The Albertson Academy Boys Under 16 team has clinched first place in the Northeast Region with a 15-3-11 record in the United States Soccer Federation's Development Academy. Albertson's emphatic 6-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids, the youth team of the Major League Soccer side, has booked a ticket to Carson, CA for the national championship.

Albertson struck early and often Friday, grabbing a 2-0 lead after only four minutes, a 3-0 advantage after 11 minutes and a four-goal margin by halftime.

Zach Kupfer connected in the third minute before Dan Brown doubled the score barely a minute later.

The Long Islanders were far from finished as A.J. Laza found the back of the net twice in the first half, in the 11th and 43rd minutes.

Joey D'Antonio made it 5-9 in the 64th minute before Ian Hines-Ike tallied for the Rapids in the 68th minute.

Albertson's Nuno Rodrigues closed out the scoring two minutes later.

Albertson and the seven other regional champions, which includes Carmel United, go on to play for the national championships during the week of July 12 to 19 at the Home Depot Center, where the United States national teams train and play along with the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA of Major League Soccer. ESPN will be providing coverage of the quest to win the national title as eight matches will be broadcast on ESPN Networks in an unprecedented 20 hours of coverage over July 18 and 19.

The coach of the Albertson Academy's Boys Under 16 squad is Adrian Gaitan, who also serves as the coach of the highly successful Long Island Academy men's team, currently undefeated at 5-0-2 in the National Premier Soccer League.

"We put on a show yesterday and today, especially by scoring 10 goals in two games," commented Coach Gaitan. "The kids knew that five or six national team coaches and 50 college coaches were scouting their game."

"The kids have come together so quickly as we are a brand new team," Coach Gaitan added. "We have 24 kids on the roster and everybody contributes. We wear teams down. Even today, against Scott Gallagher, I started many players who normally come off the bench."

Gaitan mentioned that forward Zach Kupfer, midfielder Dan Brown, defensive midfielder Andrew Jean-Baptiste, defender Ryan Reichman plus defender and captain Alex Castillo have especially had tremendous seasons.

"The kids are ecstatic for all the positive attention that they have brought to Albertson because of their play," Coach Gaitan said.