Elmira District Boys Soccer

•Ithaca 2, EFA 1: Kevyn Rustici scored a goal for Elmira Free Academy from just outside the 18-yard marker to give the Devils a 1-0 lead, but EFA fell short against STAC foe Ithaca. Ithaca scored on a penalty kick from Dan Abowd and an unassisted goal by Bjorn Whitmore. "It's always tough to lose close games, especially when a PK determines the outcome," EFA coach Derek Hamilton said. "Our kids played good enough to win."

Elmira Free Academy shutout Elmira Southside 3-0 in a crosstown, STAC West match-up. Joe Barbaro broke the deadlock midway through the first half as he followed up a Mike McGinnis shot that was saved by Roger Staples. Barbaro found himself in an opportune situation as he simply finished up a ball on an empty net to give EFA a 1-0 lead. In the second half, senior Carl Learned took over. Learned used his speed to heavy shot to post two second half goals on assissts from Joey Burin and freshman Ross Holden. EFA outshot Southside 16-6 as Bobby McGinnis earned his 2nd shutout of the season and 4th of his career. EFA improves to 2-2 on the season, while Southside drops to 0-4.

In the opener, Corning continued to struggle finding that extra pass to set up its strikers, failing to even hit the post with any one of its 14 shots on goal against EFA. Down 1-0 entering the second half, the Hawks put together a strong 10-minute stretch which kept EFA keeper Bobby McGinnis on his toes. Corning kept the ball in its own end, stripped EFA defenders, forced a corner kick and had a direct kick from the 31-minute mark of the second through the 26- minute mark, but came up empty. Kevyn Rustici was the lone scorer in that game. Academy coach Derek Hamilton described Rustici's goal as "spectacular." Tyler Sampsell took a 45 -yard direct kick and found Rustici for the header inside the 18-yard box, which found it's way into the sid net at the far post. "We're definitely struggling to put the ball in the back of the net. That's been our weakness," said Corning coach Chad Freelove. "The midfielders control the ball, we do a nice job of that, but we're so young and trying to make too quick of decisions and the touch at times isn't getting to the peoples' feet. We're able to string two or three passes together, but all of the sudden that last pass is the one we're struggling to find." Not everything was so glum for the Hawks, holding EFA to one goal on 21 shots despite playing a grueling schedule of five games in seven days to start the season. "It was nice to see the kids play with a sense of urgency," Freelove said. "Four games in a matter of six days is a lot to ask of the kids." EFA keeper Bobby McGinnis earned his first shutout of the season as he turned away everything Corning hit at him. The Hawks (1-3) were to play Campbell-Savona at 5 p.m. in Saturday's consolation round with the EFA/Bath championship game scheduled to follow.

Joe Barbaro, Joe Burin and Kevyn Rustici each scored a goal for Elmira Free Academy in a STAC loss to Vestal. Vestal jumped out to a 3-0 lead within the first 13 minutes of the contest before Kevyn Rustici would clean up a missed penalty kick late in the first half to cut the deficit to 3-1 going into the half. Vestal's Matt Kristek would add another goal early in the 2nd half to give Vestal a 4-1 advantage, but Joey Burin and Joe Barbaro would tack on two late goals to shrink Vestal's lead to a 4-3 with limited time remaining. "I think our season has taken a turn for the better even with the loss," coach Derek Hamilton said. "We have proven to ourselves that we are able to play with one of the better teams in the state after that debacle against Horseheads. Hopefully, we can continue what we did in the 2nd half for the rest of the season." Joey Burin and freshman Ross Holden each added an assist on the day.

The Horseheads' boys rolled past Elmira Free Academy 11-0 in the season opener for both teams. Steve Wells, Jordan Nolan, and Matt Ahrens each had 2 goals apiece, while Pat Zelko, Alex Kunzinski, Alex Massey, Dan Mosher, and Kyle Wright each added a score as well. The game was held scoreless through 34 minutes until Horseheads' Matt Ahrens broke the deadlock after EFA was unable to clear the ball. Horseheads would go on to score 3 goals in the next 10 minutes to take a 4-0 lead into halftime. In the 2nd half, Horseheads pour it onto a dejected EFA squad and tally a 11-0 victory at home to start the season for the Blue Raiders.