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.