Linares, Guzman help Brentwood win 3rd straight 'AA' title

It was a magical night for Brentwood, but especially so for senior forward Edynson Linares. For the first time in his high school career, his mother, Martha, came to watch him play. Mrs. Linares saw quite a show, including some sleight of foot by her son.

Linares and Frank Guzman scored first-half goals as the Indians defeated Commack, 2-0, last night at the Dowling Sports Complex in Shirley to win their third consecutive Suffolk Class AA boys soccer title. Brentwood (17-1-2) will face Massapequa at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday at the Dowling site. Commack, playing without one of its top scorers, Adam Tamburello, who reinjured his knee during warm-ups, finished 17-2-1.

"It's the first time she came to see me play, so we dedicated the game to her," said Linares, who scored in the 36th minute of the first half to make it 2-0. "She just had a feeling I would do something good."

His magic moment came off a pass from Guzman and was a subtle piece of wizardry that appeared to be a no-look shot. "We call it a three-finger shot," said Linares, "because I hit it with the side of my foot. I was trying to do that."

Guzman made sure it would be a trying evening for the Cougars, who dealt the Indians their only loss, 1-0, in the season opener. He blasted a shot off the post that caromed out in front of goalkeeper Jake Amereno. The ensuing scramble produced a bloop more than a blast. "I saw the ball come outside the box," Guzman said. "It bounced off a defenseman, hit my chest and it went in off my chest."

Guzman almost scored two other goals. Ten minutes into the second half, Amereno made a diving save to rob the senior midfielder. Then, with less than three minutes left, Guzman launched a long curving shot that had Amereno beat, but it hit the crossbar.

"I'm beyond proud of these kids," Brentwood coach Ron Eden said. "People counted us out after we lost that first game."

SEE PHOTOSBrentwood 2, Commack 0

The loss had a positive effect, however. "Losing to Commack motivated us," Guzman said. "We knew it would take a lot of work to get back here. Three in a row is a special thing."

So special that when the game ended, the entire Brentwood team raced across the field and began jumping and shouting in front of their raucous crowd, which was led by a drum-pounding fan who provided the back beat to a well-orchestrated victory.

"That's three! That's three!" the players yelled, holding up three fingers in the chilly night air, that was filled with more than just a little touch of magic.