As the Mineola boys' varsity soccer team prepared for the 2006 post-season, coach Paul Pereira knew the playoff push would bear little resemblance to last year. The experience of a Long Island Championship might make the road to their defense easier but the Mustangs would be underdog darlings no more. An automatic playoff berth and higher seeding points were the residual of being placed in the toughest conference in Nassau soccer. But the flip side - the secret about Mustang soccer - was out.

Winning the Conference ABC-I Championship (in only their first year) on the heels of an undefeated October gave Mineola the first seed in the Class A Tournament...and a bullseye on their back. Not only did it stamp the Mustangs as the county favorite, but insured arch-rivals Garden City and South Side, both victims in the 2005 Mineola miracle, would be seen no sooner than the finals. On their side of the bracket, Mineola would have to beware unsung squads from New Hyde Park and Island Trees lying in wait to humble the Mustangs or a potential third meeting of the year with either Jericho or Roslyn.

The opening round home game presented the pesky 16th seeded Roosevelt Roughriders. Initially postponed due to storm conditions, the Monday rescheduling forced a busy week for the Mustangs. The Roughriders' unorthodox and physical style, not unknown to Pereira, led to a scoreless first half. Mineola had better offensive chances (including a near header and 20-yard laser in the closing minutes) as the pressure wore on. The Mustangs jumped the intermission inspired and immediately seized the advantage as Michael Marques turned opportunity into fruition. Taking a cross in tight spaces, the senior captain drilled a shot high into the chest of a Roosevelt defender who had no choice but to feign protection. The correct call, hand ball inside the box, transcended into the penalty kick conversion.

After two minutes had expired, Nuno Rodriques expanded the lead on a blistering shot seconds later. With Carlos Barros manning the pipes (4 saves), the Mustangs negated Roosevelt's kick and run strategy before the Roughriders halved the deficit with under ten minutes to go. Gustavo Dias closed out the scoring on a brilliant dance down the pitch in the eightieth minute for a 3-1 final. Solid defensive performances were turned in by senior Jameson Canning, junior Raoney Mello and sophmore Michael Birk. Frustrated in the midfield by constant harassment from juniors Anthony Morais and Shawn Wachter, the Roughriders could not help but succumb to the more seasoned Mustangs.

The quarterfinal match-up welcomed the ninth seeded Wantagh Warriors fresh off a suspenseful 1-0 mini-upset of New Hyde Park. It was apparent early that the Warriors would have difficulty with the quicker and skilled Mustangs. The Mustangs were in peak form coasting to a 3-0 halftime lead on the way to a 6-1 victory. Dias, Rodriques and Marques doubled their output from the opening match. Dias added three assists while Senior Bruno Rodriques lent his support on two of the day's goals. Lucas Natel, Padraic Phelan and John Valente, all seniors, were particularly visible across the entire field.

The win generated a rubber match between the Mustangs and conference rival Jericho Jayhawks (#4) in the Class A semi-finals on Hofstra's artificial surface. Second seeded South Side faced sixth seeded Valley Stream South in the alternative semi. Conspicuous by their absence was Garden City. The third-ranked Trojans bore an opening round upset to 14th seeded Lynbrook - a team who defeated Mineola on penalty kicks in the opening game of the Mustang Cup.

The stands were packed in Hempstead for a Friday Night Special resulting in a third game in five days for both teams. With Valley Stream surprising South Side in the earlier game, the feature match was packed with intensity. The Jayhawks took an aggressive approach designed to keep the ball off the feet of Dias and Marques. Junior Helder Cancelhinha stepped up to fill the void but constant harassment gave Jericho the edge. In the 23rd minute, a small opening gave the Jayhawks the opportunity to take control with a low right shot from inside the 18-yard line for the lead. Jericho switched their focus in the second half becoming defensive minded packing 7 players in the back preventing the talented Mustangs from converting. For 25 minutes the strategy was near flawless until Dias and company began to attack. Tremendous effort by the Jayhawks' keeper was enough to keep Mineola at bay despite a blast off the post and a tipped chance into the corner in the closing moments. By the conclusion, Jericho's 1-0 upset set up a Class A final for the birds - Jayhawks and Falcons.

For the Mustangs, the season ended short of expectation but not without merit. Mineola validated their election to Conference ABC-I and gained attention as a rising soccer power. Despite the loss of six senior starters and another seven graduating role players, Pereira returns a solid nucleus including Coach Al Cavaluzzo's improving Junior Varsity for the 2007 season. The soccer renaissance will be in no danger of disappearing under the helm of the current coaches for years to come.

Corner Kicks: VS South was the only ABC-II team qualifying for the semis...VS South shut down Floral Park's Billy Bourekas who was the leading goal scorer in Nassau...The Falcons are a carbon copy of the Mustangs and appear to be the 2006 version of Mineola's magical run of last year - expect a Nassau Championship at minimum...Pereira acknowledged the difficulty of beating a team three times in one season (the Mustangs had swept the season series from South Side)...With Hicksville's defeat in the Class AA playoffs, the Mustangs temporarily rose to the #1 ranking in the Newsday and LISoccer.org Countywide polls...Pereira is a shoo-in for Conference Coach of the Year and should be considered for County Coach of the Year...Dias should return as an All-State selection, Marques and Nuno Rodriques should be All-County and Barros, Birk, Bruno and Natel should be named All-Conference... The three best players in the Conference (Peach from South Side, Tavernese from Garden City and Dias) are all seniors...Sayville (13-1-3) appears the team to beat on the Suffolk side of Class A.