Smithtown Christian falls to Northville, but Ishmael Nieves-Sorto proud of Knights' growth
Smithtown Christian's Ishmael Nieves-Sorto, right, shields the ball from Northville's Logan Hammons during a NYSPHSAA Boys Soccer Championships Class D semifinal Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026, in Middletown, N.Y. Smithtown Christian's season ended with a 1-0 overtime loss to Northville (II). Credit: Adrian Kraus
MIDDLETOWN — Smithtown Christian’s Ishmael Nieves-Sorto hugged coach Charles Bellini, the state plaque in his left hand draped over the coach’s back.
Nieves-Sorto originally thought he’d go to Walt Whitman High School, but as a freshman at Smithtown Christian in fall 2023, there was no varsity team to play for. The senior put in countless hours recruiting kids, helping the boys soccer program return in 2025.
And while the Knights lost, 1-0, in overtime to Section II’s Northville at Middletown High School in the state Class D semifinal, there is no metric that quite conveys how much heart Nieves-Sorto put into Smithtown Christian.
As he smiled and wiped away tears, Nieves-Sorto said: “I’m looking at all the boys like, ‘What are these guys doing? Have they never touched a soccer ball?’
“And they haven’t. And since last year, they’ve grown so much . . . I’m glad to be part of the team to bring this sport back to our school and leave this amazing team with amazing players.”
It’s why, despite managing severe hamstring and knee injuries, Nieves-Sorto fought to be on the field for Smithtown Christian’s first state semifinal since 2007.
“I told him, ‘Listen, it’s up to you. You can talk to a medic, or you can try it,’ ” Bellini said. “He’s like, ‘Coach, there’s nothing that’s going to take me off that field as long as I can walk.’ ”
Northville’s Ryder Wright scored the winner with 7:32 left in overtime. Smithtown Christian goalkeeper Luca Pascucci saved Wright’s first shot before he finished the rebound.
After a back-and-forth first half, Northville (20-1) controlled possession in the second half. Still, defenders Byron Vega, David Wagner, Kevin Lane and Nico Crilly held the Falcons to just four shots on target. Nieves-Sorto, standing at the 6-yard box, headed away a shot that could’ve been the winner late in the second half.
Smithtown Christian (4-11) will return all but seniors Nieves Sorto and Wagner. It’s part of why Nieves-Sorto said the Knights will “do just as amazing” as they did in 2026.
“If we didn’t have a soccer team, it just feels like a waste, honestly,” Nieves-Sorto said. “These guys, they work so hard.”
For a team that won just one game in 2025, Bellini believes Nieves-Sorto’s sacrifices and the story of the 2026 Knights should set the program up for success in the years to come.
“A lot of players haven’t played organized soccer, let alone here up in Middletown in their first or second year with fans like this, media coverage,” Bellini said.
“This is just incredible. And next year when they experience it, hopefully they’re going to be even more prepared then.”
Michael Sicoli covers high school sports for Newsday. He graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and left with a master’s degree in sports journalism in 2023.
