vikings won 1-0 at Lynbrook North Middle School to take over second from the Golden Tornadoes in Nassau A-II.
“I think (Rosales) kind of misjudged it a little bit,” Lawrence coach Gerard Lagasse said. “He stepped forward and it went over his head and he couldn’t really catch it. He usually catches those. He played well otherwise.”
Lagasse believes he’s one of the county’s top five goalkeepers. Henry Cardoza had some words for Rosales after his six-save effort.
“He’s a great goalie,” Cardoza said. “I told him after the game, ‘You’re a hell of a goalkeeper.’ ”
Cardoza is rather good in his role, too. This was his return following a hamstring injury.
“I know I had to turn up today,” he said. “It was my first time playing in two weeks, since I’ve been out. I know the team needed me.”
What does he bring?
“Creativity,” coach Michael Bishop said. “High soccer IQ. He’s dangerous. He’s tough to mark.”
The Vikings have four starters back from a team that won the conference and finished at 10-1-4 after falling to eventual state champ Floral Park in the semis. Now they’re 3-2-2 and 3-1-2 in A-II.
“I do believe in this team,” Bishop said.
Corvin Pocasangre beat Vikings goalkeeper Finn Duffy (three saves) in the first half, but the goal was negated by an offsides call.
The Golden Tornadoes (4-3-1, 3-2-1) fell to Floral Park in the 2024 final. They’re rebuilding.
“We’re getting better,” Lagasse said.
But they have to play two home games at this middle school and the rest of their home games on the road thanks to the state of their home field.
“It’s not safe to be played on right now,” Lagasse said. “It should’ve been fixed years ago and it hasn’t . . . The football team is playing away as well. It’s a big problem, unfortunately.”
