Lynbrook and Seaford tie in a soccer game with meaning beyond the field
Steven Najera of Lynbrook gets chased by Matteo Qosa (19) and Tate Gatto (13) of Seaford during a Nassau Conference A boys soccer game in Lynbrook on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Josh Berlin wore a black T-shirt on the sideline. It had a special message in pink on the back that fit Saturday’s occasion, especially for Lynbrook’s boys soccer coach these last 25 years:
TOGETHER (The “O” was in the form of a ribbon.)
WE
fight (A pink and black soccer ball was emblazoned alongside with a ribbon on it, too.)
RvcBcc (as in Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition)
The shirts were issued to the Owls for warmups on this day at Marion Street School — the annual Lynbrook Soccer Day that supports different charities each year.
Seaford left more satisfied with the result, a 2-2 non-league draw that featured two comebacks by the Vikings, including Justin Hausfeld’s tying goal with 13:17 left. But Berlin, while not thrilled about losing the leads, knew the day wasn’t just about the score.
The Lynbrook junior varsity boys and girls teams played games at Lynbrook North Middle School and the varsity boys and girls played games at Marion Street. A portion of the day’s proceeds are bound for the breast cancer charity and for Lynbrook’s senior soccer scholarship program.
“Supporting the Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition is near and dear to my heart this year,” Berlin said. “My sister is a breast cancer survivor. I also carry the gene for breast cancer as a male.
“So any time we can do something that transcends the game of soccer, I think it’s an important lesson for the boys. It’s an important community rallying call.
“And I think it reminds everybody that it’s more than wins and losses and goals and shutouts and a game. It’s a bigger piece of the game of life.”
The Vikings (1-9-1) dropped their first nine games of the season. But they beat Division, 4-3, Friday night for their first win since 2023 and followed with this resilient result — progress.
“It’s incredible for us,” said Anthony Ippoliti, their 22-year-old first-year coach. “These kids are coming every single day working their hearts out.”
After Lynbrook (1-5-5) took a 2-1 edge on Jose Yapan Gonzales’ header 4:30 into the second half, Ryan DeSimone sent Hausfeld toward the equalizer, a shot that deflected in off the far post.
“It feels amazing,” Hausfeld said of the victory and the draw.
DeSimone’s corner kick served as an assist on Cody Gatto’s goal with 16.4 seconds left until halftime after senior Steven Najera gave Lynbrook a 1-0 lead on Senior Day via a 20-yard shot with 15:34 remaining.
Seaford goalkeeper Dylan Hausfeld, Justin’s twin brother, had made three brilliant stops in the first nine minutes.
“I thought it was definitely disappointing,” Najera said about tying. “I thought we could have definitely beaten them. The opportunities were there.”
The Owls are 1-2-4 in Nassau A-I and need to be at least .500 to qualify for the playoffs. Three games remain.
Najera called it “hard” but “doable.”
