Hampton United Soccer Team Tops in Division

Hampton United, the over-30 men’s team that plays in the Suffolk Men’s Soccer League, ascended to first place in the Division I standings Sunday by virtue of a 6-2 win over previously undefeated Sporting America at Hampton Bays High School, H.U.’s home field.

Quique Araya, the goalie, reported Monday that it had been a good game. Hampton United took a 2-1 lead into the halftime break, thanks to goals by Luis Barrera and James Stones.

Sporting America tied it at 2-2 early in the second, but thereafter Hampton United, said Araya, took advantage of the opponent’s eagerness to take the lead — and, later, its efforts to tie the game — by countering its attacks.

A penalty kick by Antonio Gonzalez put the locals up for good, at 3-2, after which, said Araya, “Gehider Garcia went crazy. He finished with a hat trick.”

Jose Almansa, the team’s captain that day in the absence of Glen McKelvey, “ran the show from his center back position,” Araya said.

As a result of the win, Hampton United improved to 4-0-1. Massapequa, a team it is to play in an away game on Nov. 12, is in second, at 4-1-0, followed by Charruas 1950 (3-0-2), Sporting America (3-1-1), Celtic (2-1-2), Manorville S.C. (2-3), Inter United (1-3-1), S.F.C. New Castle (0-2-3), Stony Brook Arsenal (0-4-1), and Smithtown (0-4-1).

“We’ve won Division II, but we’ve never won Division I,” Araya said in answer to a question. “The guys think this could be the year.”