Smithtown West, the Suffolk Class AA boys soccer champion, suffers OT loss in regional final
Smithtown West midfielder Tyler Stelma leaps for a header against Vestal during a state Class AA boys soccer Southeast Regional final on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at Chenango Valley High School. Credit: Jack Henry
Though its ride is over, the Smithtown West boys soccer team has something to be proud of.
The Bulls almost pulled one out, but they were ultimately defeated by Vestal , 3-2, in the state Class AA regional finals at Chenango Valley High School in Binghamton on Saturday. Vestal (11-3) plays Huntington in the state Class AA semifinals at Middletown High School on Saturday. Smithtown West, which won the Suffolk Class AA title, finished its season 14-4-2.
The Bulls took a 2-1 advantage in the 74th minute when senior midfielder Tony Garcia tracked down a ball on the goal line that was headed out of bounds before redirecting it with a left-footed strike. Garcia’s shot slipped past the goalkeeper, but the lead did not hold.
In the 79th minute, with 1:39 remaining in the second half, Vestal defender Tyler Burgin knocked home a loose ball from the left corner of the box to tie it, sending the match to overtime. With 6:46 remaining in the first overtime period, forward Elsan Toric stole the ball from the goalie and sent it into the wide-open net to walk it off.
“We had a very young team this year, with a lot of returning players being on the field today,” Smithtown West coach Nicholas Pleines said. “I think the inexperience showed in some key moments today, but nonetheless, it’s been an amazing experience at Smithtown, and I think the boys will be very hungry to get back to this exact spot.”
Vestal took an early lead when midfielder Jacob Nelson knocked home a rebound in the 11th minute. In the 42nd minute, Garcia threw the ball into the box for junior midfielder Tyler Stelma, who turned and fired it top shelf to tie it up. The score remained tied until Garcia's goal in the 74th minute.
Stelma’s goal was his team-leading 17th of the season.
“Next year, we’ve got to work harder, and I’m ready to do the same thing over again for us,” Stelma said. “I’ll get as many goals or assists as we need, just to win. I want to win everything, and I’m hyped to get back.”
Garcia, a captain, is confident in what he is leaving behind.
“We had one goal, which was counties, and we exceeded that,” Garcia said. “Just to be this far, I’m so proud of us. I feel like we’re going to have a very good future, and the next season and season after that, we’re going to start a legacy.”
Mike Anderson is a high school sports reporter who has covered 12 sports so far at Newsday. He was the sports editor of Stony Brook University's campus newspaper for two years.
