Football Preview: Iona Prep

The Friars play for their eighth straight CHSFL title.

BY JASON MOLINET

Once again, St. Anthony’s is playing for the CHSFL Class AAA title. The season ends Saturday one way or another. This situation feels similar to a year ago when the Friars faced off against the one team that tripped them up during the regular season.

Last season St. Anthony’s avenged a crushing Week 3 loss to Mount St. Michael with a memorable come-from-behind victory over the Mountaineers in the final. One year later and the Friars are hoping to work the same magic against Iona Prep, which downed St. Anthony’s 41-21 on Oct. 25.

There is one big difference between this season and last. St. Anthony’s was at full strength by the time it reached Hofstra. When the No. 2 Friars (9-2) face off against top-seeded Iona Prep (11-0) at 4 p.m. Saturday at Mitchel Athletic Complex, it will be without the team’s top two offensive stars. (The game will be broadcast live over the Internet by http://sports.espn.go.com/stations/1050espnradio/)

No Atiq Lucas or Tom Schreiber (each sidelined with broken legs) has robbed an offense of its fire. And while the Friars have proven to be remarkably deep and resiliant, the losses have been felt.

Junior Brendan Schroeder, who opened fall practice as the third quarterback, will make his second straight start. He’ll need to lean on senior running back Nick Mercurio, a threat running or catching the ball. And the offensive line will need a big game.

As St. Anthony’s plays for its eighth straight CHSFL title, there’s no doubt the coaching staff will cook up a winning game plan. The offense will score.

The real question is whether the defense can slow Iona Prep. The Gaels have piled up a division-high 372 points (Class AA team Xavier posted an insane 458).

When the teams met Week 8 in Westchester, the Gaels 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. The defense couldn’t contain the shifty quarterback.

Running back Jeff Mack finished off the Friars, running strong in the fourth quarter. Another threat St. Anthony’s has struggled to contain this season — and in a semifinal win a year ago — is wideout Chris Alfano.

All of which means the Friars need to execute at all three levels, from the defensive line to the linebackers to the secondary. The linebackers and safeties, in particular, will need to make all the right decisions. That means denying Woodson-Samuels running lanes; stringing him out. And for the safeties, aggressively supporting against the run.

It’s a tall order. But in the world of high school sports, all things are possible. And when it comes to the Friars, the possible becomes probable.

NOTE: This is the final game coverage for Friar Sports.com. We are ceasing publication.

11-16-08 CHSFL Class AAA Semifinal 37-15 W

Brendan Schreoder quarterbacked the Friars to victory.

BY JONATHAN WALTER

Rivalry games don’t get much bigger. St. Anthony’s had to deal with the loss of quarterback Tom Schreiber during the week and at the same time prepare for the biggest game of the season.

Call it a perfect storm of events. The second-seeded Friars weathered the storm, and behind a 24-point third quarter, beat No. 6 Chaminade, 37-15, in a CHSFL Class AAA semifinal on Sunday at Cy Donnelly Field in South Huntington. The Friars shined on defense, forcing Chaminade to punt five times, recording three interceptions and two fourth-down stops. The strong defensive play put the Friars in good field position all game long, and put the team in a position to win.

Now the Friars (9-2) are one win away from their eighth straight championship. They advance to the CHSFL AAA title game and will face No. 1 Iona Prep (11-0), which downed St. Anthony’s, 41-21, during the regular season. The game is a 4 p.m. Saturday at Mitchel Athletic Complex in Uniondale.

The Friars offense had trouble finishing drives early and turned to their reliable field goal kicker in Maryland-recruit Nicholas Ferrara. All he did was convert on field goals from 31 and 29 yards out. St. Anthony’s took a 6-0 edge into intermission.

Chaminade (6-5) wrested away momentum – and the lead — in the third quarter. Friars quarterback Brendan Schroeder, in his first game as the starter, was intercepted by linebacker Timothy Pond, setting up the Flyers at the St. Anthony’s 22-yard line. Quarterback Ryan Higgins put the Flyers on the board with a 7-yard strike to receiver Robert Lucas. The extra point gave the Flyers a short-lived 7-6 lead.

