News

Tuesday, January 21, 2003 - Hempstead EOC Lions Regional Champions
Hempstead EOC Lions U-16 win Regional Indoor Championship. The Lions U-16 won the finals vs Flamengo FC with an overtime goal scored by captain Jonny Cruz.

Sudden Death Overtime
As the Flamego FC was leading the game 4-3 in the last 3 minutes I instructed my players to have patience and setup a perfect scoring opportunity to tie the game. This is something I repeatedly say to them. If we are down we must have patience and discipline just like the Germans. Fransisco Chavez managed to tie the game with 1 minute and 30 seconds left in regular time and this brought us to sudden death overtime. During the small break I could look at the faces of the Lions and the invitational U-15 players from the Hempstead Panthers that they wanted it. I set the team strategically with Federico Ospina (1), Fransisco Chavez (4), and Jonny Cruz (10) to take command of the Lions. It was Federico who started the attack to make 1 defender commit and passed it to Fransisco who took on the defense and the goalie. There was a defelection in the play and like a phantom out of nowhere Jonny Cruz appeared to put the game away and just as he scored the whole team of Lions jumped into the field to celebrate. Interviews were held after the game, medals were given out, singing the famous "Ole, ole, ole, ole, ole, ole". The Lions were crowned Eastern New York Regional Champions at KK Athletics in Farmingville, New York. This is the Hempstead EOC Lions team roster.

• Federico Ospina
• Jonathan Melara
• Jeffrey Romero
• Dennis Andino
• Fransisco Chavez
• Roberto Morales
• Jonny Cruz
• Josue Cruz
• Edwin Mejia
• Benjamin Corales
• Mickel Campell
• Sekou Campell
• Troy Greene (La Pantera)
• Manny Alvarez
• Edwin Perez
• Luis Flores
• Martin Carpio

The Lions will be going to the National Indoor Soccer Championship Finals in Dublin, OH. The lions will meet at the Hempstead EOC Headquarters - 134 Jackson St. The trip is from Feb. 7 to Feb. 10.