SFP falls short in another title game

When the playoffs began, St. Francis Prep envisioned a storybook ending, with CHSAA city and state titles to call their own.
Instead, neither ambition was accomplished. Eight days after falling to Fordham Prep, 1-0, in the city final they were blanked by Long Island champion Chaminade, 2-0, last Sunday afternoon at Fordham University in the state championship game.
“This is the first time I brought a team to the championship and we didn’t win,” St. Francis Coach Franco Purificato said. “After having such a great season, everybody expected us to finish on top, but we didn’t. I’m going to take it as a learning experience. I’m not taking anything away from our season. I’m really proud of our kids.”
Ryan Calvo scored his ninth of the year in the 13th minute and William Cikos added the second goal 30 seconds before halftime for the Flyers. Keeper Alex Lambert, the tournament MVP, proved to be the difference. He made nine saves, including crucial stops on Terriers (15-3-4) Tommy Garafola and Anthony Civitano.
“We’ve been having this problem the last couple of weeks: we couldn’t put the ball in the net,” Purificato said.
There is no shame in losing to Chaminade anyway. The nationally-ranked Flyers (16-3-1) won the state a season ago, knocking off the Terriers in the semifinals.
“Chaminade is a good team; we were right there with them,” Purificato said. “The game could’ve gone either way. We played probably our best game of the year, except for the fact we didn’t finish.
“Everybody came off the field limping, crying and upset,” he continued, “but they all walked away proud because they knew they gave it everything they had. We couldn’t have done anything more.”