Saif Khan helps Herricks stun Farmingdale in Nassau Class AAA quarterfinal
Herricks celebrates Marko Kolega's goal during a Nassau Conference AAA boys soccer quarterfinal against host Farmingdale on Wednesday. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Herricks won all of two games last season. These current Highlanders hadn’t even experienced what it was like to play one game under the bright playoff lights heading for 2025.
Yet here they were under the lights Wednesday night at Farmingdale, opening the postseason and showing just how much they had improved.
Saif Khan scored one goal and set up another and Brayden Haase made 10 saves. And sixth-seeded Herricks upset No. 3 Farmingdale, 2-0, in the Nassau AAA boys soccer quarterfinals.
So the Highlanders are 8-4-3. They will face No. 2 Port Washington Saturday night at Farmingdale State.
From 2-12 to the semifinals.
“I mean, it’s incredible,” said Adriana Mendrinos, their sixth-year coach. “I’ve waited a long time for this, but I don’t even care about myself. Especially my seniors, they’ve been here four years and this is their first time making it to the playoffs.
“All we said is, ‘We made it here. We’re not ready to stop just yet.’ ”
They’re two slippery steps away from something the program hasn’t achieved in 20 years — a county title.
Can they do it?
“Absolutely,” Mendrinos said. “I’ve said from Day One, especially in the Triple-A conference, every single game is a winnable game.”
Farmingdale was on a 7-0-5 run and finished at 8-2-5.
“Really, really proud of these guys, extremely great season,” Farmingdale coach Brian Weber said. “We were the only team with one loss for so long. I just feel it the most for the seniors, who just gave their time and heart and soul and bodies out there. It’s tough.”
Herricks scored with 1:06 left in the first half. Aidan Bernic sent a cross to the right side to Khan, who buried it from about 6 yards out. The junior had two goals in 2024. He now owns 14.
“It’s just a mentality,” Khan said. “The whole team, we’re all connected.”
Khan connected with Marko Kolega for an insurance goal with 2:19 left.
The Dalers had their chances, especially in the first half. With about 6:40 left in the half, Haase made a great stop to his right on shot by Christian Graziano that was deflected.
“It’s really all about reflexes when it comes to that,” Haase said.
Mendrinos called the senior goalkeeper “invaluable.”
Haase thinks the Highlanders are going to claim a county crown. But first things first.
“We’re the underdogs,” Haase said. ”We’re focused on whoever we’re playing next.”
