On November 4, 1940, FDR was elected to an unprecedented third term as president. Seventy-five years later, the Floral Park boys’ soccer team made history itself, earning the school’s first soccer championship in school history.

Standing in the way of FDR was a 150-year, two-term precedent established by George Washington. Standing in the path of Floral Park was three-time New York State Champion Jericho High School.

Who had the more daunting task can be debated at another time and place. But what cannot be disputed after Floral Park’s 3-2 victory earned the Knights the Nassau County Class A Championship is that this is one special team.

Behind three goals by Jonathan Ferone, unselfish play, stellar defense, excellent goaltending by Michael Baldini and exceptional coaching, the Knights left Jericho frustrated and sent the ten-time county champions home one game earlier than they expected.

“It’s so surreal, I can’t describe it,” said Ferone, who thinks his last hat trick was probably in a third-grade Floral Park Indians game. “Our hard work and heart were the difference.”

Few in attendance would argue with Ferone as the Knights jumped on Jericho with a goal in the opening minutes, and built a seemingly insurmountable three-goal lead midway through the second half.

Jericho responded, however, with two quick goals to narrow the deficit to 3-2. That is when the play of Baldini and Floral Park’s stout defense lifted the team into the record books.

“Defense wins championships, and our defense came up big tonight,” said Baldini, who came up clutch himself on more than one occasion.

The Knights will now head to the Long Island Championship game on Sunday to face the winner of Harborfields and Amityville. The game will be at 3:00 pm at SUNY Farmingdale. And if you think the Knights’ run might be nearing an end, remember that FDR did also win a fourth term.