Only two starters returned from last season’s 10-win William Floyd boys soccer team, but coach Paul Paniccia is optimistic about the Colonials’ 3-4 start, as well as their chances to get to the Suffolk Class AAA playoffs.

“We have a great group of kids who love the game, and I think we’ll get much better as the season progresses,” Paniccia said. “These guys are coachable and learning every day. We will figure it out.”

Under the county’s new alignment, Floyd will face each of its League I rivals once. “It’s going to be nice to face some teams we usually only read about,” he said. “Everyone plays the same schedule and it’ll be easier when it comes time for playoff seeding.”

Seniors Jack Meyer and Estevan Gonzales are Floyd’s lone full-time returning starters and spearhead the defense, with Meyer serving as a third-year starter now at center-back and Gonzales a holding midfielder, who also facilitates and distributes well to ignite the transition game.

Meyer spent his first two varsity campaigns at outside midfield and fullback, respectively, and is also an all-county wrestler and the kicker for the football team. “He’s our defensive stabilizer,” Paniccia said. “He does everything well and is our most versatile player. We can put him anywhere and he’d excel.”

Senior Aiden Tessatorre suffered an injury in 2024, but is back in action and making an impact at right center-back, opposite Meyer.

Also shifting positions was senior Jimmy McGrady, a forward last season now part of the midfield on the outside, and junior Yael Jara, who moved from midfield to fullback. “Jimmy’s fast, skilled and physical, and one of our main leaders” Paniccia said of McGrady.

Senior Derlis Aguilar, a transfer from Newfield, is a key part of the attack and a former midfielder moved to striker. “He’s all over the place,” Paniccia said of Aguilar, who converted a feed from senior Chris Bojorque to beat Sachem North, 1-0, on Sept. 18. Aguilar also scored in a setback to Sachem East on Sept. 8 and a win over Copiague two days later.

Bojorque was a mid-September addition to the roster and a high-level club player who Paniccia is hoping will provide a serious jolt to the Colonials’ playoff chances. “He’s something special,” the coach said. “He has so much skill and a motor that makes us that much more dangerous.”

A spark off the bench a year ago, senior Chris Rubio is off to a hot start on the scoresheet and picked up a pair of goals versus Copiague. He’s one of those Paniccia is counting on to provide offensive support for senior goalkeepers Myles Von Brook and Kevin Ramos.

Von Brook and Ramos combined for two shutouts through the first seven matches and are splitting the responsibilities so far, with each playing a half in every game.