Elmira District Boys Soccer

Staff report • November 15, 2008

Four players from the West division, including two from division champion Elmira Free Academy, have been picked to the Southern Tier Athletic Conference Metro/West all-conference team.

EFA selections were senior defender Mike McGinnis and senior forward Francesco Mannino.

Joining them on the all-conference team are Corning senior forward George Baity and Horseheads senior midfielder Kyle Rivera.

In addition, the STAC West all-division team has been announced. Those picks: EFA sophomore defender Nick Lian, EFA senior defender Paul Bradley, EFA junior midfielder Ross Holden, EFA senior midfielder Matt Praino, Southside sophomore forward Jonny LaDouce, Southside senior defender Sam Carpenter, Horseheads sophomore defender Eric Garrison, Horseheads junior forward Shawn Dominokoski, Horseheads senior forward Eric Burdette, Corning junior midfielder Nick Jakobson, Corning junior forward Jesse Martinez, Corning senior goalie Craig Allen and Corning sophomore midfielder Sam Shirmer.

In addition, several of those players were picked to play for the West/Metro team in the STAC Senior Showcase last Sunday, which was won 3-0 by the East/Central team. EFA coach Derek Hamilton and Southside coach Steve Mastronardi coached the West/Metro team.

STAC West players in the game: McGinnis, Mannino, Bradley, Praino, Burdette, Rivera, Allen and Baity.

Six Elmira Free Academy Blue Devil Boys Soccer players have been named to Southern Tier Athletic post-season teams for the 2008 Varsity soccer season.  Here are the gentlemen and their accomplishments:

STAC All-Conference Team

Francesco Mannino (Senior - Forward) - Frankie was named to the 2007 All-STAC West Division team a year ago and will finish his 2008 season as a member of the STAC All-Conference Team.  Francesco scored 15 goals and tallied 2 assists in 18 games for 32 points as a senior captain on EFA.  His 15 goals were good enough to set a new EFA single-season STAC record in goals scored passing previous leader Kevyn Rustici's (SUNY Fredonia) 13 goals set in 2007.  Mannino also finished with an EFA STAC record of 64 shots on goal also passing Rustici's 55 set in 2007.  Frankie finishes his career at EFA with 27 varsity goals, which places him second in EFA's STAC history behind Rustici's 30.  Francesco was a captain on the EFA Varsity team and was also named to the 2008 STAC Senior Showcase Team.

Mike McGinnis (Senior - Centerback) - Mike was named to the STAC All-Conference Team for the second consecutive season as a member of the EFA Varsity Soccer team.  Mike tallied a goal and 4 assists in his senior campaign for EFA and had a significant hand in 2 shutouts and 12 games in which EFA conceeded only one goal.  Mike was involved with 10 shutouts in his EFA career and was accepted as a 2008 New York State, All-State Selection for the 2008 season.  Mike played all 19 games for EFA  and was also named to the 2008 STAC Senior Showcase Team.

STAC West All-Division Team   

Matt Praino (Senior - Central Midfield) - Matt has been named to the 2008 STAC West All-Division Team in his first season with the EFA program.  Matt was the catalyst of many of EFA's scoring runs through the midfield as he consistantly moved the ball in attacking positions.  Matt finished the season with 3 goals and 4 assists (tied for second on the team in BOTH catergories) while fighting injuries for most of the season.  Matt played all 19 games for EFA and was also named to the 2008 STAC Senior Showcase Team.

Paul Bradley (Senior - Left-Back) - Paul made the successful transition from midfield to left-back after an early season injury altered EFA's gameplans.  After scoring two goals in his first game at Horseheads from the left-midfield position, Paul was moved to left-back and strengthened the Devils' back four.  Paul finished the season with 2 goals and 2 assists in 18 games for EFA and was named to the 2008 STAC Senior Showcase Team.

Ross Holden (Junior - Midfield) - Ross has been named to the 2008 STAC West All-Division Team after his 3rd complete season with the EFA Varsity Program.  Holden finished his junior year with a team high 9 assists and managed to score 3 spectacular goals in his 19 games played.  He played both central and outside midfield for EFA and produced regardless of where he was put on the field.  Ross was named a Junior captian of the EFA Varsity team and still has his Senior season to shine.

Nick Lian (Sophomore - Outside Back) - Nick split time at both outside back and forward this season for EFA.  He managed to score 3 goals, including the game-winner in overtime at Binghamton, and notch one assist on the season.  Only a sophomore, Nick has played two complete varsity seasons at EFA and will be relied upon heavily for the next two seasons. 

-->Congratulations on fantastic seasons/careers at Elmira Free Academy gentlemen!!  You've added to the history of the program!!

Staff report • November 7, 2008

Andrew McIntosh and Brad Ervin, graduates of Horseheads High and Elmira Free Academy, respectively, are among the representatives of St. John Fisher College on the Empire 8 Conference men's soccer all-star team, the conference announced Thursday.

McIntosh, a sophomore back, was named to the second team after getting a goal and an assist this season for the Cardinals. Ervin, a senior back, finished with four goals and one assist en route to receiving honorable mention.

From Elmira College, midfielder Jeremy Brand was an honorable mention, and Dane Bertha made the Sportsman of the Year team.

For the second consecutive season, FOUR Elmira Free Academy Blue Devil senior soccer players have been named to the STAC Senior Showcase roster to be held on Sunday, November 9th, 2008 at Binghamton Alumni Stadium.  The game time is 2:00 pm.

Forward Francesco Mannino, centerback Michael McGinnis, midfielder Matthew Praino, and left-back Paul Bradley will all represent the EFA Soccer Progam in this prestigous match.  The all-stars from the STAC West and Metro Divisions will take on all-stars from the STAC East and Central Divisions for the first time in the history of this match.  Coach Hamilton has also been named as the head coach of the STAC West/Metro squad and chosen Elmira Southside Coach Steve Mastronardi as the assistant.

If you have the time and transportation to attend the match, please make every effort do support your EFA Boys.  Congratulations gentlemen!!

Staff report • October 25, 2008

* Owego 2, EFA 2 (Owego advances on penalty kicks): Owego Free Academy outscored Elmira Free Academy 7-6 in a penalty kick shootout to hand the top-seeded Blue Devils a loss in a Section 4 Class A semifinal game at EFA.

The score was tied 2-2 after 80 minutes of regulation play, two 10-minute overtimes, and two five-minute overtimes.

Richard Franz and Chris DePugh scored the goals for fourth-seeded Owego. Tommy Hornbuckle and Frankie Mannino scored for Southern Tier Athletic Conference champion EFA (10-8-1).

"I don't know what we could have done. We lost three starters in the first half to injury," EFA coach Derek Hamilton said. "But I couldn't be more proud of the 11 guys we had on the field at the end. This group of seniors have left their mark on our program."

EFA Scoring - Mannino (1-0), Hornbuckle (1-0), Holden (0-1)

Owego Scoring - DePugh (1-0), Franz (1-0), Bushen (0-2)

Shots/Corners - EFA (10-7), Owego (10-3)

Saves - EFA (Poppleton - 8), Owego (Spadine - 8)