Chemistry, character, and dedication are three of the many intangible qualities that pervade sports. More subtle than physical characteristics such as strength, speed, and skill, they are equally important nonetheless. When a team anticipates each other's tendencies and works together to achieve a common goal, that's chemistry. When a soccer team overcomes one and two goal deficits with regularity, that's character. When a good soccer team pushes itself to excel by playing its heart out game in and game out, that's dedication. And when an especially good soccer team complements its natural ability with these intangibles, it can take its play to another level and great things can happen.

This spring, everything broke right and everyone came together as the Syosset Invasion Girls U-11 travel soccer team completed its most successful season ever. The Invasion, which finished their previous two seasons with thirteen points and identical 4-4-1 records, earned a whopping twenty points in route to a sparkling 6-1-2 record. Syosset completed the spring campaign with a remarkable three straight come-from-behind wins to claim sole possession of second place in LIJSL Nassau Division 2.

Syosset has been making the intangible tangible throughout the spring season and the final game, played at home against the Plainedge Tornadoes, was no exception. What began as an even match quickly became a one-sided affair as Plainedge broke through with two unanswered goals, putting Syosset in the familiar position of having to come from behind for the fourth time in its last five games. Syosset stepped up their effort but initially came away with nothing to show for it. Still, the aggressive play, accurate passing, and scoring attempts by all three of the forwards, Samara Klafter, Michelle Florin, and Lexi Garay, signaled that good things were about to happen.

The comeback, which was almost inevitable given the never say die attitude of the team, began about two minutes before half time. Right midfielder Laura Goldman, who has shown tremendous improvement in executing crossing passes throughout the season, crossed the ball into the goal box where left midfielder Kasey LeVerne one-timed a left-footed chip shot that looped over the goalie and into the near side of the net to cut the Plainedge lead in half.

Syosset came out with a flourish in the second half, moving the ball down field, and pressuring Plainedge without letting up. The game turned physical as players on both teams jockeyed for an advantage. Forward Lexi Garay, who made her presence known throughout the match with tremendous hustle and effort, broke free on a breakaway scoring attempt. As she darted towards the goal, the recovering defender bumped Lexi from behind and the ref called a foul in the goal box. Center midfielder Amanda Epstein, the team's high scorer, took the penalty kick and shot it confidently into the lower left corner of the net to tie the score at 2-2. Several minutes later, Epstein gave Syosset a 3-2 lead when she surprised everyone by launching a booming, high arcing, long distance shot from about 40 yards from the goal that soared over the goalie and into the back of the net.

With ten minutes left in the game, Syosset had put itself in position to finish the season on a high note, but Plainedge knew the tune and would not succumb easily. Goalkeeper Jessica Greenberg rose to the occasion, blocking several shots, coming out to grab a corner kick, and making several strong punts to move the action to the other end of the field. Center defender Stephanie Lucidi ran down an opposing forward and steered the ball harmlessly to the sideline. Right defender Samantha Romano had a particularly strong game, pushing up on defense and hustling to beat a forward to the ball and playing it back into the offensive zone. Left defender Gabrielle Barbour continued her string of outstanding defensive performances, stripping the ball from opposing players, clearing the ball strongly down the side of the field, and executing several superb throw-ins and corner kicks.

But it was right defender Renee Kiviat who preserved the victory for the Invasion. With under a minute left to play, a Plainedge player took a strong shot on goal that Greenberg saved but was unable to control. As the ball bounced behind the keeper and towards the goal line, Renee raced to the rescue and kicked the ball to safety just before a Plainedge player could tap it into the net. Shortly thereafter, when the whistle sounded to end the game, the Syosset Invasion players, parents, and coach/trainer Bob Gushue celebrated more than just another thrilling victory, they celebrated a spectacular season in the sun with pride and satisfaction.