June 3, 2009-For 67 minutes, it looked like deja vu all over again. The Long Island Academy was dominating play against the New York Athletic Club, just as they were last year, but could not score. In a 2008 home match, the Academy had to settle for a 0-0 stalemate against NYAC.

But tonight's game changed dramatically in the 68th minute at Adelphi University's Competition Field when Shaun Higgins scored from 10 yards of a long pass by Michael Aquino. Tom Lobben then scored past NYAC goalkeeper Sean Stevenson in the 71st minute from a cross by Julian Escobar. In the 83rd minute, Chris Giuffrida closed the scoring in front of the wet Academy fans on a 10-yard shot off a neat short pass from Kevin Davies for the 3-0 Academy victory.

Academy keeper Hernando Santamaria made two saves to earn the shutout while NYAC's Sean Stevenson made four saves.

Long Island had a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks.

"I never thought that we were in any danger," commented Academy head coach Adrian Gaitan. "Midway through the first half, we started getting behind their defense and turning them around. Their goalie made some wonderful saves."

"But I knew that the goals would come," Coach Gaitan concluded.

The Academy improved to 2-0-0 in National Premier Soccer League play while NYAC dropped to 0-1-0.

The Academy return to action next Thursday night, June 11 at 8 pm vs. the Maine Sting at Adelphi. Their sister team, the Long Island Fury, play the first game of the doubleheader with a 6 pm clash that night vs. the Philadelphia Liberty.

Next up for the Fury is a game this Saturday night, June 6, 6 pm, at the Philadelphia Liberty.