Somers Rides Van Tassel Hat Trick to 6-1 Victory

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On Tuesday September 17, Somers hosted Nanuet at the high school and surrendered a 1-0 lead at 32:10 of the first half. No surprise, the cheers obviously went up on the Golden Night bench. But the elation sounded more like the visitors knew they were living on borrowed time, and in the end, the Tuskers proved them correct.

Led by a Connor Van Tassell hat trick, Somers eased to a 6-1 victory.

Somers didn’t wait to get started either. Noah Hechler made a perfect lead pass to Van Tassell on the far sideline, and the middle swung his shot just wide on the right.

Moments later Van Tassell was at it again. He came down the near sideline this time, and slammed a shot into the Nanuet goalie.

Even so, Nanuet was able to play the long game too. Joffre Quito got behind the defense on the outlet, and with Somers in hot pursuit, he dribbled into space on the left. Not getting much on his kick, the ball still got behind Sebastian Chao, but the goalie was able to save before it crossed the rubicon. A corner kick resulted anyway, and Peter Monaco was able to direct the short ball into the net.

Of course, the party didn’t last, and Van Tassel issued the curfew. In deep on the goal line, he was in no mood for a do over with the goalie. “I knew he was coming out, so I had to chip it over,” the senior was in search of a head.

Tiger Woods himself would have been left weeping, and the recipient sounded a bit misty eyed by Van Tassel’s short game. “It was perfect,” said Randy Contreras, “not too high but also right over the defender for me.”

Van Tassell was just a little short of the precision on the next try, though. Diego Verdesoto spotted the tall midfielder, and off the post the shot went.

A sound that both teams and the crowd were going to get used to, and the next clank came only a minute later. From the Somers end, Aaron Went poached a perfect pass ahead for Van Tassell, and left one v one, he grazed the structure at 28:54.

Soon enough, though, Somers got to eat, and again, it began in transition. Joseph Bojaj sent the ball ahead, and ending up in deep for Van Tassell, the corner kick came on the defensive play out of bounds. Up stepped Went, his loft was met by Hechler’s head, and Somers had the lead at 22:58.

No pause in sight, the Somers pressure continued, and after a number of good chances, the breach came due at 9:30. This time, a penalty kick was the set up.

Went let fly from the 28, Bojaj settled under like a homing device was attached to his cleats, and getting there just before the goalie, the point blank shot was met broadside. But the rebound came free, and Connor Sheldon slammed into the empty net.

3-1 now, Somers kept playing long ball. Trevor Keimig got the ball before midfield and caught Bojaj on the run. He dribbled, faked, and with some space, the middie left just a little bit too much over the crossbar at 7:55.

Still plenty of room for comfort, Somers almost put the game away at the buzzer. Starting with Chao’s goal kick, the ball bounced high, and Van Tassell secured possession. Dribbling right and then ahead, he ended up with a clear line of sight, and his shot deflected over the crossbar on the goalie’s diving save.

Onto the second, the highlight reel started right away. Keimig aimed for the bright yellow target that is Van Tassel’s head, and while he wasn’t quite long enough to redirect the pass, the midfielder represents a change of direction nonetheless. “Connor was always a great defender,” said Coach Brian Lanzetta. “But with where we’re going with our style of play, we decided let’s just take our biggest, fastest, strongest guy, throw him on top and see what he can do.”

The early returns the coach can’t deny. “He’s a demon up there, I love it,” said Lanzetta.

So Van Tassel was there on a loose ball that sent the goalie diving at 36:20, and after Sheldon hit the crossbar, Van Tassell matched his teammate on the vertical. He took another high bouncing pass forward, used his head for the breakaway, and on the goalie deflection, the ball rolled off the post.

The deal breaker not made, Van Tassell knows the bounce of the ball isn’t always there. So only one option remains. “You got to keep pushing until you get the goal,” he assured.

Bojaj having to endure the next post, Somers finally put theory into practice. Van Tassell got the next two goals 19 seconds apart, and Harper Ritson closed the day to Lanzetta’s satisfaction. “I think the boys are getting better and better as time goes on, and I’m really proud of this squad,” he concluded.