The Mineola Lady Mustang volleyball team completed the 1998 season with an exciting undefeated season. Seasons like this are very rare on Long Island because of the many talented athletes that are produced here. Coach Klein has done a fantastic job in training the girls to take the season one match at a time. Their final record for the season was 13 wins and 0 losses. As this article is being written (Oct. 28), the Lady Mustangs are playing in the first round of the playoffs at Bethpage. Word has just arrived on the sports line that the Lady Mustangs have beaten Bethpage 15 - 1, 15 - 12, and 15 - 9. Outstanding players of the Bethpage game included Kristin Cusato who had four kills and six aces, Heather Savignano who pounded down seven kills and had four blocks, and Lauren Scala who had six amazing kills and seven aces. They now move on to the second round against Roslyn High School on Friday afternoon. See the photo below, as well as the team profile to get to know this phenomenal team better. If they remain successful over the next two matches, the Lady Mustangs will have won the Nassau County title. We will report again next week on the results of the remaining playoff schedule. Let's hope for another county championship for Mineola High School. Good luck Girls!!

Sport: Girls varsity football

Coaching Staff:

Varsity - Lynn Klein

JV - Noreen Fitzpatrick

Head Coach Profile:

HS Attended: Mineola

College Attended: St. John's University

Returning Players:

1) Senior setter - Theresa Sommer, team captain

2) Senior outside hitter - Kristin Cusato, team captain

3) Senior outside hitter, right side - Nancy Lopes

4) Senior middle blocker - Heather Savignano, captain

5) Junior outside hitter - Lauren Scala

6) Junior middle blocker - Lauren Niewender

7) Junior middle blocker - Kim Rossi

8) Junior outside hitter - Leslie Brown

9) Sophomore setter - Ashley O'Niell

10) Sophomore outside/rightside hitter - Vanessa Papadimitrios

Expectations for the season: (written in September)

The Mustangs started the season with a second place win in the Wantagh tournament. The expectations for the season are high. The girls are playing great volleyball and working hard to fine tune their skills. This year the girls are aiming to finish in the top two of their conference, and make it past the first round of the playoffs, and go as far as they can. (As of this writing on Oct. 29, they have already achieved their first and second objectives, now they hope for a county championship).

Hot Newcomers:

Lauren Callahan, #21, middle blocker, sophomore

Mary Alice Forness, #34, rightside/outside hitter. Junior transfer from Kellenberg High School.

Players to watch:

1) #23 Kristin Cusato, outside hitter and team captain

2) #4 Theresa Sommer, setter and team captain

3) #24 Heather Savignano, middle blocker and team captain

4) #19 Lauren Scala, outside hitter

5) #33 Lauren Niewender, middle blocker

6) #16 Nancy Lopes, rightside hitter/defender

The Mineola Mustang football team suffered its second loss of the season after a heartbreaking loss to Wantagh 14 - 6 on Friday evening, Oct. 23. The Mustangs played well against a tough Wantagh team, but came up short. With two more games in the regular schedule, the Mustangs will have to find the winning formula to assure themselves of a playoff berth. The final home game of the season is on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Hampton Street stadium. Let's show our community spirit and support the Mustangs at the stadium as they vie for a trip to the playoffs. Come on out, fill the stands and cheer the Mustangs on to victory. Game time is 2 p.m.

Recently, the boys JV soccer team defeated Bellmore JFK 6 - 2. Alberto Barros and Hernando Gauto each scored two goals. Manny Coelho and Joe Cerulli also added a goal each to secure the victory. Adding to the victory were outstanding performances by Jeff Carlos, Andre Mendes and Tom McPartland.

On Oct. 20, the boys JV soccer team defeated Carey 4 - 3 in an exciting game, advancing their record to seven wins, one loss and three ties. Paul Bispo scored twice, while Manny Coelho and Jeff Carlos added a goal apiece. This game had exceptional performances by John Randazzo, Danny Francis and Tom McPartland who helped ensure the Mustang victory. This JV team has a lot of talent that varsity coach Pereira will be looking forward to getting next year. The team has been very successful under first year coach Al Cavalluzzo. Congratulations, boys! The JV finished the season with a record of 10 wins, one loss, and three ties.

The JF football Mustangs ran into a tough Wantagh team on Saturday, Oct. 24 and incurred only their second loss of the season by a score of 40-24. In the first quarter Mineola dug a hole for itself which it could not climb out of.

