Lynbrook upsets defending champ Mepham

After an up-and-down start to the 2019 soccer season, the Lynbrook boys got on a roll and lost just one match over a seven-game stretch.

The team struggled to find the back of the net at times, but thanks to a strong effort from its defensive unit, the Owls finished with a 4-4-2 record in Conference A3 and were able to secure a spot in the Nassau Class A playoffs.

Not only did Lynbrook end a six-year postseason drought, it made some noise in its outbracket contest against Mepham, the defending Nassau Class A champions. Senior Ben Krcic scored on a direct kick in overtime to give the Owls a 3-2 upset victory in a match played at Mepham High School on Oct. 23.

Unfortunately for the Owls, their playoff run came to a halt two days later when they fell to No. 4 Lawrence, 6-1. Senior Mauricio Puerto-Quintanilla scored four goals and junior Alan Martinez added a pair of goals and two assists to lead the Golden Tornadoes. Sophomore Max Caseras scored No. 20 Lynbrook’s lone goal.

Head coach Josh Berlin was pleased with the progress his team made. “We set a goal to get back to the playoffs and we got it done,” Berlin said. “I’m proud of them. They’re happy with what they were able to accomplish, but they certainly didn’t like the way things ended up.”

The victory over Mepham was a sweet one for the Owls, who twice came back from one-goal deficits. After falling behind early, senior forward Alexander Schachinger deflected a direct kick from junior Anthony Campos into the net in the 17th minute to knot things up at one.

The Pirates scored again and looked as if it would take a 2-1 lead into the halftime break, but Krcic buried a direct kick with just nine seconds to play in the half to tie things up and give Lynbrook momentum as the teams took to the pitch for the second half. It was Krcic’s first goal of the season.

Lynbrook’s defense was stifling in the second half and in the overtime session. Neither team could muster up much offense, but the Owls controlled the pace of play. With 11 minutes to play in overtime, Krcic lined up on the outside right, and bent one into the left corner of the net to give Lynbrook the win.

Just to earn a playoff berth, the Owls needed a win at Valley Stream North in the season finale. And, they got it. Goals by junior Michael Frank, assisted by Krcic, and Schachinger, off an assist from his younger brother John, gave Lynbrook a 2-1 win.

“We never stopped trying to be successful,” Berlin said. “That’s really all you can ask for. The guys kept pushing through adversity. We had great support from the alumni. The guys who played here in the past have a lot of pride. Now, we look toward the offseason with the 2020 returnees and some of the young talent.”