EFA boys fall in soccer - Star-Gazette • September 8, 2008

James Catillaz put one in the upper corner from 25 yards out for South Glens Falls with five minutes remaining in regulation to break a scoreless tie, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 win over the Elmira Free Academy boys soccer team in the championship game of the Hall of Fame Tournament in Oneonta.

The Bulldogs (4-0) were able to exact revenge on EFA, which beat them in the championship game of last year's tournament.

Brian Poppleton had four saves for the Blue Devils (2-3).

South Glens Falls Scoring - Castillaz (1-0), Hajek (0-1)

Shots/Corners - EFA (6-3), South Glens Falls (5-0)

Saves - EFA (Poppleton - 4), South Glens Falls (Curley - 5)

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From CapitalRegionSoccer.com: 

-South Glens Falls continued their strong start to the '08 season with an impressive showing at Oneonta. South High and Elmira Free Academy battled for 75 scoreless minutes for the championship of the Hall of Fame Cup. Both teams fought hard to gain possession and played much of the game in the middle third. Elmira hit a 15 yard rocket, but South High’s keeper made a fast reaction save. South High created several scoring opportunities threatening the Elmira back 3rd several times and final struck for the game winner when James Catillaz placed a ball over the Elmira keeper after receiving a great set up pass from Jeff Hajek and Jack Bouchard. A great match was played by both sides.

Star-Gazette • September 7, 2008

•EFA 4, Glens Falls 1: Frankie Mannino scored Elmira Free Academy's first three goals, including the game-winner eight minutes into the second half, leading the Blue Devils over Glens Falls at the Hall of Fame High School Cup at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta.

Matt Praino had the other goal for EFA (2-2), which will play South Glens Falls in their division's championship game at 3 p.m. today.

"It's good to get back on the winning track," said EFA coach Derek Hamilton, whose team had lost two straight.

EFA Scoring - Mannino (3-0), Praino (1-0), Holden (0-1), Bradley (0-1)

Glens Falls Scoring - Wadleigh (1-0)

Shots/Corners - EFA (11-3), Glens Falls (6-0)

Saves - EFA (Poppleton - 5), Glens Falls (Spilman - 7)

•Ithaca 5, EFA 2: Elmira Free Academy's Frankie Mannino scored two second-half goals in the Blue Devils' STAC loss to Ithaca.

"It's important to note that we're dealing with a bunch of injuries and we knew this was going to be a tough game going in," EFA coach Derek Hamilton said. "We're going to get better."

EFA Scoring - Mannino (2-0), McGinnis (0-1), Praino (0-1)

Ithaca Scoring - Bouvet-Bosclair (3-0), Miller (2-0), Alderman (0-1), Greene (0-1)

Shots/Corners - Ithaca (12-4), EFA (6-3)

Saves - Kaminsky (4), Poppleton (7)

Star-Gazette • September 3, 2008

•Binghamton 1, EFA 0: Elmira Free Academy outshot Binghamton 12-5 but came out on the losing end of a STAC crossover game.

"We beat Binghamton twice last year, and I think the guys thought we were just going to come out and win without much effort," EFA coach Derek Hamilton said. "We were a little too complacent. But we hit the post three times, and those shot might usually go in, so it was a combination of bad play and bad luck."

Binghamton's Omar Avila scored within the first five minutes of the game.

Binghamton Scoring - Avila (1-0), Romero (0-1)

Shots/Corners - EFA (12-6), Binghamton (5-1)

Saves - EFA (Poppleton - 4), Binghamton (Guy - 12)

"STAC WEST CHAMPS," was the unified chant from the Horseheads boys varsity team after Kyle Rivera knocked home a right-footed shot less than 10 minutes into the season opening STAC West match-up between the EFA boys varsity team and Horseheads; however, it would prove to be premature as Horseheads would have to wipe the egg off their faces after EFA would go onto score FOUR unanswered goals and control the run of play in the final 70 minutes of the match to post an emphatic 4-1 victory.

Senior Frankie Mannino would draw the Devils even after a well-placed free kick was played into the box by Junior Ross Holden.  Holden's pass was brought down by Junior Charlie Anderson and landed at the feet of Mannino who turned his defender and finished a left-footed shot at the near post to make the score 1-1.  Ten minutes later, Horseheads transfer Matt Praino would push the Devils ahead for good as he followed up a bobbled shot by Ross Holden and the Devils would take a 2-1 lead into the half.

The second half saw EFA take control of the contest on both ends of the pitch.  Horseheads saw very few good scoring opportunities in the second half, while EFA would add on two more goals.  Senior centerback Mike McGinnis would be the provider of both assists during the second half and senior Paul Bradley would be the recipient of both efforts.  The first goal saw McGinnis play a ball deep into the box that Horseheads couldn't clear.  The ball fell to the feel of Bradley about 12 yards out and he made the most of his effort.  Paul hammered the ball into the roof off the net to give EFA a 3-1 lead.  Moments later, Bradley headed a free kick from McGinnis into the upper corner of the net to give EFA a 4-1 lead.  Rather than continue to score, EFA played the smart tactical game and locked down the defensive end adding an additional defender.

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EFA boys beat Horseheads

Star-Gazette • August 31, 2008

Paul Bradley scored two goals, and Frankie Mannino and Matt Praino each had a goal as Elmira Free Academy opened play with a 4-1 Southern Tier Athletic Conference West victory over rival Horseheads in boys soccer Saturday.

"I thought for an opening game we looked very good at times and pressed at others," EFA coach Derek Hamilton said.

Kyle Rivera scored for Horseheads.

EFA Scoring - Mannino (1-0), Bradley (2-0), Praino (1-0), McGinnis (0-2), Anderson (0-1), Holden (0-1)

Horseheads Scoring - Rivera (1-0)

Shots/Corners - EFA (8-3), HHDS (8-2)

Goalkeeper Saves - EFA (Poppleton - 6), HHDS (Kirk - 8)