The Elmira Free Academy Boys Varsity Soccer Team entered the initial state rankings at the #8 position.  The Blue Devils finished the 2006 season ranked #10 in the state, but were ranked as high as #9 going into the state tournament.  The Blue Devils are currently 9-1-1 including 7-1-1 in STAC.

CLASS A

1. Pittsford Sutherland-5 (6-0-1)
2. Sayville-11 (6-0-0)
3. Lakeland-1 (4-0-0)
4. Williamsville East-6 (7-1-1)
5. Goshen-9 (6-0-0)
6. Jericho-8 (3-0-0)
7. Albany Academy-2 (6-0-0)
8. Elmira Free Academy-4 (8-1-1)
9. John Glenn-11 (5-0-0)
10. Honeoye Falls Lima-5 (7-1-0)
11. Iroquois Central-6 (5-0-2)
12. Wantagh-8 (2-1-1)
13. Byram Hills (3-0-1)
14. Johnson City-4 (7-1-0)
15. Harrison-1 (4-0-0)
16. Aquinas Institute-5 (6-1-1)
17. Huntington-11 (5-0-0)
18. Great Neck North-8 (3-1-0)
19. Eastchester-1 (3-0-1)
20. East Syracuse-Minoa-3 (6-0-0)

September 21, 2007
By Joe Mink
jmink@stargazette.com
Star-Gazette

HORSEHEADS -- Elmira Free Academy solidified its hold on first place in the Southern Tier Athletic Conference West boys soccer standings by avenging its only loss of the season.

Frankie Mannino twice booted the ball away from Horseheads goalie Brian Kawzenuk to score a pair of second-half goals that lifted the Blue Devils past the Blue Raiders 3-1 on Wednesday afternoon.

"They were on his fingertips," Mannino explained.

Horseheads (2-3-5, 2-2-4) handed EFA (8-1-1, 6-1-1) its only defeat of the season with a 3-2 victory Aug. 25. Even though EFA opened the scoring Wednesday, Horseheads appeared to have the upper hand controlling the ball in the early going.

"In the first half, Horseheads outhustled us," EFA coach Derek Hamilton said.

The Blue Devils got on the board less than five minutes into the game when Kevyn Rustici broke down the left side and beat Kawzenuk with a shot to the upper right of the net.

EFA goalie Bobby McGinnis helped maintain the lead by turning away several Horseheads attempts, but the Blue Raiders broke through with a little more than 30 minutes to go in the first half.

Tyler Nolan sent a crossing pass through traffic on the right side and found Mike Wallin charging in to the left of the net. Wallin, who had a goal and an assist in that Aug. 25 victory, slipped the ball past McGinnis to knot things up.

"We're finally looking confident on the field," Horseheads coach Curt Grottenthaler said, singling out defenseman Chad Hunter for praise.

The Blue Raiders kept up the pressure to start the second half, but it was EFA that broke the tie when Mannino appeared to knock the ball right out of Kawzenuk's hands before he dribbled left and sent the ball into the open net with 40:12 to go.

Unlike the first half, which offered few threats on goal, each team had several opportunities to score in the second half, with kicks and headers either going wide or over the goal.

"We haven't been able to put in as many goals (as in past seasons)," Grottenthaler said, adding the Blue Raiders had just 15 players in uniform. "In the end, EFA had more in the tank. The big difference was their ability to finish."

And Mannino did that at the 10:21 mark, scoring in much the same fashion as his first goal. He again took the ball from Kawzenuk on the right side and then scored to the low, left side of the net.

"We didn't get back in the game until the second half. Horseheads never gave up," Mannino said.

The Blue Devils held on in a game that was physical throughout, so much so that Grottenthaler complained to the officials a number of times about a lack of whistles.

"It was not a pretty game. A couple of hustle goals turned the momentum, and we won the battle at midfield" Hamilton said.

___________________________________________________________________

EFA comes through in the clutch to win rivalry game in Horseheads
Published: Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:01 PM CDT

The Leader staff

HORSEHEADS | The shots on goal were even, the corner kick totals were nearly identical and so were the number of quality scoring chances.

The difference: Elmira Free Academy finished when the game was on the line.

Francesco Mannino netted each of his two goals in the second half Thursday to lift Elmira Free Academy to a 3-1 win over Horse-heads.

With the score knotted at 1 at halftime, Mannino emerged as the hero, tallying a pair of unassisted goals.

In fact, each of the contest's four goals were unassisted.

Kevyn Rustici's goal gave the Blue Devils the early advantage. Mike Wallin scored to tie the game later in the first half with Horseheads' lone goal.

“It was a very close game,” Horseheads coach Curt Grottenthaler said. “It was actually the best game we've played this year. The difference was EFA capitalized on finishing, putting the ball in the back of the net. That really was the difference in the game.”

EFA's Bobby McGinnis finished with 21 saves, while Brian Kawzenuk made 19 stops for the Blue Raiders.

“It was a well-played game, it was up and down and I thought both teams had their chances, but the difference was, they had two players who played very well up front as strikers and they were able to put the ball in the back of the net and we weren't,” Grottenthaler said. “But I was pleased with the play. It's a young team getting better.”

