Boys’ Soccer Wins First Conference Championship in More Than a Decade

The Friends Academy boys’ soccer team won its first conference championship in more than a decade, securing the Class AB3 title with a 4-0 win over Oyster Bay during Senior Night on Oct. 15.

Junior Jack Steinberg staked the Quakers a two-goal lead in the first half, while junior Meher Walia and senior Carlos Hernandez both found the back of the net in the second.

“We pretty much dominated the first half and it was just a matter of waiting for that third goal to secure it,” says Friends Academy coach Edgar Posada. “They are a big rival of ours. We wanted to make sure we put them away.”

Senior Jack Byrnes and junior Ryder Marcus split time in goal as the Quakers posted their third consecutive shutout.

“They‘ve been tremendous,” Coach Posada said of the goalies. “We‘re hoping to go a lot farther than this.”

From l. to r., Jack Steinberg, Meher Walia and Carlos Hernandez.

Friends Academy will begin postseason play on Thursday, Oct. 23 when it hosts its first playoff game in 11 years. The fourth-seeded Quakers will play No. 5 North Shore at home on the turf field at 2:15 p.m. Students and fans are encouraged to wear all black for the school’s blackout theme.

“This is special. We need the community’s support,” Coach Posada says. ”This is going to be a great game. The boys want everyone to be out there.”

The winner will advance to the semifinals and play the winner of Locust Valley vs. Valley Stream South on Oct. 26 at noon at Farmingdale State College.

With eight seniors on the roster, Coach Posada says this Quakers team is one of the most talented in his tenure, which began in 2017 — three years after the team won its last conference championship.

“We‘re hoping that we can go far in the playoffs because the players are that talented. Many of them have been playing together for four years,” Coach Posada says. “We’ve been telling them how much they can accomplish, and that moment of realization was finally understood.

“We need to remember this moment, because a title like this doesn’t come easy, and I know they can do more moving forward.”

Top photo by Don Fish for Friends Academy / Player photos courtesy of Island Photography