Announcement
EFA Boys Soccer Listed As One of "Five Stories To Follow This Fall" by Star-Gazette
August 26, 2007
By Al Losey
alosey@stargazette.com
Star-Gazette
STAC West strong in boys soccer
Last year, the Elmira Free Academy boys soccer team beat Owego Free Academy 1-0 to win the Section 4 Class A championship, its first sectional title in 17 years. The Blue Devils eventually lost in the state quarterfinals, 2-0 to Goshen.
Things look just as bright for the Devils this season, but nine-time defending STAC West champion Horseheads looms as the first barrier to EFA's immediate goal.
"We've got our sights set on the STAC West title," EFA coach Derek Hamilton said. "Of course, Horseheads is tough, but our team has been three years in the making. Teams like ours don't come along that often."
After a 2006 record of 9-7-3 and a final state ranking of No. 10, EFA returns 11 core players, including goalkeeper Bobby McGinnis, midfielder Joey Burin, forward Kevyn Rustici and defender Mike Chrabazcz.
"We lost just three starters from last year," Hamilton said. "So, we've got a lot of starters back. That's why this team is so rare. And it's like an 18-person family. They're all friends."
Horseheads was the STAC West and STAC overall titles and finished second in the section in Class AA and No. 15 in the final state rankings. But a big concern is that the team lost 14 seniors to graduation.
