Elmira District Boys Soccer

Elmira Free Academy jumped out to a 2-0 lead over Union-Endicott and held on to down the Tigers 2-1 in a STAC crossover match-up.

Frankie Mannino opened the scoring for EFA with 15 minutes remaining in the first half as he controlled a fantastic throughball from senior Kevyn Rustici.  Mannino beat the keeper on the dribble before slotting the ball home for his 10th goal of the season to put EFA on top 1-0.

Rustici would add to the scoring 15 minutes into the second half as he would also benefit from a beautiful throughball played by EFA's midfield.  Senior Joey Burin slipped a pass behind the Union-Endicott back line as Rustici ran onto the ball and calmly finished the goal for his 9th tally of the season.  The assisst was Burin's 11th of the year.

The Tigers would make things interesting with about 8 minutes to play as they spoiled Bobby McGinnis' shutout.  The goal was only the second given up by the Academy defense in the past five matches.

EFA moves to 11-1-1 on the season and will face Vestal who is currently ranked #8 in New York State for Class AA.

EFA Scoring - Rustici (1-1), Mannino (1-0), Burin (0-1)

U-E Scoting - Kilmarx (1-0)

Shots/Corners - EFA (8-4), U-E (12-1)

Saves - EFA (McGinnis - 11), U-E (Battaglini - 6) 

October 4, 2007 
Star-Gazette

The Elmira Free Academy boys soccer team clinched its first Southern Tier Athletic Conference West championship with its 6-0 win over Southside on Tuesday, Academy coach Derek Hamilton said Wednesday.

Hamilton initially believed EFA would have to win another game to clinch, but a look at the standings Wednesday made him realize the Blue Devils had wrapped up the title.

"That was our preseason goal. Before we get to sectionals, we definitely wanted to win the STAC West," Hamilton said. "I'm extremely proud and pretty emotional because this team and I have been together for three straight years, both for Soaring Capital (Soccer Club) and Elmira Free Academy, and they're a special group to me."

EFA has an 11-game unbeaten streak since opening the season with a loss to Horseheads. The Blue Devils (10-1-1, 8-1-1 STAC) are ranked seventh in the state in Class A by the New York State Sportswriters Association.

Academy will be one of four teams in the STAC soccer tournament.

Kevyn Rustici headed a perfectly placed ball from Ross Holden into the side net at the far post to give EFA a 1-0 lead 20 minutes into the contest to open the scoring as the Blue Devils cruised to a 6-0 defeat of their crosstown rivals.  EFA would see five different players score in the contest as all 19 players saw significant playing time.

Joe Burin would add the second tally of the game off a corner kick flicked on by Rustici.  Burin stepped in front of a Southside defender and slotted the ball home underneath the outstreched hands of Kyle Murphy.  Frankie Mannino would add to the total 5 minutes later off another Rustici assist to cap EFA's first half scoring at 3-0.

The second half was much of the same story as the Blue Devils continued to play beatiful soccer throughout.  Southside had the misfortune of scoring an own goal off a corner kick taken by Paul Bradley shortly into the second half, while Joe Barbaro would notched EFA's 5th goal a few minutes later as he gathered in a perfect throughball from senior Alan Barton.  Barton would go onto finish the scoring late in the half as sophomore Charlie Anderson's unselfish play provided Barton with the opportunity, which he pounded home emphatically.

 EFA moves to 10-1-1 on the season and is currently ranked #7 in New York State for Class "A".  With four games to play they have clinched a STAC West Title for the first time since the merger of STAC in 1999.

EFA Scoring - Rustici (1-2), Barton (1-1), Burin (1-0), Mannino (1-0), Barbaro (1-0), Holden (0-1),  Anderson (0-1)

Shots/Corners - EFA (17-9), SHS (4-6)

Saves - EFA (McGinnis - 4), SHS (Murphy - 12)

The Elmira Free Academy boys varsity soccer team moved up one spot to #7 in the most recent New York State boys soccer rankings.  Class A in Section IV was is represented well as Owego enters the rankings at #14 after downing Goshen this past weekend 2-0.  Johnson City moves up a few spots to #11, but Maine-Endwell still remains unranked.  M-E has an identical record to Johnson City and Owego, as well as provided Owego with their lone loss. 

WEEK # 2 - Sunday September 30th
2007   "Road to Oneonta"  >  FINAL-4
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CLASS 'A'

  1. Sayville-11  (8-0-0)

  2. Pittsford Sutherland-5  (7-0-1)

  3. Williamsville East-6  (10-1-1)

  4. Albany Academy-2  (9-0-0)

  5. Lakeland-1  (4-1-0)

  6. Jericho-8  (5-0-1)

  7. Elmira Free Academy-4  (9-1-1)

  8. Honeoye Falls Lima-5  (9-1-0)

  9. Mt. Sinai-11  (7-0-1)

10. East Aurora-6  (10-0-1)

11. Johnson City-4  (9-1-0)

12. East Syracuse-Minoa-3  (9-1-0)

13. Byram Hills  (4-1-1)

14. Owego-4  (10-1-0)

15. Goshen-9  (8-1-0)

16. Tappen Zee-1  (6-1-0)

17. Wantagh-8  (3-1-2)

18. Huntington-11  (7-1-1)

19. Great Neck North-8  (5-1-0)

Star-Gazette - 9/26/07

•EFA 7, Binghamton 0: Elmira Free Academy, ranked eighth in Class A by the New York State Sportswriters Association, got two goals each from Ross Holden and Semko Abdullah in its victory over STAC opponent Binghamton.

Kevyn Rustici added a goal and two assists, and Bobby McGinnis made five saves for the Blue Devils (9-1-1, 7-1-1 STAC).

EFA Scoring - Holden (2-0), Abdullah (2-0), Burin (1-0), Rustici (1-2), Hornbuckle (0-2), Cascio (0-1), Mannino (1-0) 

Shots/Corners - EFA (18-8), Binghamton (5-1)

Saves - EFA (McGinnis - 5), Binghamton (Guy - 11)