Back Row; Coaches James Kalisak, Jack Allen, Doug Mertz. Middle Row: Stefan Ubiparip, Alexie Humukchand, Christian Deans, David Villareal, AJ St. Omer, Michael Kelly, Doud Mertz, Michael Naslukiewicz, Casey Allen. Front Row: Mateusz Piasecki, Logan Kalisak, Keegan Guitteri, Thomas Schmitt, Gavin McCachren, Dean Esposito.
The U12’s knocked off St. Raymond’s to take the championship while the U14’s fought valiantly in a losing battle to the very strong Long Island Gaels.
Saturday evening, Nov. 10, was by all accounts quite late in the season for a CYO soccer game. Two preceding weekends of poor weather forced the delay of a Championship game that was highly anticipated.
The sixth grade boys of St. Virgilius-St. Camillus (SVC) were chomping at the bit to get on the field and take one more shot at what has proven to be quite the elusive prize. Even a midweek snowstorm wouldn’t stop this game as Soccer Commissioner Lisa Sacco personally worked on the field at the Broad Channel Athletic Club to ensure the game was played. And so finally at 5:30 on a cold and windy night the game was played.
SVC and St. Andrews squared off in what was a rematch from last years Championship that saw St. Andrews take the prize. That loss was one of three consecutive losses for the boys from SVC in the finals. Needless to say, they were long overdue and they did not disappoint winning a thrilling 3-2 game to capture the first ever Fall Season Championship for St. Virgilius St. Camillus. Casey Allen opened the scoring with a beautiful goal setup by Keegan Guitteri. St. Andrews answered back four minutes later with one of their own, but the 6th grade Shamrocks would not be vdenied. Dean Esposito knocked in a goal off of an amazing corner kick from Michael Naslukiewicz to make it 2-1.
Two minutes later the highly skilled David Villareal rushed up the field in amazing fashion and fed Casey Allen a beautiful pass for Allen’s second of the game and the eventual game winner.
The Shamrocks defense was stingy and smart all day.
A.J. St. Omer played a brilliant game at sweeper, keeping St. Andrews away from goalie Michael Kelly. When St. Andrews would manage a shot, Kelly displayed remarkable poise and skill playing goalie at an extraordinary level, particularly because he was forced into the position due to starting goalie Alexie Humukchand’s untimely injury.
St. Andrews would add a goal in extra time to make it 3-2, but the Shamrocks clamped down defensively and as time expired these exceptional boys from St. Virgilius St. Camillus were finally Champions!!
This was 1 year ago when we won!!!