Tyler Stelma scores twice as Smithtown West rallies to win Suffolk Class AA boys soccer title
Smithtown West's Tyler Stelma celebrates his goal in the Suffolk Class AA boys soccer championship against Huntington on Sunday at Patchogue-Medford. Credit: Connor Lawless
Down by a goal with less than 10 minutes left, Smithtown West’s boys soccer team shifted formations as it played with three defenders, trying to get more options forward.
Smithtown West goalkeeper Thomas Maloney stepped up to take a free kick around midfield. The ball floated into the box, where senior captain Tony Garcia headed it back across the goal toward Tyler Stelma. The team’s leading goal-scorer fired it into the net in the 72nd minute.
Tie score.
Stelma wasn’t done, either.
Minutes later, Jesse Gentile lofted a ball over Huntington’s defense. Stelma touched the ball forward with his forehead and buried his shot into the bottom right corner with his right foot in the 78th minute, sprinting in celebration before jumping into the arms of teammate Ryan Giotis.
Comeback complete.
“After the second goal, I knew we won,” Stelma said. “I was the happiest guy in the world.”
No. 2 Smithtown West came back to beat top-seeded Huntington, 2-1, on Sunday in the Suffolk Class AA championship game at Patchogue-Medford High School. It’s the first county title for Smithtown West (14-3-2) since 2023 and third for the program.
Garcia remembers watching that 2023 team as a freshman.
“I have goose bumps all over my body,” he said. “Ever since I was a sophomore on this team, I wanted to feel this, all my three years of varsity. It’s such a good feeling.”
With Suffolk’s Class AA receiving an at-large bid this year, Smithtown West had the option of facing Nassau’s champion or taking a bye before traveling to Chenango Valley High School to face Section IV’s Vestal on Thursday in the state quarterfinal round.
Coach Nicholas Pleines opted for the latter, which will set up Huntington (14-4) for a date with Nassau champion Glen Cove at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Patchogue-Medford High School for the Long Island championship.
No. 2 Glen Cove defeated No. 1 Garden City, 1-0, on Sunday night, winning in penalty kicks, 5-4.
“A lot of credit to Glen Cove and Garden City,” Pleines said. “They are very good groups. It’s a unique year. If you have the opportunity to do this unique situation, we are going to go take it.”
Robbie Campbell scored for the Blue Devils in the 19th minute off a long free kick from goalkeeper Edwin Caballero, heading in the 20th goal of his senior campaign.
“He’s a good citizen, a great player and a great student,” Huntington coach John Pagano said. “Teams have him under the radar, and he still produces. It’s amazing.”
Huntington was without standout midfielder Ezra Oddoye, who suffered a foot injury in the quarterfinal win over Half Hollow Hills East. Ian Mitchell played well alongside a hustling Eduardo Reyes in a great midfield battle with Smithtown West’s Gentile and Giotis.
Ultimately, though, Stelma got his wish.
“I don’t want this year to end,” he said. “I’d play even if it’s through blood, sweat and tears. I’d rather do this than anything else.”
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.
