Syosset Boys Soccer Ties Uniondale, 4-4

No one could blame the Syosset Braves boys soccer team for feeling frustrated after Thursday’s 4-4 tie with Uniondale at Syosset High School.

A Uniondale goal in the final minute of the match kept the Braves winless in the young fall soccer season. The Braves had taken the lead earlier in the half on a Scott DeBenedittis tally, his second of the afternoon.

“It’s a bad taste,” Syosset head coach Brett Waxer said. “We should have had the win. We just let it slip away.”  

After a flurry of goals late in the first half, Syosset (0-2-1) and Uniondale (1-1-1) played to a virtual standstill throughout much of the second. The Syosset defense kept the game tied by forcing Uniondale to take difficult shots. Defenseman Reid Portnoy made three diving blocks late in the second half to eliminate dangerous Uniondale chances.  

Braves goalie Josh Haberman was tested during the last 10 minutes of the game, but didn’t waver until the game winner in the final moments.

“He stepped up and did a really good job,” Waxer said. “I think he sparked us in the back and gave us the confidence that we could get the point out of this.”

The Braves are 0-1-1 in Conference I.

Hero: DeBenedittis- With some key offensive players off the field on Thursday, the Braves sophomore midfielder stepped up in a big way. His first goal broke a 1-1 tie in the first half, coming just moments after Filippo Silva evened the match.

Turning Point: Thanks to some wet grass and gravity, a ball right in front of the Syosset net refused to go in with four minutes to go in the game. After almost every player on the field tried to work the ball in a favorable direction, Syosset was able to clear it. Although the play didn’t result in a goal, it did foreshadow that Uniondale would have one more attack left in them.

Quotable: “We stuck to the game plan,” Waxer said of the second half defense.

Bottom Line: This wasn’t a normal game. A large majority of it was played in a torrential downpour. Given the conditions, Syosset did a good job keeping their footing and ignoring the endless rain storm. Although they would have liked to come away with the win, Syosset should build upon how they played defensively in the second half.

Key Stat: Shane Mandel had a goal for the Braves.

Who’s Next: Syosset hosts Uniondale, Monday at 4:15 p.m.

Conference I Boys Soccer

Team…..…..1…..2….F

Uniondale…3…..1….4 

Syosset…….3…..1…..4