Ryan Andreone's OT goal lifts Lindenhurst boys soccer to first title in program history
Lindenhurst celebrates its victory in the Suffolk Class AAA boys soccer championship against Commack on Sunday at Patchogue-Medford. Credit: Connor Lawless
Lindenhurst boys soccer coach Joe Riemma wiped away tears as he moved from embrace to embrace. Daniel Ramos knelt and buried his head in his shirt. Anthony Rodriguez ran screaming toward the crowd, his arms stretched wide.
And there was senior Ryan Andreone, shirtless, roaring, after scoring a goal no Lindenhurst player had ever scored before. With just 27 seconds left in the first overtime period, he had received a pass from Max Lombardo 48 yards away from goal in the Suffolk Class AAA championship game against Commack.
He took a touch with his right foot, poked the ball forward and ripped a shot 40 yards away.
“Honestly, I was exhausted,” Andreone said. “I really didn’t want to go another 15 [minutes], and I was scared to go into [penalty kicks]. I just had to take that risk."
Seconds after the ball floated into the right corner of the net, Andreone lifted his arms straight in the air and fell to his knees. He said he felt like a weight had left his shoulders as he disappeared in a dogpile of white jerseys as his brother, Thomas, ran by, leading the charge toward the stands.
Enjoy it, Lindenhurst. It’s your time.
Fifth-seeded Lindenhurst, which opened the season with five losses in its first seven games, defeated the defending state champions in No. 2 Commack, 2-1, in overtime in the Suffolk Class AAA final Sunday at Patchogue-Medford High School. It’s the first title in program history for the Bulldogs.
“We dreamt of this since we were little kids,” Andreone said. “We’ve all grown up together and to win it with this group of boys, it’s like a fairy tale, honestly.”
Lindenhurst (13-6) will face Nassau's Farmingdale Tuesday at Patchogue-Medford High School in the Long Island Class AAA championship and a state subregional. Riemma stood in disbelief as he rattled off members of the 1986 Lindenhurst team, which lost in the county final but showed up Sunday to support.
“This is for all those guys who played in that game,” Riemma said. “This is avenging 40 years’ worth of misery.”
Champions of Suffolk. For the very first time.
— Michael Sicoli (@Michael__Sicoli) November 2, 2026
#5 Lindenhurst takes down #2 Commack, 2-1, in overtime to continue the Cinderella season that the Bulldogs have written.
Highlights, including the winner, here: pic.twitter.com/hOT3HGrXUJ
The Bulldogs took the lead in the 33rd minute when Gianni Lombardo assisted his twin, Max, for the opening goal.
“We’ve been working on this all year,” Gianni Lombardo said. “Me, Ryan, Max, since freshman year with no playoff run every time. This is the year we made it all the way, and it’s special to do it with my friends and my brother.”
Commack (15-2-2) would equalize in the 63rd minute after Chris Morici took the ball from Lindenhurst goalkeeper Daniel Zylowski, who moments earlier suffered a knee injury and thought there had been a whistle.
Dylan Prisco entered and finished the game, making two saves. Commack’s Ryan Curcio led a Cougars offense that did everything but score against a resilient Lindenhurst defense, led by center back Dylan Vetack.
“Ryan’s just a team-first guy,” Commack coach Dave Moran said. “Little stature, giant heart, and you can’t teach that. He’s probably one of the most selfless kids I’ve ever coached.”
As green confetti shot onto the field from an overjoyed Lindenhurst fan base, it felt like this was exactly how the team could’ve dreamt of this moment after decades of waiting.
Only when the Bulldogs awake Monday, those dreams will have transformed into living legend as there is still at least one more chapter left to write in this storybook season.
Michael Sicoli covers high school sports for Newsday. He graduated from Quinnipiac in 2022 and left with a master’s degree in sports journalism in 2023.
