When the conference alignment and schedule came out and the Lynbrook Owls looked at the teams they would be facing they knew that there were games that they had to win. The goal is to play solid consistent soccer from start to finish but with the short amount of time from Day one to league play, it is always a work in progress as systems are installed and the players work to find a rhythm.

For the Owls, that process has been a slow one. Through the first 4 league games, Lynbrook has recorded 3-scoreless draws against Valley Stream South, Wantagh and Floral Park and a hard fought loss to Mineola 1-2. The left Valley Stream North as the last league match of the first half of the season. The Spartans travelled to Lynbrook North Middle School for a 5:30 kickoff.

The Owls wasted no time in bringing the pressure right to VS North as they challenged every 50/50 ball and pushed forward to attack the goal. They broke through in the 8th minute when senior Jake Palay threaded a ball through the defense to a streaking Nick Mignella (2G) who slotted the ball past Spartans goal keeper LJ Foder (2 saves) for his first of two goals. Mignella followed that tally with his second in the 17th minute when Freshman John Esposito tracked down a long ball from senior Fabian Safsten Suarez. Esposito slotted it back to Mignella who beat the Spartans keeper. The game remained 2-0 to the Owls until the visiting team managed to take advantage of a breakdown in the midfield marking that left Valley Stream’s Dante Melisi unmarked as a rebounded ball fell to him 20 yards out from goal. He fired his shot at the far post that was just out of the reach of Lynbrook’s Jake Prince (4 saves) to bring the Spartans to within 1. The game went to half with the Owls clinging to a 1-goal advantage.

The Owls fell trap to the always dangerous 2-goal lead and seemed to have played more conservative in the later portion of the first half of play. The halftime break seemed to have reawakened the Owls as they were much more engaged and active in the second half of play. Just 9-minutes into the second half of play the Owls extended their lead to 2 again when senior Dillon Augustin stepped up to challenge a ball about 40 yards from goal. He won the challenge and drove down the field with the ball to the near post. The keeper came out to close the angle and Augustin found Esposito (2A) in the middle of the goal mouth. Esposito’s shot was partially deflected by a Valley Stream defender and he then poked the ball back to Augustin (1G) who finished it off. Lynbrook kept the pressure on and had a number of additional chances on the offensive end in the final 30 minutes and almost saw the game really open up. Valley Stream North who is 1-4-1 on the first half of the season, saw frustration set in a bit which led to a couple of players being cautioned in the game. The game went final with Lynbrook winning the match 3-1.

The Owls end the first half of the season with a league record of 1-1-3 and sit in 3rd place and a playoff position in Nassau County’s Conference A1 league. After hosting a non league match with Plainedge HS on Saturday, the team will take advantage of the Jewish holiday break on Tuesday and Wednesday to rest and heal a bit as they then prepare to begin the second half of the season when they travel to Valley Stream South HS on Friday 9/26 to take on the Falcon’s at 5PM.

Congrats Boys on a well deserved victory and best of luck as you continue the season!!

Pictures from today’s match courtesy of Hassan Mobarak:
https://lhssoccer.jalbum.net/vs%20VS%20North/