Yesterday afternoon the boys’ soccer team improved to 5-0 in league play with a 4-0 victory at Smithtown Christian.

The Bears have not won on the Knights’ notoriously difficult pitch since October 14, 2010 when Lukas Alijosius,  Khoren Lawson, and Brian Jeong each scored in a 3-1 win. Their field has long been a troublesome destination for our boys’ and girls’ teams due to its odd dimensions as it is shorter and narrower than any other field in the league, meaning passes that would normally find space on the wings often roll out of bounds and looks upfield often end up in the hands of a keeper. In addition, there is a pronounced slope from one goal to the other, making distance shots on the downward end particularly problematic for keepers. However, in yesterday’s match it was the Bears’ offense that made the most of the friendly confines.

For the fifth time in their five games the Bears struck in the first nine minutes when Bryant Kang sent a ball into the box which Alvaro Martinez Torres converted off of a bounce to put the Brook up 1-0 at the 31:10 mark. Jai Narain found the net less than three minutes later when he tucked away his fifth goal of the season after the Knights failed to clear the ball out of the box. Outstanding defense ensured the Bears kept the 2-0 lead at the half.

The Knights’ offense had the advantage of running downhill in the second half, meaning no 2-0 lead was safe, but the Bears came out hungry and put the game out of reach early. Less than five minutes into the half Caleb Lindo gave a perfect through-ball to Martinez Torres who banged home his second goal of the game and handed the Brook a 3-0 edge. Less than 10 minutes later Martinez Torres completed his first hat trick of the season when he headed home a gorgeous corner kick from Owen Sobel.

A gritty and poised defensive effort from Mac Bohuny, Ben DiRuggiero, Bryant Kang, Caleb Spreckles, and Thomas Lawton ensured the Bears held onto their second shutout of the season. David Choi and Sam Han combined for the clean sheet in goal. Martinez Torres continued his torrid scoring run, giving him 11 goals through five games. He is currently the third-leading goal scorer in Suffolk County. Robbie Marvin’s school record of 20 goals in a season, set in 1994, is also in serious jeopardy of being eclipsed.

The New York State #3 ranked Bears take the field again next Wednesday at home in a big match-up with Babylon.

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League VII Standings

1.	Stony Brook	5-0
2.	Babylon	5-1
3.	Mattituck	4-2
4.	Pierson/Bridgehampton	3-2
4.	Center Moriches	3-2
6.	Southold	3-3
7.	Greenport	1-5
8.	Port Jefferson	0-4
9.	Smithtown Christian	0-5