Announcement
Blue Devils down Johnson City in shootout
The Elmira Free Academy boys soccer team earned a trip to its first Southern Tier Athletic Conference championship game Saturday afternoon with a shootout victory at Johnson City.
The game was tied 1-1 after two 40-minute halves, two 10-minute overtime periods, and two more five-minute overtime periods. EFA (9-7-1) then won the penalty-kick shootout 5-3, with Charlie Anderson booting in the clinching goal.
The Blue Devils will host Susquehanna Valley on Monday afternoon in the STAC finals, with 3:30 p.m. the likely starting time. Susquehanna Valley beat Vestal 1-0 on Friday in the other semifinal.
Johnson City came into Saturday's game with a 15-1 record and ranked third in the state in Class A by the New York State Sportswriters Association.
The game was scoreless until Frankie Mannino scored for EFA with eight minutes left in regulation. Johnson City's Brad Mizera sent the game to overtime with a goal with two minutes left.
"I'm extremely proud of my team and the way they fought back, with Johnson City tying the game late," EFA coach Derek Hamilton said. "They deserve everything they're getting this season, putting themselves in the STAC finals for the first time in EFA history."
Hamilton said both teams had chances to score in overtime but couldn't convert.
EFA goalie Brian Poppleton made 13 saves. Johnson City had a 16-11 edge in shots.
"It was a very good game between two very good programs," Hamilton said.
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JC loses STAC semi in shootout
JOHNSON CITY -- Elmira Free Academy defeated Johnson City in a shootout Saturday to advance to its first Southern Tier Athletic Conference championship.
The Blue Devils (9-7-1) will host Susquehanna Valley (13-4-1) at 3:30 p.m. Monday. The Sabers defeated Vestal, 1-0, in sudden-death overtime Friday.
EFA and JC battled to a 1-1 tie 110 minutes of playing time. But EFA won the shootout 5-3 with Charlie Anderson booting the clinching goal.
JC's Brad Mizera sent the match to overtime when he scored with 2:02 remaining in the second half for the Wildcats (15-2).
"I don't think we played our game today," Johnson City coach Hristos Dimitriou said. "The ball just didn't bounce our way."
In the five-man shootout, the first miss came when JC kicked the ball over the crossbar on its third attempt.
After both teams converted on its fourth try, Anderson scored to seal it.
EFA Scoring - Mannino (1-0), Holden (0-1)
Johnson City Scoring - Mizera (1-0)
Shots/Corners - EFA (11-9), Johnson City (16-8)
Saves - EFA (Poppleton - 13), Johnson City (10)
