And as was the case…
By Dylan Butler
When he was named the St. Francis College men’s soccer coach two years ago and became one of the youngest Division I coaches in the country, Whitestone native Carlo Acquista promised to keep some of the top local soccer players home.
And as was the case with his first two recruiting classes, the former standout at Holy Cross and St. John’s kept true to his word.
Holy Cross’ Paul Nittoli and Jeovani Parades, Molloy’s Alex Silaco and St. John’s Prep’s Ferney Ruiz highlight the third recruiting class for Acquista and are among a host of high school players who have made their college choices.
Nittoli, a Bayside native, was a physical presence in the middle of the field, while Parades was a defensive standout for Holy Cross last year. And Silaco from Middle Village was a pesky free kick specialist and one of the most consistent players in the CHSAA.
“He’s fit, big, physical and fearless, and he’s pretty good on set pieces, in the air and can beat guys off the dribble,” Acquista said of Nittoli. “(Parades) brings a calm, passing game to what we want to accomplish, (Silaco) can score on set pieces with his left or right foot and he can run at defenses a bit, and (Ruiz) has played for proven winners.”
Also playing for Acquista in the fall will be midfielder Carlos Moncaleano, a former Long Island City star who is playing in his third season with the Brooklyn Knights Premier Development League team. The Jackson Heights resident sat out last season as a partial qualifier.
“He brings a great deal of experience; he’s gotten a lot better defensively and more mature as a person,” Acquista said of Moncaleano. “He’ll probably be a left-sided midfielder. He crosses the ball well, he shoots well and he brings another dimension to the game.”
Molloy keeper Mike Testa will be playing at Columbia in the fall. Testa, who is also a standout on the Stanners’ golf team, broke his collarbone late in the regular season, prematurely ending what was a spectacular high school career.
Testa’s teammate Peter Despotopoulos, a steady defender who helped lead the Stanners to a third straight Brooklyn/Queens regular season title, is headed for Fordham while fellow defender Vincent Favarra will play at Baruch next year.
Sebastin Garcia and David Orsono, teammates at St. John’s Prep and on the Red Storm Arrows have also committed to colleges. Garcia, a lethal striker in and around the 18-yard box, will play at Iona next year, while Orsono, a center midfielder, will join Division III powerhouse St. Lawrence in the fall.
Joining Garcia in New Rochelle will be Holy Cross midfielder Ariel Castellanos.
“Sebastin’s tremendous pace, ability to eliminate defenders off the dribble at will and finishing qualities will assure him immediate playing time in our attack,” Iona coach Fernando Barboto said in a release. “Ariel is very skillful, with good vision and possesses a great left foot. He will solidify the left side of the field for us.”
Adam Brunengo, a playmaker and set piece specialist at McClancy, and Oscar Yepes, who played a similar role at Forest Hills, will be teammates at Division II St. Thomas Aquinas.
Filippo Rappa, a midfielder from Christ the King, will play at Adelphi in the fall, Bayside playmaker Garrett Knese is headed for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, and Cardozo keeper Neal Kitson, who was awarded the PSAL’s Heisman/Wingate award, will play at Division II Dowling in the fall.
Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
