After dropping their opening 2 games of the season by a combined score of 2-10, the Varsity Boys found a way to reset their season and have played their next 5 league games earning at least 1 point in each of them. When the Owls opened the season with a loss to Valley Stream South 2-4, the boys new a rest of the season and a change in mentality was going to necessary if they were to turn things around. Today, the Owls earned a much needed victory and 3 points in the standings by winning 1-0 over the host Falcons and evening the season series.

Although not perfect, the Lynbrook side was able to lean on their stellar defense and goaltending to allow the Owls to keep working through the midfield and generate opportunities forward. They played with a first to the ball mentality as they have the past 4 games and seemed to control the momentum from the opening whistle. Any opportunities generated by Valley Stream South was turned away by a very solid defensive unit effort. Marco Pantano and Walter Martinez continue to lock down the middle of the field and Devin Byrne and Lucas Addona stepped up on the wing backs to shut down any real scoring threats. The first half ended scoreless, and the Owls knew that the game very well might come down to one play.

The second half saw much of the same as the first. Senior Patrick O’Doherty was a force in the midfield and proved to be a problem for the Falcons. The Owls started rotating the strikers and went to the bench personnel with the hopes of finding some magic; and they did. With 17:36 left in the game, Junior Axel Casares stepped up and won a challenge near midfield and carried the ball into the Valley Stream half of the field. He got about 35 yards from goal and sent a through ball to Junior Gio Bello who shot to the back post from the right side of net past second half goal for the Falcons Ethan Mitchel (1 save) to score the lone goal of the season. Casares and Bello both came off the bench to spark the Owls and help them record the Owls second win of the season. Lynbrook’s net minder, Sophomore Jake Prince (4 saves) recorded his second win and his 3rd clean sheet of the season.

The win moves the Owls into a tie with the Falcons for 4th place in the conference and more importantly they sit in the final playoff spot with the hopes of securing that post season berth. The Boys now turn their attention to Wednesday afternoon as they host the first place Floral Park Knights and expect to find more magic as they look to earn points against the only other team they have failed to thus far. The game will be played at Greis Park at 4:45PM as part of a doubleheader event celebrating soccer and raising money to donate to the Ryan Patrick O’Shea Foundation. Please come out and fill the sidelines and support the Owls!!

Vamos Buhos!!

Pictures form the game can be found here:
https://lhssoccer.jalbum.net/%40%20VSS%202023/