On Sept. 10, the Great Neck Road Runners opened the 2006-2007 soccer season, the team's fifth, with a spectacular display of showmanship and effort. Sixteen of Great Neck's middle school students scored a 2-to-1 win against Cold Spring Harbor. The crowd roared with excitement during the second half of the game when the Road Runners, who were down 1-to-0 at half-time, really brought their A-game and rallied back.

The Road Runners were inspired by the half-time talk delivered by the newest addition to the coaching staff, David Bond. Alongside managers Rich Hendler and Sandra Sassoon, Coach Bond gathered the Road Runners into a circle and delivered a unique and uplifting message. After Bond's speech, the Road Runners returned to the soccer field with the drive and determination to score two goals in the second half and prevent the opposing team from scoring, no less shooting more than one ball on net.

The Road Runners' remarkable comeback was led by Edmond Sassoon, who scored both goals in the second half. Determination by Matias Quarleri, one of four new players on the team, freed up the ball for Edmond to use his speed to score the first goal. Equally exciting was the team play that led to the second goal; it was set up by AJ Hendler, who drove the ball down the right mid-field before crossing it to Adam Warner, who in turn set Edmond up to score the team's second and winning goal. An amazing save -- with less than thirty seconds on the clock --- by extraordinary goalie Matt Mueller secured the win for the team.

Great play by team defense, headed by sweeper Jake Goodstein, stopper Juan Carlos Gonzalez, and defensive specialists Angad Ishar, newcomers Jordan Friedman, and Alex Schifter, with mid-field control by Andrew Brash, Eric Weinstein, Daniel Belmont, and newcomer Jonathan Robeny contributed to the strong play of the Road Runners. More importantly, after the win, the team was complimented by its sportsmanship and play which have characterized the Road Runners since their first season together.

In spring 2007, the Road Runners will represent Great Neck in Disney's Soccer Shootout IX in Orlando, Florida. The team's home fall schedule is: Sept. 17 at 3 p.m.; Oct. 1 at 12:30 and 22 at 10:30; Nov. 5 at 10:30 and 19 at 2:20. Home games are usually played at Harbor Links; the Oct. 1 game will be played at Great Neck North High School. Come out and watch --- support your Great Neck Road Runners and their quest for the tournament championship in Orlando!

All of the Road Runners pictured below attend either Great Neck South or North Middle School (Andrew Nikolai and Adam Gottlieb are not pictured). Management team is Rich and Alina Hendler, Sandra Sassoon, and Yuval Brash.