Sports

PSAL boys soccer playoff roundup: Tottenville blanks Bayside, returns to ‘A’ semis

It may sound odd, but Ron Nathanson was more concerned about his Tottenville boys soccer team’s opening-round playoff match against No. 19 Long Island City last Thursday than Monday’s PSAL Class A quarterfinal meeting with No. 11 Bayside.

That wasn’t out of lack of respect to the Commodores, but because the Pirates had an 14-day layoff between its regular-season finale and match with LIC.

“I was really worried about that game,” he said. “I didn’t sleep the night before it.”

Tottenville rallied to top the Bulldogs and blanked Bayside, 2-0, Monday’s at Randall’s Island, returning to the semis for the second straight year. Goalkeeper Joe Morvillo made seven saves for his first career playoff clean sheet and senior midfielder Marco Mingozzi scored twice, once in each half.

“We wouldn’t be where we are if not for him,” Nathanson said of Mingozzi, who had 17 goals and 17 assists during the regular season. “He does everything we ask him to do.”

Nathanson credited the play of junior fullback Arlind Nika for shutting down dynamic Bayside (10-3-2) midfielder Santiago Moore, who led Queens A East in goals scored and assists and scored twice in the Commodores upset of Bronx Science last Thursday.

After controlling possession and leading by a goal at halftime, Tottenville (16-0-0) played a defensive game over the final 40 minutes as it battled a fierce wind. Morvillo, Nathanson said, was brilliant in net.

The win sets up a semifinal clash with No. 2 Francis Lewis, last year’s runner-up. Tottenville has enjoyed a remarkable season up to this point: an undefeated year in Staten Island A, now another semifinal appearance. But the ultimate goal remains.

“My kids and I want to go undefeated the whole season,” Nathanson said. “We’re very happy we’re back in the semis, but we want to go one step further.”

No. 2 Francis Lewis 3, No. 7 William Bryant 0: Daniel Castro, Fadil Paljevic and Nate Richardson each scored once in the second half and goalkeeper Chris Herrera made three saves for his third straight clean sheet and added an assist for Lewis, which is in the PSAL Class A semifinals for the fourth straight season. The Patriots (13-0-1) face No. 3 Tottenville Thursday at noon on Randall’s Island. Bryant’s season ends with a 12-2-3 record.

CLASS B

No. 4 Millennium 3, No. 5 Thomas Jefferson 1: Bjorn Nilsen scored twice, Patryk Jarosz had a goal and an assist and Ilan Flax added a helper for Millennium, the lone favorite to prevail on Monday. The Phoenix (14-0-2) takes on No. 9 James Monroe Thursday at 10 a.m. on Randall’s Island in the PSAL Class B semifinals. Jefferson finishes the year at 15-2-0.

No. 6 Prospect Heights 4, No. 3 Campus Magnet 2: Carl Anderson tallied twice, Jerry Gaston and Fernando Escalona (two assists) also found the back of the net and keeper Jean Ulysse made 10 saves for Prospect Heights (16-1-0), which faces No. 7 Hunter College HS Thursday at 10 a.m. on Randall’s Island in the PSAL Class B semifinals. Campus Magnet completes its year 13-1-0.

No. 7 Hunter College HS 2, No. 2 Queens Vocational Tech 1: Jan Zielonka had a goal and an assist, Matt Suozzo also scored and goalkeeper Drew Adler made four saves for Hunter (14-1-2), which meets No. 6 Prospect Heights in the PSAL Class B semifinals Thursday at 10 a.m. on Randall’s Island. Mark Puma scored for Queens Vocational Tech (13-1-0), last year’s champions.

No. 9 James Monroe 1, No. 1 Taft 0: Steve Kouevi tallied the match’s lone goal on a Kristopher Sanchez feed and goalkeeper Cristhian Delgado made four saves for the clean sheet for Monroe (14-2-1). The Eagles, who twice lost to Taft (15-1-0), the previously undefeated Bronx B champions, during the regular season, meet No. 4 Millennium Thursday at 10 a.m. on Randall’s Island in the PSAL Class B semifinals.

zbraziller@nypost.com