Eight From Lynbrook Boys Soccer to be Honored

Seven players from the Lynbrook varsity boys soccer team are being honored by the Nassau County Soccer Coaches Association at a dinner at the Marriott hotel in Uniondale tonight.

Senior Rich Bellusci, senior Andrew Marks, junior Mike Milillo, senior James Kirby and senior Gonzalo Andreani were named All Conference; sophomore Damian Andreani was named All County Honorable Mention; and senior Angelo Messina made All County and was named the Conference 6 Player of the Year.

"Angelo is certainly well deserving, as is Damian, and certainly the other five guys," said Lynbrook coach Josh Berlin. "Without any one of them, we don't win."

The Owls lost just one game in league play this year, going 8-1-3 to finish second overall in Conference 6. They in the first round of the playoffs.

Messina led the Owls with 11 goals this year, quite an accomplishment in the more defensive-minded games of today, Berlin said. Milillo added three goals and four assists, while the other five players contributed great play on offense and defense each game.

Berlin himself will be honored as the Conference 6 Coach of the Year.

"I'm humbled by the view of [other coaches] that have allowed me to be honored," he said. "I didn't win a conference, but I think they recognized the hard work we did, the way my team worked hard all year, our message that the team is bigger than any one player. It's humbling to know that my colleagues recognized that side of me.

"It's a reflection of my players and the impact of my players," Berlin added. "Without them, I don't win an award."

Each team in the conference is allotted a certain number of selections for each of All County, All Conference and Honorable Mentions.