Announcement
After a sluggish first half, the Elmira Free Academy Blue Devils took control of a physical match to post a 4-1 win in their first preseason match of the 2008-2009 season.
Frankie Mannino opened the scoring for EFA as the Devils put together a fantastic combination through the midfield. After a tackle won in the defensive third by Mike McGinnis, the ball was distributed to Paul Bradley streaking down the left side of the pitch. Bradley gained control of the ball and found Ross Holden in the central midfield standing in space. Within two touches, Holden slotted a perfectly timed throughball to Mannino behind the Troy defense and Mannino beat the goalkeeper to give EFA a 1-0 lead and their first goal of the season. However, Troy would answer by drawing even in the second quarter. EFA was caught with too many numbers forward on a corner kick and the Trojans' launched a counter attack with great pace down the center of the pitch. Goalkeeper Brian Poppleton came off his line quickly in attempt to stop the break away, but the Troy attacker sidestepped the goalkeeper and knocked the ball home from 30-yards out to tie the game at 1-1.
The Devils found their game in the second half as they would go on to score three unanswered goals. Bradley would open the second half scoring on a perfectly placed ball from Holden on a set piece outside the box. Holden whipped in a driven ball that Bradley flicked into the side net at the far post to give EFA back the lead. Matt Praino would add another goal a few minutes later as he composed himself nicely on a loose ball in the box and finished with a calm, cool sidefoot into the back of the net to widen Academy's lead and give himself his first goal as a member of the Blue Devils.
The fourth quarter saw plenty of action as Holden was brought down in the box by a Troy defender. Ross would easily tuck away the penalty kick to give EFA a 4-1 lead, but the attack was not finished. Charlie Anderson found himself unlucky towards the end of the match as his rocket shot hammered the crossbar and rebounded to saftey.
EFA next plays Elmira Notre Dame and Elmira Southside in a three-way scrimmage at Elmira Southside's varsity field on 8/28/08.
