The Mineola High School varsity soccer team just continues to spread the Mustang gospel far and wide. After grabbing its first-ever Nassau County championship, Mineola went on to win the Long Island championship by rallying to beat Shoreham-Wading River from Suffolk County on a warm and sunny Sunday at Hofstra Stadium 2-1. The win earned Mineola a trip to the State Class-A semi-finals at the Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta on Saturday, Nov. 19.

In perhaps the biggest win in Mineola soccer history, Shoreham-Wading River played a very disciplined passing game and got on the board first in the opening half.

The Mustangs played much better in the second half, tying the score in the 59th minute when junior Mike Marques scored on a throw-in from junior Gustavo Dias.

Then, with a little over seven minutes left in regulation, the Mustangs got what turned out to be the game winner as a pair of seniors hooked up for the big play. A through ball from Oswaldo Hernandez was buried in the lower right hand corner of the net by sweeper George Costa.

From there, Mineola was able to withstand the pressure from Shoreham-Wading River and came away with the school's first Long Island team championship since the 1998 softball squad earned a trip to the state semifinals.

Claudio De Matos had another strong game in net, making nine saves.

For a program that goes all the way back to 1955, finally winning a Long Island championship has warned the hearts of many former players.

Mineola was to face Fulton in the semi-finals on Saturday, Nov. 19. If the Mustangs were to win that game, they would play for the state championship on Sunday.