Joey Misfud admitted that the wet conditions did not provide the greatest of playing conditions at All-American Field, but it and St. Edmunds couldn’t slip up his McClancy team. They defeated Eagles 4-1 in CHSAA Class A South division boys’ soccer Friday afternoon. Misfud led the way with two goals and had a hand in three of the Crusaders’ four scores by winning a penalty kick.
“I thought I played pretty well,” Misfud said. “I was disappointed I didn’t get the hat trick, but it’s about the team and not myself.”
Receiving a ball from Paul Morales, Misfud’s turn played him down the left side. Bearing in on goal, he slotted a left-footed finish in the bottom right corner of the net in 11th minute to open up the scoring.
“Joey looked good,” McClancy Coach Michael Sylvester said. “He got in there, got a couple chances, created a few chances and finished a few so we were pleased with him.”
While possession was equal, only McClancy was using it to the fullest as St. Edmund had a knack for knocking the ball around, but could not turn it into a threatening offensive chance, a credit to the McClancy (9-1-3) defense.
“They did a good job of controlling the flow of the game,” Sylvester said. “We really made them work.”
In the 37th minute, Luiz Miranda’s run down the right side set up McClancy’s second goal of the game when his low cross sat up perfectly for Alexander Ulic who just touched it into the back of the net. St. Edmund had a chance to pull one back with a pair of free kicks before the half, but could not make anything of it.
“Defense was excellent today,” Misfud said. “They played really well and kept St. Edmund out most of the time.”
Misfud was at it again in the second half when a pass was chipped perfectly in his path that sent him in alone on the keeper. A cool finish gave him goal No. 2 and McClancy a 3-0 lead. St. Edmund (4-7-0) managed to pull one back in the 65th minute when they finally took advantage of their possession when Dimitri Alexander scored from the left of the box with a defender draped over him.
McClancy, the defending city champions, provided a quick answer just seven minutes later when Misfud was taken down in the box. The penalty kick was given to Michael Ferrera, who cannoned a shot into the top of the net for the 4-1 lead.
The win keeps McClancy’s hopes at a division title alive. They sit just a point behind first-place St. Joseph by the Sea with two games left to play. The Crusaders and Vikings played to a scoreless tie Oct. 15.
“Every win is a big win,” Misfud said. “Especially on the road, this should bring us forward and hopefully bring us our second championship in a row.”
