At Vernon Middle School, Friday afternoons are very busy with soccer players, coaches and trainers tuning up for the weekends soccer games played throughout Long Island.

However, on Friday, May 21 the usually well-attended practices of the Oyster Bay Lightning (Girls under the age of 10 travel soccer team) were missing 4 girls who normally do not miss practices. Why were these 4 girls not present? They were playing an AAU tournament at St. Dominic's not for the Oyster Bay Lightning soccer team, but for the Long Island Lightning Basket Ball Team. Knowing how important it was to attend soccer practice that evening, they came to the last half hour of Mr. Albanese's OBEN Lightning soccer practice to fine tune their skills for the next day's soccer game against the Albertson Admirals. Why was it so important to be at soccer practice even for a half hour?? The Albertson Admirals had not yet lost a game, they were 6-0. The OBEN Lightning had not lost a game either, but had tied the Lynbrook Hurricanes, so their record was 5-0-1.

Coach Albanese thought he was the only one who knew the importance of the upcoming match on Saturday, until his twin daughters (Lightning BB & Soccer players) woke him up at 6 a.m. telling him they could not sleep and wanting to know what the strategy was for the Albertson game that morning. His response was that he was going back to sleep so that he could dream about the strategy. Much to his surprise, Mr. Albanese later found out that several other Lightning players were also interested in strategy as opposed to sleeping.

That morning at 11:20 a.m. the game was started by the referee at Harbor Links in Port Washington (Home field for Albertson). The coaches, parents and yes the players, knew how important the match was. Five minutes into the game, after the players had a chance to see what they were faced with, Bridget Jansen put on the pressure with a drive around her opponent and drilled the ball past the goal keeper into the back of their net. One to nothing Lightning.

Being behind for their first time this season, the Admirals turned up the pressure attempting to tie the score. However, for every attempt the Admirals made, the Lightning defense comprised of Julia Warren, Allison Multer, Ritchey Howe and goalie Colleen Conway turned them away empty.

At the 20th minute of the first half, the ball was cleared by an Admiral player. However, Erin Allen who anticipates the game very well, won the ball, passed to Melissa Albanese who beat her opponent and spotted Katie O'Brien open, Katie's Lightning speed beat the Admiral's sweeper and put the ball into the back of their net. Lightning 2 Admirals 0 at the half.

As the 8 Lightning players were coming off the field, their cheeks looked like red hot chili peppers, as the day was very hot and humid, and electrified with energy.

In their huddle, coach Albanese finally answered their question of "what is our strategy coach"? He told them that in this situation, the Italian National Team would move a forward player to defense to strengthen their defense. Normally, the Lightning would not be pleased with this idea, but without any comments, they all agreed we needed to secure our lead. Therefore, Katie O'Brien went on to play goalie and Bridget Jansen was added on defense. Kristen Hanley and Kelly Ann Enright were superb in keeping up the pressure on the Admirals from their forward positions.

With the ball on the Lightning half of the field for most of the beginning of the second half, the parents began to wonder what was going on, why are they playing this way. The important thing was that the Lightning had the reasons and knew that the Admirals were becoming more and more frustrated by not being given an inch of room to work with. Halfway through the second half the frustration caused them to foul the Lightning outside their 30 yard line. Gabrielle Albanese having scored twice in the same game the prior week in a similar situation, took a great shot, with the goalie making a nice save.

The referee blew the final whistle with the Lightning winning 2-0 to capture first place in their division with a record of 6 wins, no losses and one tie.

To date they have scored 22 goals while only allowing 8 in by beating Manhasset 3-2, Bellmore 7-2, Syosset 2-0, Plainview Old Bethpage 2-1, Hewlit 4-1, Albertson 2-0, and tying Lynbrook 2-2. Goals have been scored by Bridget Jansen, Erin Allen, Katie O'Brien, Melissa and Gabrielle Albanese and Kristen Hanley. Superb defense has been played by Ritchey Howe, Allison Multer, Julia Warren, Mary Awad and great goalkeeping by Colleen Conway, Katie O'Brien and Kelly Ann Enright. Come and watch them play their final home game on Saturday, June 5 at 12:30 at Vernon Middle School versus their opponent, Rockville Centre.

Registrations for the Oyster Bay Soccer Club Fall 2004/Spring 2005 season are due now.

There were in-person registrations on May 23 and June 6 at the Vernon School but parents can get additional registration forms at the Oyster Bay, Locust Valley and Bayville Libraries or you can download one from their web site OBENSoccer.org. Registrations received after June 30, 2004 will not guarantee your child will be placed on a team.

As in prior years, the club will be having a party in the cafeteria of Vernon School immediately after your child's last game of the season which this year will be on Saturday, June 19. Note: the last game of the season is on Saturday, June 19 due to Sunday, June 20 being Father's Day.

In order for players to try out for all established and new travel teams, please bring with you the following to the try out dates: the Travel Registration Application; a passport type picture; a copy of child's birth certificate; a $325 check payable to "OBEN Soccer." (If the player is not selected, all documents and check will be returned.)

The following are the teams, age group requirements and try out dates:

U-19 Boys-Wildcats (Anyone born after July 31, 1986) Coach Sevan Chakiryan 922-1418 or sc552sc@aol.com.

U-14 Girls-JOB United (Girls born after July 31, 1990). Coach Sal Albanese 624-5859 Albaneseco@aol.com. Tryout dates June 14 and 16 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Vernon School.

U-13 Boys-Titans (boys born after July 31, 1991). Coach Frank Murdock

Tryout dates June 13 and June 16 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Vernon.

U-13 Girls-Blizzards, Avalanche & Thunder (girls born after July 31, 1991). Coach Randy Todd & Sevan Chakiryan. Tryout dates June 18, 21 and 22 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Vernon.

U-12 Boys-Tsunami (Boys born after July 31, 1992). Coach Joe Heaney. Tryouts June 13 and 14 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Vernon School.

U-12 Girls-Twisters (Girls born after July 31, 1992). Debbie Catacasinos.

Try out dates June 13 and 14, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Vernon School.

U-11 Boys-Raptors & Mustangs (Boys born after July 31, 1993). Coaches Marco Castillo and Tom Awad and Bob Reilly. Tryouts June 14 and 16 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Vernon School.

U-11 Girls- Lightning (Girls born after July 31, 1993). Coach Sal Albanese 624 5859 Albaneseco@aol.com. Tryout dates June 14 and June 16 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Vernon School.

U-10 Boys-New Teams (Boys born after July 31, 1994). Coach to be determined.

Tryouts June 1, 7 and 10 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Vernon School.

U-10 Girls-New Teams (Girls born after July 31, 1994). Coach to be determined.

Tryout dates June 1, 7 and 10 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Vernon School.

Our travel teams' awards dinner will be held at the Crescent Beach Club, in Bayville on June 15, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. We invite all our travel players and travel coaches to be our guests at this function. All others are welcome at $30 per person but answers were to be given prior to June 4.