The hype and excitement for this year’s Floral Park boys’ soccer team has been building for several months. With several key players back from last year’s team that fell to the eventual Long Island Class A champion Garden City Trojans, coach Pokojny had high expectations. The return of highly-touted defensemen Bobby Bressmer to the team only increased the excitement. But the enthusiasm was somewhat halted after a disappointed 1-0 defeat to Wantagh to open the season.

Senior Tim Cleere has sure done his best to restore the Floral Park athletic community’s faith in the team’s ability to play deep in the postseason this year.

After scoring all four goals in the Knights’ dominating 4-0 win over Lynbrook, Cleere followed it up with a scintillating free kick against New York State’s 5th-ranked team in Class A, the Lawrence Golden Tornadoes, giving Floral Park an impressive 2-1 victory.

“Through focus and a lot of practice, I was confident I could make that shot,” said Cleere, who was quick to give his teammates all the credit for the outstanding victory. ”

Floral Park was able to hold off Lawrence for the final eight minutes behind the excellent defense and strong play of junior goalie Thomas Freely.

“I was just amazed at how he was able to stay composed during such a crucial part of our most important game,” said Freely about Cleere’s heroics. “I was also very relieved and excited because I knew that we would be able to hold on to the lead.”

Coach Pokojny, who said this is one of the most talented teams he has coached at Floral Park, was extremely happy for his team. But in the ultra competitive Nassau County Class A division, there are many teams that could find themselves being crowned the champs, like the Knights were in 2015.

“This victory has brought us closer together and fueled us for the rest of the season,” said Cleere.

It should be quite a ride.