The Albertson Lightning, an under12 boys soccer team associated with the Albertson Soccer Club, achieved the all but unprecedented triple crown of boys soccer this weekend by capturing their league championship, the New York State championship and the Walbaum's Cup. This achievement is rare in Long Island junior soccer and has never been achieved by an Albertson team.

The Lightning began their week by clinching the League championship in a 4-2 victory over the New Hyde Park Bengals on June 10. The Lightning is undefeated and untied in league play and have outscored their opponents 27-7. They are the only undefeated under 12 team in all of Long Island Junior Soccer.

The Lightning clinched the New York State Championship on June 12 in upper Rockland County. To reach the championship game Albertson had won eight games in the tournament, beating teams from all over New York State. In the finals they faced the East Meadow Falcons. The game was hard fought, intense, and not decided until the last minute. The score was 0-0 with 45 seconds remaining in the game. Josh Korder pushed a pass to James Posner who got free on the right wing and crossed the ball to Tim Raab who volleyed it into the net giving the Lightning a 1-0 victory.

To conclude the weekend, on June 13 Albertson played in the prestigious finals of the Walbaum's Cup. To reach the Walbaum's Cup, Albertson had won four games including victories over several of the premier teams in Long Island. In the finals they faced the Hewlett-Lawrence Thunder.

In the 15th minute the Thunder scored the first goal, but Albertson came back five minutes later. Kevin McPhillips curved a corner kick directly into the goal, tying the game. The rest of the game was played at a frantic pace with both teams having good opportunities to score. With 10 minutes to go Albertson hit the post and three minutes later the Thunder did the same. At the conclusion the score was tied 1-1 and went into sudden death overtime. After two five minutes overtime periods, the game was still tied and went to a shoot out. After the first four players on each team had a shot, the game was still tied. Hewlett scored on its fifth shot and Albertson needed to score to keep the shoot out alive. Tim Raab put the ball in the lower right hand corner. On the seventh shot Hewlett again went ahead. John Arciuolo put a beautiful shot into the upper right hand corner, once again keeping the Lightning alive. On the eighth shot of the shootout Alberson's goalie,Jordan Sawyer, made an excellent save. Joel Gullo of Albertson had a chance to win the match and his perfectly placed ball hit the post and slipped in the goal setting off a wild celebration.

The Lightning have won all year with contributions from the entire team. Tim Raab, James Posner and Cash Bernard have provided a potent offense. The midfielder's command by the tireless Devon Shapiro, the crafty Kevin McPhillips skilled players such as John Arciuolo, Adam Greenberg and Greg Orologio. The defense has been outstanding all year long with stoppers Joe Gullo and Steven Messer as well as defenders Nick Gullo, Adam Singer and Josh Korder. Goalie Jordan Sawyer has been outstanding.

The team is coached by Gregory Messer with assistant coaches Richard Raab and Mitch Singer. It is trained by Roughrider star Gerry Lucey with substanical contributions from parents, Thomas McPhillips and Ottario Orologio.