Northport boys soccer's Oliver Ko scores twice in first half to key win over Smithtown West
Oliver Ko of Northport scores the opening goal of a Suffolk League II boys soccer game against host Smithtown West on Wednesday. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Northport has faced six tests so far, some harder than others, but the Tigers have passed them all.
There’s experience with eight returning starters and 15 players back overall competing for this boys soccer team that has dropped from AAA to AA and is seeking the program’s first Suffolk crown since 1982.
It’s way early, but could this be the Year of the Tiger?
“It’s tough to say, so many games left,” coach Don Strasser said after undefeated Northport’s latest win, a 2-1, Suffolk II decision Wednesday at Smithtown West. “But, yeah, we have something special right now. I will say that. We’re playing hard. We’re playing well. We’re disciplined.
“… We’re not even at the halfway mark yet, but we definitely like what we see.”
They definitely liked what they saw in the first half. Oliver Ko scored both goals, and it was 2-0 at the intermission.
“He’s dangerous,” Strasser said. “He had a couple of goals already, but you could see how lethal he is."
The senior striker took a cross from the left side by Carlos Osario in the sixth minute and deposited it from about 8 yards out past goalkeeper Jerry Nagosky, who made nine of his 10 saves after halftime.
“Carlos got down the line, beat his man, and he gave me the easy job,” Ko said.
And then Ko collaborated with Ryan Cogan, who sent him a cross that he deposited from about 10 yards out.
“Ryan Cogan’s cross was great,” Ko said. “Again, I can’t really credit myself.”
A.J. Gercke just saw a recurring problem.
“We’ve got to learn how to start games a little better,” the Smithtown West coach said after his team fell to 3-3-1.
The Bulls scored with 27:26 left when Michael Amoroso converted off of a feed from Tony Garcia.
“We moved [Amoroso] into the middle in the second half to try to bring some energy,” Gercke said.
Strasser called Smithtown West “a strong team” and praised center back Tim Kropp and the rest of the Northport backline “for holding strong for the final 10 minutes.” Goalkeeper Dylan Naughton finished with three saves.
“We’ve got a lot of potential, but just taking it game by game,” Ko said. “We’ve got to stay disciplined. We’ve got to stay focused on our goals and just focus on the next game. Put this game behind us and keep on rolling into the playoffs.”
