By Dylan Butler
The Archbishop Molloy soccer team won its third straight Brooklyn/Queens title Tuesday afternoon, easily defeating Xaverian 5-0 at Alley Pond Park.
But for the Stanners (10-2-3, 5-0) there was no lengthy post-game celebration, no Gatorade shower for coach Andy Kostel.
Maybe it was because players like senior captains Rob Sardis, Patrick Boyle and Nick Katsanos have been through this before and they know the it’s just the first step for the defending Catholic state champions.
“We’re all focused on what we have to do. The last two years we went to the city finals,” said Sardis, who scored the Stanners fourth goal. “We have to get to the playoffs and take one game at a time.”
The significance of the win, though, was not lost on the mild-mannered Kostel, who has yet to play a game this year with a completely healthy squad. He missed starters Gabe Ortega and Vinny Favara as well as Anthony DeMaria against Xaverian (2-5-2, 0-3-1) which also was without without four starters who didn’t show up, including starting keeper Charlie Carollo.
“They have to realize the accomplishment this year is very strong, it’s not easy,” said Kostel, who earned his eighth division title. “We had to work very hard and we had to work as a team.”
St. Francis Prep 1, Holy Cross 0. Chris Herrera scored the game-winner for St. Francis Prep (7-3-4, 5-2-1) on a penalty kick in the first overtime after Chris Belac was taken down in the box. Nick Caputi made 13 saves and, “played the game of his life,” according to St. Francis Prep coach Franco Purificato in the Terriers’ first win over Holy Cross in at least five years.
Archbishop Molloy 5, Xaverian 0. The Stanners were led by two goals from Sardis and one apiece from Patrick Boyle, Antonio Trillo and Kevin Doyle. Michael Testa and Kevin Sullivan teamed up for the shutout.
Christ the King 2, Monsignor McClancy 1. Tonna Egbuchunam and Kayode Sodeinde both scored for the Royals in this one-point win over the Crusaders this past week. Lukas Sacilowski made seven saves for the win.
Christ the King 4, Cathedral Prep 0. Michael Alessi scored the first goal and Egbuchunam tallied a second-half hat trick to lead the Royals. Sacilowski got the shutout in net.