EFA improved to 8-1-1 overall and 6-1-1 in the STAC. Horseheads (2-3-5, 2-2-4) will play at Vestal at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

September 18, 2007
Star-Gazette

Mike Antis scored on an assist from center midfielder Joe Burin 37 seconds into the game, and that would be all the offense the Elmira Free Academy boys soccer team needed Monday to beat Union-Endicott 3-0 in a Southern Tier Athletic Conference crossover matchup.

Burin, however, scored and had another assist, and Kevyn Rustici had a goal and an assist. The shutout was goalie Bobby McGinnis' sixth of the season for the Blue Devils (7-1-1), who have allowed only five goals in the last eight games.

EFA dedicated the game to one of the school's teachers, Alice Kane, who died of cancer on Sunday.

"The boys all wore T-shirts under their uniforms that honored Alice. They wanted to show everyone who knew her, how much they cared," EFA coach Derek Hamilton said. "She was one of their favorite teachers."

EFA Scoring - Burin (1-2), Rustici (1-1), Antis (1-0)

Shots/Corners - EFA (15-7), Union-Endicott (9-0)

Saves - EFA (B. McGinnis - 9), Union-Endicott (Battaglini - 12) 

September 15, 2007
Star-Gazette

Mike Chrabaszcz, a senior defender, scored a goal for the third game in a row Friday as the Elmira Free Academy boys soccer team beat Corning 1-0 to move alone into first place in the Southern Tier Athletic Conference West.

Chrabaszcz scored with about 15 minutes remaining in the first half when he buried a shot into the upper right corner of the net. Joey Burin had the assist.

Bobby McGinnis made 10 saves and earned his fifth shutout of the season.

"We got the goal that mattered and our defense did a phenomenal job of counteracting their speed up front," EFA coach Derek Hamilton said.

EFA leads Horseheads by two points in the race for the STAC West title.

EFA Scoring - Chrabaszcz (1-0), Burin (0-1)

Shots/Corners - EFA (10-8), Corning (10-3)

Saves - EFA (McGinnis - 10), Corning (Allen - 9)

Professional Education:

-Corning Community College (1996-1998)

-Oswego State University (1998-2000)

-Elmira College (2002-2003)  

                        -Bachelor of Arts (English Literature)

                        -Master of Science (General Education)

Coaching Experience:
-Elmira Free Academy JV Head Coach (2001-2005)
-Soaring Capital Hurricanes/Cyclones Head Coach: U-14, U-15, U-16 (2003-2006)
-Soaring Capital Revolution Premier Head Coach: U-16, U-17 (2006-2008)

-Soaring Capital Fury Premier Head Coach: U-17 (2008-2009)

-Soaring Capital Venom Head Coach: U-19 (2010)

-Soaring Capital Cyclones Head Coach: U-9 (2011)
-Soaring Capital Staff Development Volunteer: U-3/4, U-5/6 (2011)

-Soaring Captial Cobras Head Coach: U-10 (2015-present) 

-Elmira Free Academy Boys Varsity Head Coach (2005-2010)  

-Camp Director of Town of Elmira Soccer Camp (2009-present) 

-Camp Director of Elmira Free Academy Soccer Camp (2009-2010)

-Camp Director of Elmira Express Soccer Camp (2011-present)

-Camp Director of Elmira Express Junior Soccer Camp (2015-present) 

-Elmira District Varsity Head Coach (2011-present) 

-Chemung Valley Soccer Association Coach: (2013-2018) 

-Soaring Capital Head Coach: U8-U11 (2015-present) 

Playing Experience:
-Soaring Capital Soccer Club (1984-1997)
-Elmira Free Academy Varsity Soccer (1993-1996) - 1996 All-Conference, All-Region selection
-Olympic Development Program (1994-1995)
-Corning Community College (1996-1998) - All-Region selection 1997, 1998
-Oswego State University (1998-2000)

-Southern Tier Adult Soccer League (1994-2017) 

Coaching Education:
-USSF National “E” and “D” License
-NSCAA National Diploma & NSCAA Advanced National Diploma
-NSCAA State, Regional, and National Goalkeeping Diploma
-USSF Level 8 Referee License

Coaching Accomplishments/Honors

-Elmira Free Academy/Elmira District-
-2006 Section IV, Class "A" Champions

-2006 Elmira Kiwanis Male Team Coach of the Year
-2007 High School Hall of Fame Cup Champions (Oneonta, NY)
-2007 STAC West Division Champions

-2007 New York State, Section IV, Class "A" Finalists

-2008 STAC West Division Champions 
-2008 Overall STAC Conference Champions

-2008 STAC Senior Showcase Coach (STAC West/Metro)  

-2010 Section IV, Class "A" Champions

-2012 STAC West Division Co-Champions 

-2013 New York State, Section IV, Class AA Finalists

-2016 Jack Frost Cup Indoor Champions (U-19) 

-2017 New York State, Section IV, Class AA Finalists  

-2018 STAC West Division Champions 

-2018 STAC Finalist 

-Soaring Capital Soccer Club-
-2004 New York West State Cup Finalist (U-15 SCSC Hurricanes)
-2007 Liverpool St. Valentine's Day Massacare Champions (U-16 SCSC Revolution)

-2007 Upstate Travel League Champions (U-16 SCSC Revolution)
-2008 New York West State Cup Finalist (U-17 SCSC Revolution)