Boys Cross Country: NSCHSAA Results

Individual Meet Results - Personal Bests Only
NSCHSAA League Championships 26-Oct-08
Location: Sunken Meadow State Park
Saint Anthony [SA]
	Mark		Avg Mile			Rnd			Name		Age/Yr			Place		Points			Improv
Event # 2 Men 1.5 Mile Run Open
	8:30.04			5:40.03			F		Smith, Brian		9		1		1				-12.14
	8:38.94			5:45.96			F		Vita, Keith		9		2		2				-1.00
	9:10.61			6:07.07			F		Giuliano, Salvatore		9		12		12				-16.01
	9:12.36			6:08.24			F		Kum, Gene		9		13		—				-1.68
	9:22.55			6:15.03			F		Melón, Andrew		9		17		—				-30.19
	9:23.34			6:15.56			F		Ravella, Michael		9		18		—				-62.82
	9:24.01			6:16.01			F		Petersen, Christian		9		19		—				-15.81
	9:24.80			6:16.53			F		Seda, Austin		9		20		—				-60.03
	9:34.07			6:22.71			F		Nicosia, Gerard		9		27		—				-10.32
	9:34.27			6:22.85			F		Sheppard, Ryan		9		28		—				-17.99
	9:40.72			6:27.15			F		Vulpi, Frank		9		33		—				-37.13
	9:43.18			6:28.79			F		Falcone, Michael		9		34		—				-13.13
	9:44.22			6:29.48			F		Nastasi, Dominic		9		35		—				-6.65
	10:00.15			6:40.10			F		Eybergen, Christian		9		43		—				-6.48
	10:15.34			6:50.23			F		Lanzillotta, Joseph		9		50		—				-23.97
	11:26.63			7:37.75			F		Sepulveda, Nicholas		9		64		—				-50.99
Event # 4 Men 1.5 Mile Run Open
	7:53.59			5:15.73			F		Gallagher, Brendan		9		2		2				-1.96
	8:10.65			5:27.10			F		Diliberto, Thomas		9		4		4				-9.51
	8:24.21			5:36.14			F		Ferrara, Robert		9		7		7				-6.54
	8:26.46			5:37.64			F		Segreto, Frank		9		9		9				-18.40
	8:29.60			5:39.73			F		Meehan, Daniel		9		12		12				-0.64
Event # 5 Men 5000m Run Open
	17:08.50			5:31.04			F		Cherkis, Robert		12		2		2				-25.08
	18:04.80			5:49.16			F		Flynn, Thomas		10		16		16				-25.13
Event # 7 Men 5000m Run Open
	18:48.31			6:03.17			F		Krawczyk, James		10		14		14				-5.57
	18:49.53			6:03.56			F		Therry, Justin		11		15		15				-3.68
	19:15.40			6:11.89			F		Saracino, Marc		10		26		26				—
	19:32.39			6:17.36			F		Mazzucca, Nicholas		10		33		33				-14.17
	20:08.11			6:28.85			F		Gotkin, Ryan		11		46		46				-56.26
	20:11.78			6:30.03			F		Black, Dylan		11		50		50				-6.11
	20:13.27			6:30.51			F		Thieke, Thomas		10		51		51				-18.30
	20:15.58			6:31.26			F		Sclafani, Nick		11		53		53				-7.62
	20:20.71			6:32.91			F		Musacchio, Anthony		10		58		58				-15.29
	20:41.40			6:39.57			F		Mattesich, Eric		11		67		67				—
	20:58.79			6:45.17			F		Bruinooge, Matthew		10		79		79				-51.28
	21:01.64			6:46.08			F		Volpe, Michael		11		84		84				-19.53
	23:23.62			7:31.78			F		Rogers, Aaron		10		131		131				-109.39
	28:28.22			9:09.82			F		LoNigro, Patrick		10		166		166				-138.82

State Girls Soccer Rankings

2008 New York State
Girls Soccer Poll by
NYSSCOGS
Week No. 7 (Oct. 20-26)
Class AA
1:    13-0-3        Massapequa-8
2:    18-0-0        Union-Endicott-4
3:    14-0-0        East Islip-11
4:    19-0-0        Bethlehem-2
5:    17-0-0        John Jay EF-1
6:    18-1-0        Baldwinsville-3
7:    14-1-1        Horace Greeley-1
8:    14-1-1        Greece Athena-5
9:    12-2-2        LI St. Anthony’s-CHS
10:    13-1-1        Connetquot-11
11:    14-2-2        Aquinas-5
12:    16-1-3        Kenmore West-6
13:    16-2-0        CBA-3
14:    10-4-3        Vestal-4
15:    13-4-2        Ballston Spa-2
16:    13-2-1        Brockport-5
17:    7-0-0         East Islip-11
18:    13-4-2        Niskayuna-2
19:    15-1-0        Warwick-9
20:    13-3-0        North Rockland-1
20:    12-5-2        Shenendehowa-2

10-26-08 NSCHSAA Championship

St. Anthony’s runners fly off the starting line.