On the first play from scrimmage, the Mustangs turned the ball over on a fumble. Wantagh quickly capitalized on a big play to go up 6-0. Then after forcing Wantagh to punt, Mineola once again fumbled on the punt return which led to another Wantagh touchdown. Down 12-0, David Terezo took the ensuing kickoff and ran it back 63 yards to set up a Chris Jones run of 20 yards (conversion good - third pass to Brian Sallie from Terezo) to get Mineola back into the game 12-8.

The beginning of the second quarter saw Wantagh score on another big play to go up 18-8. Mineola fought back with a 66-yard drive with Chris Jones taking it in from seven yards out (Jones, 3-yard run) to bring the score to 18-16 at the half.

In the second half, Wantagh's size and depth took its toll as they scored twice in the third quarter and once in the fourth quarter. The Mustangs did manage to score one more time when Chris Jones scored his third touchdown of the game from six yards out (3-yard pass to Pete Wain from Terezo) to make the final score 40-24).

Chris had another fine game running for 179 yards on 26 carries (6.9 yards/carry) with three touchdowns. David Terezo was 3 for 6 passing for 27 yards and two extra points along with 87 yards in returns.

Mineola (4-2) hopes to get back on track next week in its last home game of the season when they go up against Glen Cove who handed the Mustangs their only defeat last year.

Coaching Staff:

JV Head Coach: Mark Miller

Assistant: Steve Mitchell

Head Coach Profile:

HS Attended: Mineola HS

College Attended: Nassau Community, Springfield College, MASS, Queens College

Returning Players:

David Terezo - QB; OLB - Captain, Back up quarterback last year, takes over this year.

Raul Gaonzalez - RB, ILB - Captain, Good runner, excellent blocker

Chris Jones - RB, ILB - Captain, Our strongest running back. He will lead this year's RB's.

Ricardo Dicandia - OL, DE - Only returner starter lineman from last year.

Steve Bruno - R, OB - Our strongest receiver and good defensive back.

Brian Sallie - R, S - Our strongest receiver and good defensive back.

Kris Strucjc - OL, DI - Big; A Big plus on the offensive line.

Rich Vieica - Rec., DB

John Bonetts - RB, DB

Expectations for the season:

As always for the JV program. We are looking to have a .500 record and have fun along the way.

Hot Newcomers:

10th Grade - Chris Gonzalez - OL, DT

10th Grade - John Murphy - OL, DE

10th Grade - Anil Pamnani - R, DE

9th Grade - Mike Gregorious - OL, DT

9th Grade - Nino Dasilva - C, OLB

9th Grade - Edgar Dominguez - RB, DB

Players to Watch:

Terezo - #2, quarterback

Jones - #20, runningback

R. Gonzalez - #12, runningback

Dicandia - #74, OT, DE

Who will be your toughest opponent this year and why?

Clarke - Varsity team conference champions

Wantagh - Very good team

Glen Cove - Only team we lost to last year

The Lady Mustang varsity soccer team has finished the regular season, and made it to the playoffs. Their first playoff game will be on Saturday mornings at Island Trees High School. This year's team seems ready for the playoff competition. They have worked hard all season to get into the playoffs, and now will have to call on all that coach Wiedman has taught them, as well as call upon everything within themselves to advance through the playoff schedule. One game at a time girls! Good luck! Here is what coach Wiedman had to say about the 1998 varsity squad.

Coaching Staff:

Varsity: Christine Wiedman, 8th grade, Jennifer Peck

Junior Varsity: Frank Massaro, 7th grade, Jennifer Stichneh

Head Coach Profile:

HS Attended: Mineola

College: Adelphi University

Returning Players:

All are returning players except:

#4 Alison Xanthas from JV

#20 Jackie Hazel from JV

#11 Jamie Carter from JV

#6 Danielle Adams, freshman

#14 Theresa Berkowitz from JV

Expectations for the season:

To finish at the top of the conference

Hot Newcomers:

#6 Danielle Adams

Players to Watch:

#22 Def Mid Erin Cloghessy

#18 Def Mid Sam Didrikson

#24 Def Fwd Lauren Georges

#19 Def Tara Georges

#12 Mid Tarisha Gettler

#8 Fwd Kat Hock

#21 Mid Fwd Daniela Santa Maria

#10 GK Fwd Kristina Tsabasis

Who Will Be Your Toughest Opponent This Year and Why?

MacArthur, VS North and South

Did not lose many seniors last year.