Elmira District Boys Soccer

Seniors Bobby McGinnis, Joey Burin, Kevyn Rustici, and Mike Chrabaszcz along with Juniors Mike McGinnis and Frankie Mannino have been named to STAC post-season teams as voted upon by STAC West and STAC Metro coaches.

STAC All-Division Team

Frankie Mannino (forward) - Frankie was named to the STAC All-Division Team in his first full season with the Blue Devils as a Junior.  Frankie finished second on the team in goals with 12 as he consistantly found ways to score in major matches.  Mannino scored 3 of the 5 goals against Horseheads this season, as well as the lone goal against Owego in the Section IV, Class "A" Final.  Frankie will return for his senior season and will be relied upon heavily for goals.

Mike Chrabaszcz (defender) - Mike was also named to the STAC All-Division team for the second time in as many years.  Mike is a three-year starting defender for EFA and played a significant role in the 8 shutouts the defense earned this season.  Mike also tallied 3 goals with 2 of them proving to be game winning efforts.  Mike was also named to the STAC Senior Showcase Roster.

Joey Burin (midfield) - Joey was named to his first post-season roster as a STAC All-Division selection; however, he deserved much more as his statistics were much better than some of the All-Conference selections while playing the same schedule.  Joey finished third on the team with 10 goals and first on the team with 15 assists as he was often the catalyst of the Blue Devils' offense.  Burin had a hand in 25 of EFA's 55 goals this season.  Joey was also named to the STAC Senior Showcase Roster.

STAC All-Conference Team

Mike McGinnis (defender) - Mike successfully made the transition from forward to centerback as he was named to the STAC All-Conference team as a Junior.  Mike is virtually unbeatable in the air and rarely loses a tackle as he helped his brother post 8 shutouts on the season.  Mike will return for his senior season in 2008 and will be the anchor in the Blue Devils' defense.

Kevyn Rustici (forward) - Kevyn was also named to his first post-season team as he was voted onto the STAC All-Conference Team.  Kevyn finished the season with a team-high 13 goals and was second with 12 assists.  Like Burin, Rustici played a role in 25 of the 55 EFA goals this season as he saw time at both midfield and forward.  Kevyn was also named to the STAC Senior Showcase Roster and recorded an assist in that contest.

Bobby McGinnis (goalkeeper) - After being named to the STAC All-Division team a year ago, Bobby was voted to the STAC All-Conference team this season.  Bobby recorded 8 of his 16 career shutouts for EFA during his senior season.  McGinnis turned away fantastic scoring opportunities for the opposition on a regular basis including saving 3 of the 4 penalty shots he faced.  He was named the starting goalkeeper for the STAC Senior Showcase and is an candidate for an all-state selection.

SOUTHERN TIER ATHLETIC CONF. CENTRAL/WEST 6, EAST/METRO 4 Senior Showcase at Union-Endicott

Central/West 1 5 -- 6 East/Metro 2 2 -- 4

STAC West players combined for THREE goals and FOUR assists on SIX STAC Central/West goals as the combined team cruised to a 6-4 win over the opposite half of the Southern Tier Athletic Conference.  Elmira Free Academy was well represented as they placed four players in the contest.

Kevyn Rustici (EFA) assisted a Chris Davis (Corning) goal to give STAC Central/West the lead in the second half.  Bobby McGinnis (EFA) recorded two saves on the day as he started in goal for the STAC Central/West side.  Joey Burin (EFA) did a nice job of controlling the midfield and creating numerous offensive opportunities for his team and Mike Chrabaszcz played a solid defensive game in the back. 

C/W goals-assists: Mike Wallin (Horseheads) 1-0, Joel Collins (JC) 2-0, Aaron Gallusser (Oneonta) 1-2, A.J. Johnson (Corning) 1-2, Chris Davis (Corning) 1-0, Kevin Rustici (Elmira FA) 0-1, Mike Frame (Elmira SS) 0-1.

E/M g-a: Tim Sagasti (U-E) 2-0, Kyle Krause (Windsor) 1-0, Sivan Johnson (Binghamton) 1-0, Andy Shell (CF) 0-2.

Goalie saves: C/W--Bobby McGinnis (Elmira FA) 2, Brian Kawzenuk (Horseheads) 3; E/M--Dustin Sturdevant (CF) 14.

Shots-corners: C/W 21-4; E/M 10-5.

November 4, 2007
By Joe Mink
jmink@stargazette.com
Star-Gazette

ONEONTA -- Maybe they can have their rubber match next year.

Elmira Free Academy hoped to repeat last season's triumph against Owego Free Academy in the Section 4 Class A boys soccer championship game, but on Saturday the Blue Devils came out on the short end, losing 2-1 to the Indians at the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Nicholas Gregg scored both goals for Owego (16-3), one early in the game and the other late in a rough and occasionally contentious match.

"It could have gone the other way," Owego coach Jason Luke said. "We got a lucky break."

At one point, an official went up to EFA coach Derek Hamilton to warn about "constant fouling" from both sides. He later warned the players and coaches about excessive complaining, and Owego players shouted from their bench about EFA players taking dives to draw penalties. After the post-game handshake some participants engaged in a little pushing and shoving.

Hamilton's primary concern turned out to be the game clock. Despite the schools being little more than a half-hour drive from each other, Section 4 had them and the other schools playing their title games at the Soccer Hall, more than an hour and a half drive from Elmira.

