The Mineola boys varsity soccer team heads into the second half of their season with their pre-season goals of contending for a conference title and earning a high seed in the Nassau County playoffs very much intact.
The team has compiled a league record of 6-1-0 which is good enough for sole possession of first place in their conference. Mineola opened its league season at home with a 4–0 victory over visiting Valley Stream South. Aside from the anomaly of a defeat at Cold Spring Harbor in the second league game of the season the Mustangs have been nearly flawless. After the disappointment of that lone loss, the Mustangs notched five consecutive league victories over Clarke (5-1), Oyster Bay (5-0), Wheatley (5-1), Malverne/East Rockaway (5-0) and Seaford (4-0). Individual highlights for the season thus far include a county high 13 goals for senior standout Dimas Cabrera and the outstanding Mustang defense of Flabio Anjo, Michael Rodrigues, Andrew Ariza, Anthony Abbatiello, and goalkeeper Manny Mirao that have only allowed two goals in the last five games.
On the offensive side of the ball, the team has shown that it is not a one man show. Along with Cabrera’s 13 goals, the Mustangs have had 11 different players find the back of the opponents net. Senior captain Luis Tinoco has notched eight goals to go along with three assists. Senior forward Justin Bracken has scored five goals himself and dished off three assists. Other offensive producers include senior captain Brandon Mendes and senior center back Michael Rodrigues notching two goals apiece and dishing off five assists each. Seniors John Keyes and Andi Tuti have added two goals apiece. Other contributors on the offensive side of the ball include Erick Marquez, Christian Melendez, Ulices Saavedra, Jose Erazo and Kevin Lavrado. Coach Paul Pereira, in his 20th year as varsity coach, is confident that the team will continue their winning ways in the second half of the season as they head into the playoffs at the end of October.
The teams remaining games include visits to Carle Place and Island Trees as well as home contests with Friends Academy, West Hempstead and Locust Valley. A schedule of games is available at www.lisoccer.org.
—Submitted by the Mineola School District
