Tannazzo Builds a Winner with Finley Boys’ Soccer
Vincent Tannazzo is a patient man. He has to be as the boys’ soccer coach at J. Taylor Finley Middle School. The very nature of this age level demands patience and understanding with lots of extra care and nurturing provided to the athletes. Tannazzo has just the right touch and it showed as the Falcons compiled a solid 5-3-1 record.
Captained by Steven Ulloa, Teddy Lyons and Christian Campos, the 30-player Finley squad was one of the largest in Suffolk this fall and it included 17 first year letter winners.
“This team had a ‘never give-up’ attitude,” Tannazzo said. “We featured a shut-down defense with an exploding offense.” The Falcons put some very good players on the field, to be sure, and the team could never be counted out of any game, no matter what the score.
Campos, an eighth grade midfielder was the leading scorer with eight goals and three assists. “He was the leader on the field,” Tannazzo said. Luke Hannan, Chris Napolitano and Pat Reilly scored four goals each, respectively. Goalies Norman Gomez and Pat Wolber combined to record 25 saves. Lyons and Ulloa anchored the defensive unit.
The highlight of the season came in a win over Kings Park in the pouring rain. Trailing by two goals late in the game, the Falcons never quit and rallied to score three times and grab a 3-2 victory.
The Finley program appears to be in good shape. “I have a strong core of seventh graders returning,” Tannazzo said. “Pat Reilly (forward), Bobby Scott (midfield), Sam Johnson (midfield), Christian DeFeo( defense) and Pat Wolber (goalie). I am really excited for next year. We have some talented soccer players!”
Falcon Notes: Tannazzo described Gomez as “a brick wall in goal” . . . Ulloa was referred to as a “dominant presence on the field” . . . Lyons is a “shut-down defender and leader of the team” . . . Finley will return eight current seventh graders next fall.
Comments or Questions? email the Public Information Office