Helix’s Journey Continues

Helix’s perfect season isn’t over yet. The boys’ soccer team is eager to clinch a Long Island championship in 2024, following a challenging two-win season and a triumphant Nassau victory for the first time in two decades.

“The roster remains the same. It’s the same group of kids,” Highlanders’ head coach Adriana Mendrinos remarked after a decisive 3-0 win over Syosset in the county final.

“Every year, they grow stronger and smarter, and this group of leaders is really looking to make a name for themselves,” said Mendrinos, a 28-year-old former forward from Queen’s College.

Mendrinos stands out as one of the few women coaching boys at this level. She admires the impressive track record of Plainview Old Bethpage coach Christine Ho and is excited about adding to the legacy of women in Long Island boys’ soccer.

“I’d be thrilled if you could add it,” she expressed.

Facing the Next Challenge

The Highlanders are set to encounter a tough opponent in Suffolk champion Commack, who recently edged out Brentwood 2-1. Saturday’s Long Island Championship game will take place at 631 Islip High School, so the team will be in enemy territory. However, the boys in blue are unfazed.

Year 11 striker Saif Khan noted, “The atmosphere will feel different. There will probably be more Suffolk fans, but we’ll approach it knowing we’re the better team.”

“We’ll show up,” he emphasized.

One player to watch is senior goalkeeper Brayden Haas, whose impressive five-game shutout streak has been pivotal for the Highlanders, helping them clinch the final two games of the regular season along with all their playoff matches.

Coach Haase praised the team’s “amazing” defensive efforts, stating, “With the way we’re playing, it doesn’t look like anyone will be able to score.”

Helix’s offense has also been strong, netting six goals since the county quarter-finals. Senior center midfielder Aidan Bernik, who scored the opening goal against Syosset, attributed their success to the players’ strong chemistry.

“We play with heart, and our bond really shows on the field,” he said.

Building Connections

Mendrinos shares a unique connection with her players, having taught many of them as middle school students. Taking on the coaching role straight out of college, she’s witnessed their growth firsthand.

“We know them by the time they get here… They understand our expectations by the time they reach varsity,” Mendrinos explained, recalling her own youthful days as a county champion.

“I’ve told some of them, ‘You better keep playing club soccer because I’ll need you when you get to high school.’”

Now, the goal is to finish what they’ve started, with the Highlanders aiming for the Long Island title, which has eluded them since 1996.

“There’s still a lot to achieve for Helix because the story isn’t finished yet,” center midfielder Robert Profeta mentioned.

Haas remarked that the team is “the most confident we’ve ever been” as they approach their game against the 17-1-1 Giants Commack.

Defying expectations is at the core of Helix’s philosophy.

“If you asked anyone if we would have made it this far, they would probably say no,” the head coach admitted.

During the county title match, the boys even wrote “Believe” on the locker room whiteboard, inspired by the show “Ted Lasso,” representing the fictional AFC Richmond’s rise to success.

“We might be the underdogs in this scenario, but we know what we’re capable of if we believe in ourselves,” Khan added.

This mindset has been encouraged from the top down since mid-October.

“What assistant coach Gordon Purdy keeps telling the players is, ‘Let’s shock the world,’” Mendrinos said.

“So, we’re just going to show up and shock the world.”