BY JASON MOLINET

Tim Dearie’s heart sank as he caught sight of the runners charging down the home stretch on Sunday at the Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA boys cross country championships at Sunken Meadow State Park in Kings Park. The St. Anthony’s coach knew his team blew an opportunity to win the team title.

“We were first, third, fourth and fifth with a half mile to go – and there were gaps,’’ Dearie said. “They gave it away.’’

More like Chaminade took it. The rival Flyers placed four runners among the top six finishers of the 5K race, including winner Michael Kiley, who took the individual title in 17 minutes, 0.7 seconds. That overwhelming force helped Chaminade edge out St. Anthony’s for the team title, 28-37.

Friars senior Rob Cherkis of East Northport took the lead up Cardiac Hill, but was overtaken by Kiley at the moat and couldn’t make up ground down the back stretch. Cherkis finished second in 17:08.5, eight seconds behind Kiley but a full 11 seconds ahead of anyone else.

“Our overall expectation was to win,’’ said Cherkis, who is considering Temple and Fairleigh Dickinson. “But I guess everyone has their day.’’

Junior Kenneth Walshak finished fourth (17:23.60). Junior Patrick Murphy placed seventh (17:29.00). And senior Todd Sather was eighth (17:34.00).

Dearie was hoping for a stronger finish from each, starting with Cherkis. His message afterward was a simple New Yorkism.

“It ain’t over til it’s over,’’ Dearie said.

There’s always another day. The state CHSAA championship is next, Nov. 8 at Van Cortland Park.

10-26-08 NSCHSAA Championships

Veronica Leddy became just the second freshman to ever win the league cross country title.

BY JASON MOLINET

Veronica Leddy is much too young to understand the significance of it all. The St. Anthony’s freshman wunderkind has emerged as a force in the distance running world.

She continued her dominance on Sunday at the Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA girls cross country championships at Sunken Meadow State Park in Kings Park. Leddy, from East Islip, pulled away from the pack to take the 5K race in 20 minutes, 2.6 seconds, a full 18 seconds better than the closest competitor.

“I wanted to win because I’ve been undefeated so far,’’ said Leddy, who has not lost a varsity race yet. But winning the league title put her in rare company.

St. Anthony’s runner Pilar Marin won the event in 1996 to become the first freshman to win since the CHSAA began staging the race in 1982, according to St. Anthony’s athletic director Don Buckley. Four three-time winners of the individual title, all of whom started in their sophomore years, were Jessica Klubnick of St. Anthony’s (1993-95), Claire Quaderer of Sacred Heart (1990-92), Kristin Beaney of Friends (1987-89) and Christine Brough of Maria Regina (1982-84).

Marin went on to an outstanding high school career and ran at Princeton. Whatever the future holds for Leddi, she’s off to a promising start.

Fellow Friars freshman Sloane Russ was sixth (21:27.80), followed by a third frosh, Victoria Ciotti, in 15th place (21:53.90).

Despite Leddy’s performance, the Friars couldn’t overcome the strength in numbers showcased by St. John the Baptist. The Cougars placed five runners in the Top 10 to win their fourth straight team title with 32 points. Kellenberg placed second with 53 points. St. Anthony’s was third with 66 points.

The state CHSAA championship is next, Nov. 8 at Van Cortland Park.

Honoring Lucas

Chris Carberry has Atiq Lucas on his mind.

BY JASON MOLINET

Because of the weather and travel involved, the St. Anthony’s coaching staff recommended that Atiq Lucas stay home on Saturday. But Lucas was still very much with the Friars as they took on Iona Prep in New Rochelle.

It’s been an emotional week. Lucas, a senior running back, broke his right leg in a Week 7 win over Chaminade. He underwent surgery last Sunday and was released from the hospital on Tuesday.

Lucas and his parents returned to the school for the Thursday night practice. He was in a wheelchair at Cy Donnelly Field. It was one of the few times all year Lucas couldn’t escape the rush. That’s because the entire team reportedly took turns giving Lucas a hug.

Lucas is expected to make a full recovery. But his football season is done.

