In their 2008 season home opener, the Mineola PAL Chiefs 5th Grade Boys Lacrosse Team beat the Oyster Bay Rough Riders 5-2 before a crowd of screaming fans at Hampton Stadium. The team is led by Mineola High School coaches Mike Perro, Chris Grimm and Brian Grodotzke.

Offensively Mineola's midfielders controlled the game. Midfielders Thomas O'Connell, James Gerstner, Peter McCormack, Brian Smith and Michael Elefonte passed the ball around the field and out hustled Oyster Bay to almost every ground ball. The Chiefs attackman Chris Lockwood and Dominic Paggi kept the heat on the Rough Riders goalie throughout the day. The defense of the Chiefs was all over the place causing havoc, led by Gavin Dowd and Jake Connors with goalie John Clancy in front of the cage making saves.

Some highlights of the game came from first year players, includung Kyle Dunleavy, who scored a goal on a pass from William Berger, and McCormack, who tried a behind the head shot on goal, which was saved. The game scoring is summarized as follows: goal by Brian Smith (assist by James Gerstner); goal by Chris Lockwood (assist by Brian Smith); goal by Michael Elefonte (assist by Gavin Dowd); goal by Thomas O'Connell (assist by Patrick McGowan); and goal by Kyle Dunleavy (assist by William Berger).

The entire fifth grade team and coaching staff showed outstanding character and sportsmanship. All the boys played and participated in the victory. Other players who contributed in the victory were Patrick McGowan, Alex Taveira, Gerard Boniello, Trifon Boniello, Dan Zabarauskas and Jacob Correia.