Long Island’s newest soccer team, the Fighting Tomcats, is knocking on the door of a National Premier Soccer League playoff birth in its inaugural season, with everything coming down to a final game against New Haven United FC on Saturday.
“These guys have bought in,” head coach John Fitzgerald told The Post of his mostly local 2-3-4 squad knocking on the door of a postseason trip, as only a win will clinch come 7 p.m. at Hofstra University.
“They come in, they train three nights a week, we train at nine o’clock at night … then they’re getting up for work the next day because we’re not paying them their full-time salaries.”
For team captain Brian Saramago, a 26-year-old account manager from New Hyde Park, it means everything to have a chance to keep playing competitively at his age.
“We just want to give it our all,” he said, adding that the Tomcats’ prior 2-1 victory and 3-3 draw against New Haven are giving everybody confidence.
Even though the guys are only playing with each other for the first time and in a short span, a deep bond has already developed, the captain added.
“Sometimes after a hard day at work, you don’t really want to go to training, but then every time, I see everyone laughing and playing with each other,” Saramago said. “That is why I think that this Saturday it’s going to be something special.”
“I know I don’t want it to be my last game with these guys.”
Yankees and Mets legend Darryl Strawberry is coming to Smithtown on Saturday afternoon to watch the Subway Series at Bull Smith’s Tavern.
The former outfielder will be at the bar at 4:10 p.m. for meet and greets, plus raffles.
The Southampton Firecracker Run is set to pop off Sunday morning, rain or shine.
Both the 8K and the 3-mile runs will begin at 7:30 a.m. in Agawam Park at 25 Pond Lane, Southampton.
