The North Shore varsity football team finished the 2006 season as Big Four Champs! The season was filled with highlights including knocking off Roosevelt (which was ranked #1 on Long Island), shutting out Manhasset 26-0 on Homecoming, beating Locust Valley in the quarter-finals, finishing second in the conference and earning a trip to play at Hofstra University in the Big Four Championship.

The Vikings had an unprecedented three All-County selections: Ronnie Irving, Tim Martino and Patsy Vacchio. Brian Stern was named to the All-County Honorable Mention team. Daniel Grande and Tyler Convey achieved All-Conference honors. Andrew Khani is being recognized by the Long Island Association of Football Officials as North Shore's Unsung Hero. Daniel Grande and Brian Stern were recognized by the National Football Foundation as Scholar Athletes. North Shore's coaching staff was also named Conference IV Staff of the Year.

On Thanksgiving morning Irving, Vacchio, Stern and Convey played in the Long Island Challenge All-Star game, which pins the best in Nassau against the best in Suffolk. Nassau prevailed 14-13 with the help of the North Shore players. Tyler Convey, Ronnie Irving and Patsy Vacchio started on offense, while Brian Stern started the game at middle linebacker. Stern and Irving were also named team captains for Nassau County.

By Jonathan Pavlica

This year, the North Shore High School varsity soccer team opened with a bang, facing off against last year's conference champions and burying them 5-2. The season began with a new coach, new players and a new attitude. With the addition of Coach Bernie Hintz, the team was ready to step up and take soccer to a whole new level. Some preseason goals established by the team were to improve on last season's record, perhaps win the conference, and to improve North Shore soccer overall. Recognition of the sport was the main goal, and through hard work and determination, it is now recognized as one of the better men's sports and should improve every year.

The devotion of captains Robbie Grabher, Tucker Morgan and Thomas Meiners inspired and stimulated the desire to win every game, which played a key role in the development of the team this season.

The team was able to surpass last year's record of 2-9-1, finishing the season at an impressive 8-3-3. With this record, North Shore soccer was able to tie for second place and post-season honors were awarded to Tucker Morgan for All County, Robby Grabher for All County Honorable Mention. Zach Venditto, Brandon Robilotti and Jonathan Pavlica were named All Conference.

The starting lineup consists of junior Matthew Kelly, junior Zachary Venditto, sophomore Brandon Robilotti, sophomore Andrew Lazarow, sophomore Chris Frey, junior Jonathan Pavlica, junior Tucker Morgan, sophomore Robbie Grabher, senior Max Uihlein, junior Adam Khorasanchi and junior Frank Galluzzo. The players ready to come in at any time include senior Thomas Meiners, junior Alex Lieberman-Cribbin, sophomore Charles Vasiento, junior Paul Smith, senior Seann Convey, senior Jordan Leigh and junior Keith Salerno.

Before the start of the season, Coach Hintz explained to the team that he wanted to take them to the "next level" and promised them that they would improve over last year. Mr. Hintz kept his word.

The coach explained that he didn't know what to expect when he came to North Shore, and the team helped him fit in perfectly. The style of play the coach implemented was a new and improved version of the way the team had been playing and when executed correctly, won them games and the hearts of their fans.

The game of soccer has started to dig its root into the heart of the school and is becoming the sport to watch. With only four players leaving and one starter missing, next season's lineup will almost be the same as this year. The team plans to take North Shore soccer to the next level again and, hopefully, set a foundation on which future soccer players can build.