By Joseph Staszewski
Last year was not forgotten when Archbishop Molloy matched up with Fordham Prep.
The Rams spoiled the Stanners’ championship hopes last season by beating them for the CHSAA intersectional Class AA boys’ soccer crown as well as in the Catholic state semifinals. That past made the present that much sweeter,
Molloy rallied from a one-goal deficit in the first half to rack up a 2-1 victory over host Fordham Prep Monday afternoon in the Bronx. Their victory in a battle of the league’s only two unbeaten teams makes the Stanners the current favorites for the city championship.
“Last year they finished that season off for us,” Stanners senior midfielder Jesse Rodriguez said. “We wanted that payback. We came back with heart. We started a little off. In the second half, we knew what we had to get done.”
The Stanners (7-0-4) scored twice after the break, with the winner coming in the 68th minute off the foot of junior Tim Deliyannis. He controlled a perfect cross from senior Terrence Coppinger and popped the ball into the top of the net.
“I had to calm down, but it was a perfect ball so it made it a lot easier,” Deliyannis said. “As it is coming to me, I’m just thinking I’m going to try to put this away.”
Coppinger had also used his speed to factor into Molloy’s first goal. He out ran a Rams defender to a through ball and was eventually taken down in the box. Rodriguez scored on the ensuing penalty kick in the 49th minute to tie the score at 1-1.
“This was his best game,” Molloy coach Andy Kostel said of Coppinger. “He was absolutely outstanding.”
So was his team after the game’s first 20 minutes. Molloy dominated possession most of the second half with its physical play and it found a rhythm on offense. Kostel felt it was just a matter of his guys playing up to their capabilities. They won more 50/50 balls and balls in the air.
“We started winning those and we got the counter attacks that we needed and that’s how we got that win,” Rodrigues said.
Fordham (9-1-1), despite being down a man later after a red card on star Alex Canicatti in the 72nd minute, still managed a few quality chances to tie the score in the closing minutes. The best came when Conlon headed a ball from Shane Queenan, but Molloy keeper Stephen Deely made the save in the 74th minute to seal the important win.
“This is probably our biggest challenge in the league,” Deliyannis said. “Beating this team at its home field, coming back from one down in the first half means a lot.”
