The Albertson Azzurri boys U-10 soccer team tied for first place at the North Hempstead Cup played in Port Washington. The team compiled a 3-0-1 record behind the scoring of Andrew Valderamma, Patrick Woods, Alex Marano, Alex Sands and Jacob Benatar. Playmakers Zach Rosenblum, Kevin Levine, Jason Bergman and Chris Guglielmi dished out assist upon assist, as the Azzurri took the first two games on Saturday 3-1 over the Great Neck Roadrunners and 4-0 over an always tough Massapequa squad.

The rock solid defense of Jason Chiu and Mike Guglielmi kept the other team away from the Azzurri goal, and anything that did get through was gobbled up by keeper Jacob Cooper. After defeating the Garden City Dragons 3-1, the showdown that everyone was waiting for was put off no more. Coaches Brad Levine, Gary Rosenblum and Pat Woods had to reach into their bag of tricks as they let the Azzurri against the also undefeated (3-0) Franklin Square United.

Things looked dim on the wind blown pitch, as Franklin Square jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead, with other opportunities to increase that lead soon to follow. But the Azzurri motto of "bend but don't break," kept the squad within striking distance - and strike they did as the Azzurri tied the game 30 seconds before the first half ended. As the sun was beginning to set, the field started to resemble the frozen tundra of Lambeau field, and the Azzurri team had to dig deep looking for the winning goal.

On this day, however, it was not to be as the two squads fought a titanic struggle that was destined to end as many thought proper, a 1-1 tie, with both teams ending the tournament with an 3-0-1 record.