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STAC West Boys Soccer Labeled As "Story to Watch This Fall"!!
Five in the Fall - Stories to watch as high school sports resume
Horseheads dominated boys soccer West division play for the first few years after the Elmira-area schools joined the Southern Tier Athletic Conference in 1999. But last year Elmira Free Academy took the STAC West with a veteran squad.
This season, according to EFA coach Derek Hamilton, all four teams in the STAC West are building from about the same level and they each have several players with history at the Soaring Capital Soccer Club. These are players with high level skills who are raising the bar for all of high school soccer played in the Southern Tier.
"Seven of the 10 seniors that graduated from our team last year are playing in college this fall," Hamilton said. "We've had some young players coming out of the club that are putting our area on the map. But this year, every team has some of those club players and that's going to make the league wide open."
EFA Doesn't Allow a Goal In 3-way Friendly Scrimmages
The Elmira Free Academy boys varsity soccer team held Elmira Notre Dame and Elmira Southside scoreless through 35 minutes of action respectively.
END was the first match-up for the Devils and a veteran Crusader squad showed a young EFA team a possession style game they were not prepared for. Numerous times, Notre Dame moved the ball through the midfield as EFA consistantly didn't provide their pressure defender with any cover. However, for as well as Notre Dame was moving the ball, the Academy defense didn't allow any significant scoring opportunities. About 15 minutes into the match, it was senior Frankie Mannino who finally got EFA on the board as he collected a ball over the top from sophomore left back Nick Lian. Mannino controlled the ball brilliantly and beat Elmira Notre Dame goalkeeper Alex Todd to give the Devils the 1-0 advantage as that is all they would need.
The second match came against crosstown rival Elmira Southside. Southside came out in an attacking formation as two of their more skilled player sat at the top of their standard 4-4-2. EFA demonstrated good defensive balance during the counter attack opportunities of SHS and managed to keep the offensive-minded Hornets off the board. Again, it was Blue Devils' captain Mannino that opened the scoring for EFA as he beat three Southside defenders before banking the ball off the near post and in to give EFA a 1-0 lead. Minutes later, Mannino struck again as he gained a great through pass from junior Charlie Anderson to give the Devils the final score of 2-0.
Elmira Free Academy will open their season on Saturday, August 31st @ Horseheads High School. The game time is 11:00 am.
EFA Downs Troy 4-1 In First Preseason Match
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.
EFA Alum Will Play D-I Soccer at St. Bonaventure
Tyler Sampsell will pursue a personal dream as a member of the NCAA Division I St. Bonaventure University Men's Soccer team. Sampsell will be the 4th EFA player to attend and play at the University following in the talented footsteps of John Bouille, Johnny Phummany, and Darryn Keddell.
Sampsell was captain of the 2006 Elmira Free Academy Boys Soccer team and lead the squad to it's first New York State, Section IV, Class "A" Title in 17 years. Sampsell played a stellar defensive midfield position ; however, he managed to notch three goals during his senior campaign.
Congratulations Tyler!! We wish you the best!!
Elmira District, EFA Boys Varsity Soccer Team (Under Hamilton)
Elmira Free Academy Past Seasons (2005-2010)
2005
-STAC West 3rd Place
Post-Season
Loss to Oneonta (1-2 OT) - New York State, Section IV, Class "A" Quarterfinals
Record: 3-10-3
2006
-STAC West 2nd Place
-New York State Section IV, Class "A" Champions
-#10 in Final New York State Rankings
-#1 Seed in New York State, Section IV, Class "A" Tournament
Post-Season
Win over Maine-Endwell (1-1, 4-3 in pk's) - New York State, Section IV, Class "A" Semi-Finals
Win over Owego (1-0) - New York State, Section IV, Class "A" Finals
Loss to Goshen (0-2) - New York State, Class "A" Regional Quarterfinals
Final Record: 9-7-3
2007
-STAC West Division Champions
-New York State Section IV, Class "A" Finalist
-#19 in Final New York State Rankings
-2007 High School Hall of Fame Cup Champions
-#1 Seed in New York State, Section IV, Class "A" Tournament
Post-Season
Lost to Johnson City (4-3) - STAC Tournament Semi-Finals
Win over Maine-Endwell (5-2) - New York State, Section IV, Class "A" Semi-Finals
Loss to Owego (1-2) - New York State Section IV, Class "A" Finals
Final Record: 12-6-1
2008
-STAC West Division Champions
-Overall STAC Champions
-#1 Seed in New York State, Section IV, Class "A" Tournament
Post-Season
Win over Johnson City (1-1, 5-4 in pk's) - STAC Tournament Semi-Finals
Win over Susquehanna Valley (1-0) - STAC Tournament Finals
Lost to Owego (2-2, 4 OT, 7-6 PK's) - New York State, Section IV, Class "A" Semi-finals
Final Record: 10-7-2
2009
-STAC West 2nd Place
-#1 Seed in New York State, Section IV, Class "A" Tournament
Post-Season
Loss to Johnson City (0-3) - New York State, Section IV, Class "A" Semi-finals
Final Record: 9-7-1
2010
-STAC West 2nd Place
-New York State Section IV, Class "A" Champions
-#16 in Final New York State Rankings
-#1 Seed in New York State, Section IV, Class "A" Tournament
Post-Season
Win over Owego (3-0) - New York State, Section IV, Class "A" Semi-Finals
Win over Johnson City (2-1) - New York State, Section IV, Class "A" Finals
Loss to Byram Hills (0-1) - New York State, Class "A" Regional Quarterfinals
Final Record: 11-7-1
Elmira District Past Seasons (2011 - Present)
2011
-STAC West 4th Place
-#6 Seed in NYS, Section IV, Class AA Tournament
Post Season
Loss to Union-Endicott (3-4) - New York State, Section IV, Class AA Quarterfinals
Final Record: 3-12-1
2012
-STAC West Divison Co-Champions
-#1 Seed in NYS, Section IV, Class AA Tournament (shared)
Post Season
Loss to Ithaca (2-5) - New York State, Section IV, Class AA Semi-Finals
Final Record: 9-6-1
2013
-STAC West 2nd Place
-NYS, Section IV, Class AA Finalists
Post-Season
Win over Horseheads (1-0) OT - New York State, Section IV, Class AA Semi-Finals
Loss to Ithaca (0-5) - New York State, Section IV, Class AA Finals
Final Record: 8-8-1
2014
-STAC West 3rd Place
Post-Season
Loss to Corning (3-4) - New York State, Section IV, Class AA Semi-Finals
Final Record: 7-6-3
2015
-STAC West 4th Place
Post-Season
-Did not qualify
Final Record: 4-8-2
2016
-STAC West 4th Place
Post-Season
-Did not qualify
Final Record: 3-8-3
2017
-STAC West 2nd Place
Post-Season
Win over Corning (5-3) - New York State, Section IV, Class AA Semi-Finals
Loss to Ithaca (0-3) - New York State, Section IV, Class AA Finals
Final Record: 10-5-1
2018
-STAC West Champions
-STAC Finalist
#1 Seed in NYS, Class AA, Section IV Tournament
Post-Season
Win over Oneonta (2-0) - STAC Semi-Final
Loss to Vestal (2-3) - STAC Final
Loss to Horseheads (0-1) OT - New York State, Section IV, Class AA Semi-Finals
Final Record: 10-4-3
