Announcement
Devils Defeat Bath 2-1 in Final Preseason Match
The EFA Boys Varsity Soccer team outlasted the Bath-Haverling Rams 2-1 in a game well played by both teams.
EFA boasted a 9-3 shot advantage and never trailed during the contest, but the persistant Rams refused to go away. 15 minutes into the contest, Bath was whistled for a foul about 25-yards away from goal in the center of the field. Senior Kevyn Rustici patiently waited for the officials to walk off the 10 yards and struck a well placed shot over the wall towards the upper left corner of the goal. The ball violently struck the crossbar and deflected straight down towards the ground. Alert junior centerback Mike McGinnis, who had moved up from his defensive position to help offensively, followed the play up and headed the ball home to give the Devils a 1-0 lead.
20 minutes later, Bath got the break they needed. Senior Lucas Wales tracked a throughball down into the corner of the 18-yard box near the corner flag. Mike McGinnis followed the play and leaned on Wales to prevent a turn. In a controversial call, Wales fell to the ground and the Rams were awarded a penalty kick. Bath converted and tied the game at 1-1.
However, the Devils would strike back less than 10 minutes later on another set piece by Rustici. This time he needed no help. From the top left hand corner of the 18-yard box Rustici bent the free kick around the wall and inside the post on the near side of the goal to give EFA a 2-1 advantage going into the intermission. They would not relinquish that lead for the next 45 minutes.
17 minutes into the second half, senior centerback Mike Chrabazcz won a 50-50 tackle in his own defensive third. Bath was caught with too many men forward and Chrabazcz quickly started transition to Rustici. Kevyn quickly found senior midfielders Joey Burin on a neat ball through the midfield and Burin slipped a pass to the overlapping Joe Barbaro streaking down the left side. Barbaro one-timed the pass on goal and it slipped in under the crossbar. The Devils thought they had grabbed a 3-1 lead; however, Barbaro was whistled for off-sides on a very close play.
EFA finishes their preseason 2-0 and look ahead to their opening day game against STAC West foe the Horseheads Blue Raiders. The game will be played at Elmira Free Academy, Saturday August 25th, at 1:00 pm.
