Elmira District Boys Soccer

•Vestal 1, EFA 0: Vestal's Nate Sanzo scored about five minutes into the second half to defeat EFA. "We had our opportunities in this game," EFA coach Derek Hamilton said. "But good teams punish mistakes, and that's exactly what Vestal did today."

EFA boys hold off Horseheads Star-Gazette September 22, 2006 Less than a month ago, the Elmira Free Academy boys soccer team lost 11-0 to Horseheads. On Thursday, the Blue Devils gained a measure of redemption. Make that two measures of redemption. The Blue Devils raced to a 3-0 lead then held off a Horseheads comeback bid in a 4-2 victory over the Southern Tier Athletic Conference West leaders. "It's absolutely huge," EFA coach Derek Hamilton said. "I couldn't tell you the last time Elmira Free Academy beat Horseheads, especially in a year where Horseheads is probably going to be the best team we see all season." Academy (5-3-1, 4-3-1) took a 1-0 lead on Tyler Sampsell's penalty-kick goal. The lead became 2-0 later in the half when Kevyn Rustici scored off a header that followed Shane Scott's flip throw-in. The Blue Devils extended their lead to 3-0 when Mike McGinnis scored off the rebound of a Matt Morrisey shot that hit the post. But that safe three-goal lead with 15 minutes to play became a precarious one-goal edge after Steve Welles scored two goals within a five-minute span for the Blue Raiders (7-2-1, 6-1-1). "I was extremely worried," Hamilton said. "Once a comeback starts, it usually doesn't stop." Hamilton said the Horseheads players showed great character in coming back. He said his kids did the same, holding off the Blue Raiders despite playing the final several minutes down a player because of a red card. Rustici finally cemented the win with his second goal, with only 6.2 seconds left. "We showed a ton of heart today," Hamilton said. "Even when things weren't going our way, we kind of made things happen for ourselves." The EFA players got an added boost from a loud home crowd. "Our crowd was like a 12th man today," Hamilton said. "They were absolutely fantastic."

Binghamton 0, Elmira Free Academy 0: Colin Harder made 15 saves for Binghamton (1-5-1) as the host Patriots played to a scoreless tie with EFA (4-3) despite a 22-5 shot advantage for EFA. With 15 minutes remaining in the match, Harder stopped a shot from EFA's Joey Burin inside the 10 off a scramble to preserve the tie. "It's always tough to tie when you feel like your team has played well-enough to win," stated Hamilton. "It seems as if the net was in front of the goal rather than behind it."

Elmira Free Academy's Carl Learned broke away from the last defender about 40 yards out and netted his shot from just inside the 18 with 39 seconds left to give the Blue Devils a 2-1 win over Union-Endicott on Thursday in a Southern Tier Athletic Conference boys soccer game. "It was incredible," stated coach Hamilton. "I knew that Carl was fast and I saw him break aways, but to score with 39 second remaining is unbelieveable." Kevyn Rustici scored the first goal of the game about 15 minutes into the contest when he headed in a flip-throw by Shane Scott. EFA had numerous chances in the opening half, but only managed to convert one opportunity. U-E tied the game early in the 2nd half on a questionable penalty kick that was converted by Kyle Hoffman. EFA improves to 5-3 on the season.

Bobby McGinnis earned his 3rd shutout of the season as he turned away 12 shots to give the Elmira Free Academy Blue Devils a win over Susquehanna Valley who is currently ranked #7 in the state in Class B. Kevyn Rustici opened the scoring for the Devils about 12 minutes into the game as he finished off a cross from Carl Learned. 10 minutes later, Joe Burin and Tyler Sampsell combined in the midfield on some beautiful passing to spring Burin into the open. Burin finished the play to make the score 2-0 before the weather set in an a 45-minute lightning delay ensued. "I was happy with the way we were playing," stated coach Derek Hamilton. "I was afraid that the delay might swing our momentum." Hamilton was thankfully wrong as the Devils would score two more goals in the second half. Michael Antis finished off an flip-throw from Shane Scott, and Rustici would add his second goal of the match on a second assist from Learned. EFA improves to 3-3 on the season, but 3-1 in their last 4 games.