Chousnake wrote: ↑Sun Jun 23, 2024 4:56 pm
Now it's official. Cornell '24 recruit Michael Melkonian, FO/Midfield from South Side, named Nassau County player of the year by Newsday.
Here is what was written - very impressive
The faceoff X marked the spot where Michael Melkonian dominated, helping the Cyclones win games and helping this specialist win compliments from coaches and teammates along the route to the state Class B championship. "They have a fantastic face off guy," Yorktown coach Tim Schur said after Melkonian went 19-3 in the state semifinal. "Melkonian is definitely a special talent. He's going to do great things in college," Warwick coach Tom Kelly said after the Cornell commit went 19-1 in the the Southeast Regional Final, including one ball he scooped up and took all the way for a goal.
Fellow South Side senior Owen West called hime "the best faceoff kid in the country"
So the Cyclones had the ball a lot.
They went 21-1 after Melkonian went 365-88 onfaceoffs, including 130-20 across their seven postseason games. He also collected 266 ground balls and contributed 12 goals and six assists.
"I just think once I get a little bit of a groove on, I think I din just control the game," Melkonian said when asked about his faceoff prowess, "and I can make sure I get the ball to my teammates or I can push it to myself and just help us get opportunities to score some goals."
The four-year varsity player set program records with this skill. They were for faceoff wins in a career (847), faceoff win percentage in a season (.806 in 2024) and faceoff win percentage in a career (751).
"He's been training and doing this since about third grade." South Side coach Steve DiPietro said. "He goes to all the trainings."He's been training and doing this since about third grade," South Side coach Steve DiPietro said."He learns different techniques. He learns from other guys. . . He's fast enough and athletic enough to run away from guys. He can win it to himself. He can win it forward, backward. So he's got the full complement in his toolbox.
