Oh Danny boy: Bedoya leads Lewis to PSAL title game

Roger Sarmuksnis has been fortunate to coach several special players during his tenure as Francis Lewis boys soccer coach, from John Koutsounadis to Sebastian Guenzatti.

Danny Bedoya is part of that conversation, cementing his spot after scoring a goal and setting up two others to lead second-seeded Francis Lewis to a 3-0 win against third-seeded Tottenville in the PSAL Class A semifinals Thursday at Randall’s Island.

The Patriots, ranked No. 2 in the city by The Post, advance to the Class A final for the third time in the last four years and will take on Beacon, which stunned Martin Luther King, 2-1, in overtime in the other semifinal, Sunday at Belson Stadium.

Damion Reid

Francis Lewis' Danny Bedoya scored a goal and set up two others

“He’s just an amazing player to watch,” Sarmuksnis said of Bedoya. “To see a student with that kind of talent excel at this level is a beautiful thing to watch.”

Bedoya’s skills were on full display in a battle of unbeaten teams Thursday. The junior midfielder was magical with the ball at his feet and lethal on set pieces. His perfectly-placed corner kick in the 24th minute found Joni Skoblar, who knocked in his first career goal.

Five minutes later, Bedoya received a long ball near the top-right edge of the box, took a touch and clinically put the ball past Tottenville goalkeeper Joe Morvillo.

“In practice he works hard and gives it his all,” Adelphi-bound goalkeeper Chris Herrera said. “He’s a great player and a great friend, too.”

It was a stunning halftime scoreline, considering No. 6 Tottenville (15-1-0) defeated every team it played on and off Staten Island. And it could have been wider had Francis Lewis (13-0-1) not missed a few sitters in front of the goal.

Another Bedoya corner six minutes into the second half sealed the Patriots win as he found Luigi Puello at the back post and the junior fullback knocked in the third and final goal.

“The difference was two corner kicks,” Tottenville coach Ron Nathanson said. “We just didn’t have it today. We played a lot of games this year and we were undefeated. This is the first time we played like this all year. I don’t want to say they were tight because we played some big games all year against very good teams.”

Nathanson also decided to lash out at referee George Bakaroudis for what he perceived to be an inequity in foul calls.

“They’re a very good team. We didn’t start off very good. I’m going to be honest with you, the referee went one way the whole time,” he said. “We blew on them and the [Francis Lewis] guy fell down. It took us out of our game every time. We get things going and he blows his whistle for a foul. But when we get pummeled, nothing is called.”

Regardless, Francis Lewis advances to the PSAL Class A title game for a second consecutive year and this time will play at Belson Stadium, a short walk from Francis Lewis.

“It’s a great reward for the kids,” Sarmuksnis said. “To have both teams able to play in a venue like that is a tribute to PSAL soccer being at the highest level. The goal is to be able to play at Belson and to step out there is going to be unbelievable.”

“It feels great,” Bedoya added. “I’m excited. I can’t wait, one more game. We hope to make it happen.”

dbutler@nypost.com