Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Lynbrook boys’ soccer team is locked in.
It’s the team’s mantra, but it’s also their reality. The Owls had a 4-6 record going into the final two games of the regular season. Only back-to-back wins would clinch a berth in the Nassau Class A playoffs.
Mission accomplished.
“They’ve risen to the occasion of being ready, especially in the last two games, knowing that their season is on the line,” Lynbrook coach Josh Berlin said.
They achieved their goal, but it wasn’t easy. To make the playoffs Lynbrook had to beat Bethpage and Wantagh, two teams that defeated them in the first half of the season.
On Oct. 8 the Owls went to Bethpage and immediately fell in a 1-0 hole following Ivan Zanki’s penalty kick.
The equalizer from Mike Werzinger came almost as quickly and the score remained tied through most of the second half. If the score remained that way, Lynbrook would be eliminated.
Berlin had to roll the dice, pushing his number forward desperately searching for that decisive goal.
And, with 1:46 left in the second half, Garrett Reid came through to keep the season alive.
“It didn’t feel like we stole it,” Berlin said. “We felt like we earned it.”
A week later, it was the regular season finale, Senior Night under the lights in front of a passionate crowd, including many from the football team.
The opponent was Wantagh, the same side that beat the Owls at home 3-1 earlier in the season.
But this time, Lynbrook was locked in from the opening kickoff.
Mike Werzinger had a pair of goals, Marco Pantano had a goal and two assists and the Owls raced out to a 3-0 halftime lead.
Steven Najera added a goal and, with the result well in hand, Berlin went to his bench in the second half, giving them a chance to experience playing in that atmosphere.
Two of those players combined for the final goal, with Dillon Augustin setting up Jake Palay.
“I couldn't have been prouder of the way we came into that game,” Berlin said.
The Owls’ season got off to a slow start and, with a 2-4 record through their final six games, Berlin knew there had to be change.
He switched from a 4-4-2 formation to a 4-5-1 to flood the midfield with Reid as the lone striker and Nick Mignella moving to left back where he’s become a dangerous one-two punch with Werzinger at left midfield.
“He doesn't stop running,” Berlin said of Reid. “He doesn't stop pressuring, and he’s winning the one-on-one battle, staying up on their last man and not allowing other teams to play out of their back at us because they're being forced to make quicker decisions.”
Lynbrook earned the No. 9 seed, which sets up a second straight playoff meeting with Locust Valley with the Owls looking to avenge last year’s 3-0 defeat.