Even with that, there was no official scorer at the game, nor was there anyone to handle the scoreboard and time clock. One of the officials noted that at a Section 3 game there was a row of scorers and someone to man the scoreboard and time clock.

As a result, the officials had to keep time, and Hamilton said they were off in their calculations.

"I always keep (my watch for timing) on my wrist," Hamilton explained

He said he was told at one point there was 17 minutes and 40 seconds left in regulation, with the score tied 1-1. Shortly after Gregg scored the go-ahead goal on a rush to the net, Hamilton said he was told there was a minute remaining.

"After the goal, my watch showed there were seven minutes left," he said.

In last year's Class A sectional title game, Kevyn Rustici scored the lone goal in EFA's 1-0 victory. He figured in EFA's goal Saturday, making a pinpoint pass from the right corner that found teammate Frankie Mannino in a crowd around the Owego net. Mannino beat goalie Tyler Spadine in close as EFA tied it up at 1-1 in the second half.

"I was asked to play a quick ball. I saw Frankie call for it. (He's) someone you can rely on," Rustici said.

EFA (12-6-1) had 11 seniors in the game, and Hamilton said he thought the emotional outcome may have played into the post-game tussle.

"This was the end of their careers," he explained. "We had two teams playing for their seasons. I expected it to be physical, and neither team was more physical than the other."

For Rustici, the game and the season weren't total losses.

"It's sad to see the season end," he said. "But I've never been with a closer-knit group of guys than these."

The EFA Boys Varsity Soccer team has finished ranked #19 in the state for the 2007 season.  The final ranking is EFA's second straight honor as they finished #10 in the state in 2006 to go along with their Section IV, Class "A" Championship.  EFA never left the top 20 rankings in the state as they entered the poll at #8, peaked at #5, and finished at #19.

GREAT season boys!!  You have managed to help re-create a notoriously great program!! 

WEEK #9  - Sunday November 18th
2007   "Road to Oneonta"  >  FINAL POLL 
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CLASS 'A'
 1. Byram Hills-1  (23-1-1) 
 2. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake-2  (19-5-1)
 3. Sayville-11  (18-1-1) 
 4. Iroquois-6 (17-2-2)
 5. Great Neck North-8  (15-2-0)
 6. Pittsford Sutherland-5  (16-3-1)
 7. Owego Free Academy-4  (17-4-0)
 8. Albany Academy-2  (17-1-0) 
 9. East Syracuse-Minoa-3  (18-4-0)
10. Williamsville East-6  (17-2-2) 
11. Jericho-8  (12-1-6) 
12. East Aurora-6  (18-1-2)
13. John Glenn-11  (14-3-2) 
14. Rochester Aquinas-5  (14-5-2)
15. Honeoye Falls Lima-5  (16-3-1)
16. Cornwall-9  (12-10-0)
17. Malone-10  (10-6-3)
18. Johnson City-4  (15-3-0)
19. Elmira Free Academy-4  (13-5-1)
20. Goshen-9  (16-4-0)

Top-Seeded Blue Devils Face Owego This Afternoon in Oneonta.
November 3, 2007
By Andrew Zivic
sports@stargazette.com
Star-Gazette

If you go:

•What: Section 4 Class A boys soccer championship game

•Who: Elmira Free Academy (12-5-1) vs. Owego Free Academy (15-3)

•When: 2 p.m. today

•Where: National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta

•Admission: $6 (free for those under 10 and 65 and over).

Elmira Free Academy and Owego Free Academy meet for the second straight year in the Section 4 Class A boys soccer championship game, which is set for a 2 p.m. start today at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta.

EFA won last year's meeting 1-0 during an unexpected run to the state tournament. The Blue Devils, ranked 12th in Class A by the New York State Sportwriters Association, entered this year's sectionals with much higher expectations as the No. 1 seed. Coach Derek Hamilton knows that tempering those expectations is a key for his team to continue its season.

"Last year we were so happy to be where we were at. We took it one game at a time," Hamilton said. "This year, we're doing everything we can to not look ahead."

Hamilton said his team can't look past Owego, which is 15-3 and has been in six of the last seven sectional finals. The Indians beat Johnson City, the state's 10th-ranked Class A team, in the semifinals.

On defense, the Blue Devils (12-5-1) must focus on Mike Spadine and Nick Gregg, the top offensive players for Owego. Spadine has 21 goals and nine assists; Gregg is second on the team with 15 goals.

Owego's coach, Jason Luke, said his team has to finish if it hopes to dethrone Academy.

"Last year we had some chances and weren't able to finish and that obviously hurt us," Luke said.

While the teams each have dangerous scorers, they play similar styles of possession soccer. The Blue Devils try to possess it in the midfield with senior Joey Burin and junior defenseman Michael McGinnis.

"We're planning on trying to take over the central midfield and hopefully force them into mistakes," Hamilton said.

For Owego, playing EFA this year gives the Indians a chance to beat the team that ousted them from the playoffs last year.

"It's definitely extra motivation," Luke said. "It's nice to be able to play them again, and hopefully this time we're victorious."

The winner moves onto the state playoffs and the loser is done. A loss for EFA would be the last game for its 11 seniors.

"You always want to advance as far as possible because they (seniors) put the time in for the last four years," Hamilton said. "You have to focus on the game at hand, or you are likely to get beat."