The fall high school sports season is in full swing. The Mineola boys varsity soccer team has gotten off to a very strong start. The Mustangs have won their first six games. They opened by winning their own Mustang Cup Tournament on Sept. 9 and 10. Mineola opened the tournament with a 6-1 victory over Valley Stream North. Junior Gustavo Dias scored both of his goals in the first five minutes to get the team off to a fast start. Nuno Rodriguez, Mike Marques, George Costa and Helder Cancelinha also scored.

The next day, the Mustangs claimed the cup with another 6-1 victory, this time over West Hempstead. Dias scored two more goals and was voted tournament most valuable player. Oswaldo Hernandez also scored twice while Bruno Rodrigues and Mike Marques added goals.

The Mustangs opened regular season play with a 1-0 victory at McArthur. The game's only goal was sophomore Anthony Morais' first varsity score. It came off a pass from Oswaldo Hernandez about 18 minutes into the game. Claudio De Matos made five saves in earning his first shutout.

Mineola opened play in Conference ABC-II with a 3-0 win over Hewlett. Oswaldo Hernandez, Gustavo Dias and Bruno Rodrigues scored. De Matos liked that first shutout so much, he got another one, although he only had to stop two shots.

Mineola then took a 3-2 decision over Glen Cove. Mathias Muller scored his first varsity goal on a breakaway with less than five minutes remaining. The winner came only a minute or so after Glen Cove had tied the game. Gustavo Dias had the first two Mineola goals.

The Mustangs ran their league mark to 3-0 with a 1-0 home win over Valley Stream South. The only goal came from Anthony Morais off a scramble in front of the net late in the first half. Claudio De Matos gained his third shutout.

The Mineola girls varsity soccer team opened its season on Sept. 10 with 3-1 loss to visiting Bethpage. Christine Medlock scored Mineola's only goal while goaltender Gigi Alas did the best she could while making 14 saves.

Next, Valley Stream North came to Mineola and left with a 1-0 victory. The only goal came with 18 minutes left. Amanda Breen was in net for the Mustangs and made 10 saves.

Mepham handed Mineola a tough 1-0 overtime loss. Kristen Ognibene broke the ice when she scored from 25 yards out with 5:39 left in the second overtime. Gigi Alas ended up making 13 saves. Mineola returned home and got blasted 5-0 by Carey.

A few days later, Mineola dropped a 2-0 decision at Great Neck South. The Lady Mustangs finally broke through with a 2-1 victory over North Shore. Allie Kain snapped a 1-1 tie with a goal with 12 seconds left in the first half. Kain had also assisted on a goal by Katie Carter. That win was Mineola's first in Conference IV against four losses.

M

The Mineola varsity volleyball team has opened its season with 2 wins and 2 losses. The Lady Mustangs started on Sept. 12, losing at East Meadow in four games. But, Mineola got its first win a day later by beating Hicksville in four games 20-25, 25-19, 25-15, 25-16. Liz Campbell and Jill Shanahan combined for 23 kills.

A couple of days later, Mineola scored well but so did Plainview JFK in a five-game defeat. Mineola won the first game 25-21. JFK came back to take game two 25-21. Game three went to the Mustangs 25-20. Then, JFK won the next two 25-23 and 26-24.

The Lady Mustangs bounced back by defeating North Shore in five games 26-24, 25-21, 17-25, 18-25 and 25-18. Liz Campbell led the way with 10 kills.