By STEVE SINISKI
Coach Josh Berlin did a little tinkering, adding another forward at the expense of the midfield, and the results were immediate as the Owls stormed through their last five games with a 4-0-1 mark. Lynbrook clinched its first playoff berth in nine years, and the playoffs start this Friday against an undetermined opponent.
"We were looking for an offensive change," Berlin said. "We changed a few of our formations and the roles of certain players. We haven't lost in the five games since."
The first win in the streak (Oct. 8) was crucial, because it came against a Great Neck North squad that had run out to a 7-1 start. In the 2-1 victory the Owls were actually ahead 2-0 thanks to tallies by Jason Greenwald and Emanuel Messina, and the team used the game as a pick-me-up of sorts that sparked the playoff push.
"[After the 0-3-1 stretch] the guys didn't lose hope," Berlin said. "They realized that they had the tools to do it and that they could win on any given day. The guys have really wanted it bad [a postseason berth] over the last week and a half."
One of the key players behind the strong finish was Dan Cavallero, an outside left halfback who shifted up to the frontline. He tallied two goals and a pair of assists in the five games, with Anthony Genovese and Greg Durso also playing key roles in the offensive flow. While Cavallero may have been one of the team's offensive heroes late in the year, he was hardly the only player who helped pace the scoring attack. And therein lies perhaps the biggest problem for opponents looking to gain an edge with their defensive matchups.
The Owls have been led by a team effort, and the lack of one dominant scorer and balance of several solid players who can provide a spark means defenses can't key on one single player.
"We can go out and scout other teams and come back with a [few] players. But without a dominant guy, it makes it a little more difficult for other teams to figure out how to defend us.," said Berlin.
Defensively, the Owls held strong behind goaltender Danny Westerman and an experienced backline unit. "Our defensive players have done a great job of containment and stopping offensive moves," Berlin said. "Danny has two shutouts [this season] and is very skilled and confident in his own abilities. He's hungry and we need that from our keeper."
Lynbrook's most likely first-round destination is a road game at Glen Cove, and the Owls can actually equal their best playoff showing ever with a win. No Lynbrook boys' varsity soccer team has ever advanced past the second round of the playoffs.
"Five years ago the team needed a win over Mineola to get into the postseason, and they got a tie," Berlin said. "And the last four years have been tough [on the players]. But these guys have really shined over the last two weeks. Our goal for the season was to have success and qualify for the postseason. Now we have to go back and readjust those goals."