To honor their teammate, St. Anthony’s added Lucas’ No. 30 to the backs of their black helmets. Some even scawled the number on their eye black patches.

And as the game progressed, it was clear the Friars missed the breakaway threat. It had been suggested that St. Anthony’s could sustain the loss of Lucas because of its unusual depth in the backfield. The Iona Prep game, a rare 41-21 loss, proved that Lucas can’t be replaced.

10-25-08 @Iona Prep 21-3 W

St. Anthony’s beat host Iona Prep, 21-3, in a CHSFL JV football game.

10-25-08 IONA PREP 42-14 W

St. Anthony’s beat Iona Prep, 42-14, in a CHSFL freshmen football game.

10-25-08 @Iona Prep 41-21 L

Tom Schreiber runs for yardage against Iona Prep.

BY JASON MOLINET

There was a quiet expectation of a comeback buzzing along the St. Anthony’s sideline. And when Nicholas Flynn sprinted into the end zone for the two-point conversion with 4:58 left in the third quarter on Saturday, the rally seemed inevitable.

The Friars trailed host Iona Prep, 28-21, at that point. The defense followed up with a big stop, and suddenly St. Anthony’s had the ball back and all the momentum. Giants don’t lose and St. Anthony’s has reigned atop the CHSFL for much of the last two decades. But with a steady rain in its collective face and a gusting wind sweeping the field in New Rochelle, the comeback came undone.

Flynn never fully hauled in the pitch from quarterback Tom Schreiber and a defender fell on the wet ball at midfield with 17 second left in the quarter. It took all of seven plays for Iona Prep to find paydirt. One week after a four-touchdown effort, Iona Prep running back Jeff Mack scored for the third time against the Friars, the last on a 5-yard run to essentially put the game out of reach.

With one week remaining in the regular season, undefeated Iona Prep locked up the top seed in the CHSFL Class AAA playoffs and sent a message to the rest of the league by blowing out seven-time champ St. Anthony’s, 41-21.

The Gaels (8-0 overall, 6-0 CHSFL) rushed for a remarkable 343 yards. Quarterback Tyrae Woodson-Samuels had 166 yards on 14 carries and two scores and completed 5 of 9 passes for 101 yards and another touchdown.

“Our defense played horrible,’’ St. Anthony’s coach Rich Reichert said. “We never really stopped them. We never stopped the run.’’

Senior running back Nick Mercurio led St. Anthony’s with 95 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns and one catch for 21 yards.

Last season, the Friars saw their 64-game CHSFL winning streak snapped Week 3 against Mount St. Michael. The Friars rebounded and ripped off 13 league wins in a row in the year since, including a title game win over Mount.

Reichert must once again right the ship. Because of its winning tradition, losses seem to hit this team much harder. The work began on the field immediately afterward.

“It’s one regular season loss,’’ Reichert told his players. “That’s all it is. Now we’ve got to get better.’’

The Friars (6-2, 5-1) close out the season at home at 7 p.m. Saturday against rival Mount St. Michael.

What do the losses to the Mountaineers and Iona Prep have in common? So much, it seems. A game-time decision at quarterback, foul weather and a trip across the Throgs Neck Bridge.

Last season it was James Brady nursing a foot injury. And he proved ineffective in the mud, unable to avoid the rush. The result was a 22-12 loss.

After hurting his right knee against Chaminade, Schreiber had to show the coaching staff he was ready to go on Saturday. Brendan Schroeder warmed up with the offense too. Just in case.

But with a circus-like atmosphere on the Iona Prep campus – there are no bleachers, just a hill where fans set up tents – Schreiber got the nod and took the Friars nowhere on the game’s first possession.

Schreiber ran for 75 yards on 18 carries and completed 8 of 14 passes for 119 yards. He took a pounding on every play and Reichert eventually pulled his starter late in the fourth once the reality of the situation sank in.

Behind Mack and Woodson-Samuels, the Gaels marched 64 yards on nine plays. Woodson-Samuels, as he would do all afternoon, confounded the Friars’ defense with his elusiveness and straightaway speed. He opened scoring with a 24-yard touchdown.

St. Anthony’s responded on the next series. Nick Mercurio did much of the damage, highlighted by a 23-yard run down to the Iona 8-yard line. He scored on fourth-and-goal from the 1 with two seconds left in the opening quarter. Nick Ferrara’s kick tied the teams at 7.

Ferrara put the Friars in front 10-7 with a 20-yard field goal early in the second quarter.

