Elmira District Boys Soccer

EFA, Horseheads boys win soccer semifinals Star-Gazette October 28, 2006 The Elmira Free Academy boys soccer team advanced to the Section 4 Class A championship game Friday after beating Maine-Endwell on penalty kicks. "It was probably the most exciting game I've ever been involved in," EFA coach Derek Hamilton said. The game was tied 1-1 after two halves, two 10-minute overtime periods and two more five-minute overtime periods. Academy then won the penalty-kick shootout 3-1, with Tyler Sampsell, Kevyn Rustici and Ryan Bordinger converting in the extra session. EFA goalie Bobby McGinnis made nine saves. Hamilton said his goalie had "two unbelievable saves" during penalty kicks. "He played absolutely phenomenal for us," Hamilton said. "Bobby McGinnis kept us in the game with three or four unbelievable saves." Joe Barbaro scored for EFA in regulation and Bradley Kuzawinski scored for M-E (11-4-1), ranked No. 18 in the state in Class A, with two seconds left. M-E goalie Colin Pierce also had a big game. "We had a few chances in overtime and regulation, including a penalty kick that Colin Pierce made a phenomenal save on," Hamilton said. "The goalie for Maine-Endwell played unbelievably. He almost single-handedly kept them in the game with some unbelievable saves." EFA (8-6-3) will play Owego in the title game next Saturday at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta.