The Manhasset Third Grade Travel PAL team finished its season with a 6-5 win over North Shore in a hotly contested and well attended game this past Sunday. Coach Karl Hueglin said "It was a fine finish" for his "team of young stalwarts."

The game opened excitingly when Scott Herdemian burst into action and scored a goal 22 seconds into the first quarter. North Shore, however, rallied with strong offensive play and scored three consecutive goals. Manhasset came roaring back in the second quarter of the game when Geoffrey Horowitz steam-rollered through a wall of North Shore defensemen to score, with Michael Brennan and Mark Degiuseppe quickly following with goals in similar fashion. North Shore also scored in the quarter resulting in a 4-4 tie at the half. Karl Hueglin III played goalie during the first half and had numerous saves.

Scott Herdemian was goalie the second half of the game. The third quarter was scoreless with strong defensive play by Dylan Harris, Chad Fabuss, Mike Gould and Mike Fee. Indeed, Herdemian and the defensive players held off a blistering North Shore attack while Fabuss, a key defensive player, served a highly debatable two-minute penalty for a check which leveled a North Shore player. Particularly fine defensive effort came from midfielders Dominic Maimone, John Rapiel, Anthony Vidal and Michael Brennan with their checking abilities and pursuit of ground balls.

The fourth quarter was the most exciting of the game with strong attack play when John Ross Kucharczyk scored with an assist from Michael Lucente. North Shore quickly evened up the score at 5-5. With 2 minutes 30 seconds remaining in the quarter, Brennan scored a winning unassisted goal as he dodged numerous North Shore players. North Shore mightily tried to score during the remaining time but was held at bay despite Manhasset being a man down during a penalty phase. To say that the nail-biting finish of the game was exciting for the fans would be a gross understatement.

Fine effort was given during the game by Jamie Melvin who, playing midfield, broke up many of North Shore's plays during penalties served by Manhasset players and quickly turned to offensive play. Arthur Frooks, Drew Perni and Robert O'Connell also contributed significantly to Manhasset's offensive effort.

The team finished its season with a 5-1-2 record (splitting games with archrival Garden City) which is particularly noteworthy as this travel team was based upon a draw of mixed talent as opposed to the selection process in years past of choosing the best players for the team. The second is a fine tribute to the coaching talents of Hueglin, Mike Brennan and Bob O'Connell, who brought out the best in their players. The public surely will see more of this team's players in the years to come.