Iona Prep took the lead for good, 14-10, with 5:50 left in the half. The Gaels moved 80 yards on five plays with Mack (156 yards) bowling into the end zone from 1 yard out.

St. Anthony’s fumbled away a prime scoring opportunity at the Iona Prep 17 just before halftime. Once again, Iona Prep ripped through the St. Anthony’s defense, going 83 yards on nine plays. Woodson-Samuels hit Chris Alfano on a 21-yard post pattern with 1:22 left.

Schreiber moved St. Anthony’s from his own 16 to the Iona Prep 29 with nine seconds left. After a pair of time outs meant to ice the kicker, Ferrara went out and nailed – with plenty of room to spare – a 46-yard field goal to close the gap to 21-13.

Woodson-Samuels picked up where he left off in the second half. His 23-yard keeper, sandwiched between 29- and 21-yard runs by Mack, set up a 1-yard Mack touchdown and 28-13 lead.

With Schreiber running the option, the Friars moved 82 yards on the ensuing possession. Marcurio finished the time-consuming series with a 1-yard dive with 4:58 left in the third. The two-point run made it a one-possession game.

But Iona Prep had other plans. The Gaels ran away from the Friars and now have the inside track to the title game. If the teams meet again, it will be at Mitchel Athletic Complex one month from now with the title on the line.

SCORING
TEAMS………………..1…..2…..3…..4 — FINAL
St. Anthony’s…………7…..6…..8…..0 — 21
Iona Prep…………….7….14…..7….13 — 41
IP – Woodson-Samuels 24 run (Carthy kick)
SA — Mercurio 1 run (Ferrara kick)
SA – FG Ferrara 20
IP — Mack 1 run (Carthy kick)
IP – Alfano 21 pass from Woodson-Samuels (Carthy kick)
SA – FG Ferrara 46
IP – Mack 1 run (Carthy kick)
SA – Mercurio 1 run (Flynn run)
IP – Mack 5 run (kick failed)
IP – Woodson-Samuels 5 run (Carthy kick)

10-25-08 @St. John the Baptist 4-1 W

No fighting. Just scoring. The highly anticipated rematch of a game played by these two powerhouses on Sept. 18 was postponed until Oct. 25. St. Anthony’s beat St. John the Baptist, 4-1, to close out the regular season unbeaten.

Last month’s game was not only a 2-1 win by the Friars, but ended in a brawl that resulted in multiple suspensions for both squads.

10-23-08 @St. Dominic 7-0 W

Senior midfielder Karl Rumph cuts through traffic.

BY JASON MOLINET

When you are a nationally-ranked team, keeping the edge that got you there can be difficult. The St. Anthony’s boys soccer team can only play the schedule before them, and on Thursday it was an overmatched St. Dominic.

Alex Naples had so little to do that even the game official took note. He arbitrarily stopped the game late in the first half Thursday to let St. Anthony’s coaches replace Naples in goal.

The Friars had already built a 7-0 lead over St. Dominic in a Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA mismatch. With a mandate not to score in the second half, and with all 24 players on the roster getting time on the field, that’s how it remained.

Seven was enough. Senior midfielder Edward Curry scored twice in the first 18 minutes, opening a 1-0 lead with a header just four minutes in. In fact, he ran toward midfield his arms in the air as if signaling a touchdown. Prophetic.

Adam Weinzimmer made it 2-0. Then came another goal by Curry. Greg Mallia extended the lead to 4-0 in the 21st minute. Brian Recureo, Nick Masotto and Chris Durant capped off the offensive onslaught.

“We’re just a strong group,’’ said Curry, who started the season in the backfield and had just one goal until Thursday, “from the one sophomore to the juniors and seniors.’’

Understandably, Naples had little to do. The senior did manage two saves, but St. Dominic couldn’t muster a sustained attack, even on its home field in Oyster Bay.

St. Doms keeper Chris Piccadela wasn’t half bad. But with the Friars constantly on his side of the field, the shots came early and often. It could have been worse. Much worse.

The net result was another impressive win for the Friars, ranked third in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll. St. Anthony’s (15-0-1) wraps up the regular season Saturday 1:30 p.m. at St. John the Baptist. It’s the fourth game in five days for St. Anthony’s.

It was a notable win for another reason. Coach Gene Buonaiuto recorded his 285th career win. Buonaiuto is 285-92-29 in 24 seasons. He’s enjoying the ride, calling this perhaps his deepest team.

The playoffs are fast approaching. The Friars have clinched the top seed and will host a semifinal game on Tuesday. That’s when this group of Friars gets measured against the ghosts of seasons past.

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