Access and opportunity rise as themes at Lower School Open House
10-08-25
It was a game that started after an unbelievable season and ended just as unbelievably.
After a high-energy match, followed by two scoreless OTs, the Friends Academy Boys Varsity Soccer team was crowned co-champions of the Nassau County Class A Championship on Saturday, Nov. 1 – their first in over a decade. Unfortunately, their bid for the Long Island championship and beyond was cut short, when after 110 minutes of regulation and OT play, No. 2 seeded Floral Park bested FA in nail-biting penalty kicks, 4-2.
“This team made history,” said Head Coach Edgar Posada after the game. “First County Class A Championship ever and First Conference Championship in over a decade. This team is a championship team twice over and I am super proud of them.” On Tuesday, Nov. 4, the team learned that they had earned the distinction of Top 15 in the NYS Class A Top 20 Ranking.
With a sea of red sweat-shirted fans alongside them singing, chanting, stomping, and cheering throughout the entire game, the Quakers delivered an incredible display of come-from-behind stamina and momentum, matched only by dazzling footwork, ricocheting headers, a fast-mounted defense, and stunning saves from both of Friends Academy’s keepers.
The game started innocuously enough as Floral Park’s opening kick sailed cleanly out of bounds and then the match-up revved up. “You gotta win that!” directed head coach Edgar Posada as the opening minutes seemed evenly divided between both teams.
Slowly but surely, Floral Park began to dominate, but each time they threatened, the trio of FA defenders, Aidan Lloves ‘26, Mircea Manu ‘26, Luca Zuniga ‘27 and Dylan Price ‘27, would come to the rescue with speed, decisive blocks, headers, and returning kicks.
Floral Park continued to press and 25 minutes into the first half, they struck first with a solid goal against first-half keeper Jack Byrnes. In answer, the Quakers did not back down.
One minute later, senior Dylan Leon responded with a promising attempt on goal that veered wide. On his side of the field, Jack B. executed two masterful back-to-back saves; tipping up the first one into the air before safely capturing the ball on its way down.
See more photos from the championship game on Flickr
As the clock continued to tick down in the first half, FA forced a corner with 35 seconds to go, as the FA fans stomped wildly in the stands, but to no avail.
The momentum needed to shift if the Quakers were to have any chance. “We have to score as a team,” Coach Posada told the players seated in front of him during the half. “We can’t hold the ball and 40 minutes is all you’ve got, so you’ve gotta go out there and win it as a team – all of us.”
Following advice from Assistant Coach Deremy Leon ‘24 (former Friends Academy Boys Varsity Soccer player, as well as older brother to #8 Dylan), Coach Posada left the players with these prescient words: “You have to move the ball and then everything changes.”
And boy, did it change.
As the buzzer sounded the start of the second half, FA came on fast and furious. Within seven minutes, FA had charged into Floral Park territory threatening with three shots on goal – first from Sebastian Martinez ‘27, then Jack Steinberg ‘27, and finally from Dylan Leon ‘26.
And then, nine minutes into the second half, the ship was righted with some fancy footwork from Seb Martinez and a kick that shot effortlessly past the Floral Park keeper. The FA fans were uncontained. Rows of students jumped up and down, singing “Ole, Ole, Ole” as the enormous red FA flag swung from side to side a few rows down.
The momentum had indeed shifted.
With 17 minutes left in the second half, Seb Martinez secured his way around multiple defenders, as he seemingly slowed down time, Matrix-style, (at least for Floral Park) and deftly passed to Dylan Leon as the Quakers overran Floral Park, 2-1, to take the lead.
Second-half keeper Ryder Marcus stopped one Floral Park threat after another – in the air and on the ground – and the championship seemed to be coming within reach of the Friends Academy Quakers.
But, with a little over six minutes in the game, and following a failed corner kick, Floral Park headed it in to tie the game 2-2. And just like that, it was anyone’s game to win.
As Friends Academy regrouped for the first opening OT, Assistant Coach Don Fish urged communication – and simplicity. “Keep it simple and talk to each other. We are going to create some chances because Floral Park has never been in this position before.”
With three attempted corners, two from Floral Park, and one from FA, the game pushed into the remaining OT. Striker Jack Steinberg rallied his teammates before taking the field. “This is our game,” he stated emphatically. “This is our game fellas,” repeated Coach Posada. “1,2,3…Family on 3,” responded the boys. “FAMILY!”
Despite a final corner kick chance with 35 seconds to go, FA was unable to capitalize; the buzzer sounded, and the game headed into penalty kicks.
After 110 minutes of hard-driving and passionate play, the Quakers’ destiny was to be decided by up to five alternating attempts on goal. On the sidelines, players from both teams linked arms along the sidelines, as they watched, almost helplessly, the conclusion of their game.
Back and forth, Friends Academy and Floral Park snatched their kicks, keeping it even at 2-2. Looking to answer Floral Park’s next point, FA was stopped. A final Floral Point kick sealed the win.
Two days after the game, Coach Posada is even more convinced of what this team accomplished and has cause to celebrate – a team that turned in the most successful season in the premiere Class A league, two classes higher than their last state title more than a decade ago. “We are the little school that could,” he said. “A tiny school against schools that are at least twice as big as us,” he added. “It was a historic run to the county finals and we never gave up, even in this last game. Most importantly, the community believed in us – and that’s all you need.”
Photography by Arnold Miller for Friends Academy