Kick returner Nick Flynn gave the Friars excellent field position with a 75-yard kickoff return fielded at the 1-yard line. However, the Friars offense still had trouble picking up the first downs. Ferrara pounded another field goal, this time from 23 yards out to put the Friars up 9-7.

Two interceptions netted the Friars 14 quick points. Friars linebacker Paul Alessandri intercepted a pass at the Chaminade 24. Schroeder wasted no time as he completed a 24-yard touchdown pass to receiver Pat Fiorvanti on the next play.

On Chaminade’s next possession, Higgins threw another interception right into the arms of cornerback Matt Metalios, who jumped receiver Michael Ehrhardt’s route. Metalios ran it back 26 yards for a touchdown. After Ferrara’s extra point, the Friars suddenly led 23-7.

The Friars offense finally got the big yards they were looking for. After getting the ball at the Flyers 42, they pounded the ball with their running backs. Kevin O’Malley finally broke away from a couple tackles and took the ball 33 yards into the end zone.

The Flyers scored once more in the fourth. Christopher Dooley came through with a 4-yard touchdown run for the Flyers, but it was too late. With time winding down, the Friars ran out a huge chunk of time on a drive where they ran the ball eight times and put the ball in the end zone on another O’Malley run to crush all hope of a comeback for Chaminade.

Now St. Anthony’s is back where it belongs – in the title game.

Chick here for game photos courtesy of John Barone:

SCORING
TEAMS………………1…..2…..3…..4 — FINAL
Chaminade…………..0…..0…..7…..8 — 15
St. Anthony’s……….0…..6….24…..7 — 37
SA – FG 31 Ferrara
SA – FG 29 Ferrara
C – Lucas 7 pass from Higgins (Connelly kick)
SA – FG 23 Ferrara
SA — Fiorvanti 24 pass from Schroeder (Ferrara kick)
SA – Metalios 27 INT return (Ferrara kick)
SA — O’Malley 33 run (Ferrara kick)
C — Dooley 4 run (Dooley pass)
SA – O’Malley 1 run (Ferrara kick)

Schreiber Undergoes Surgery

St. Anthony’s junior quarterback Tom Schreiber underwent surgery to repair a spiral fracture of the fibula on Sunday at Winthrop University Hospital in Garden City. Schreiber was injured in the first quarter of Friday’s CHSFL Class AAA quarterfinal game against St. Francis Prep. We at Friar Sports.com wish him a speedy recovery.

11-9-08 State CHSAA Final 4-1 W

Mission accomplished.

BY JASON MOLINET

There wasn’t an overflow of emotion, just the simple satisfaction of a job well done. The St. Anthony’s boys soccer team wrapped up an unbeaten and historic season on Sunday with a dominating 4-1 victory over Queens power Molloy in the state CHSAA title game.

As the St. Anthony’s starters – by now on the bench – jogged onto the turf field at Adelphi in Garden City once the clock drained to zero, a few enterprising players grabbed the water bucket and emptied it on assistant coach Don Correo. There were broad smiles and hugs, but hardly the explosion of emotion you might expect.

Each player calmly accepted championship medallions and when the team plaque was handed out to longtime coach Gene Buonaiuto, the players coolly assembled around him and posed for pictures.

This season was hardly preordained – everyone had high hopes, but who knew? – yet the Friars took to the role of champion with a comfortable familiarity. This marks the second title in program history and the second in four years. The truth is this year will be long remembered.

“This is probably my best team,’’ said Buonaiuto, who improved to 290-92-29 in 24 seasons as coach. “They have the best record.’’

These Friars (21-0-1), ranked second in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, also have the most recognition. Every bit of it was earned.

“You don’t get any better than winning a state championship,’’ junior defender Tyler Botte said.

The game was won in the midfield and by unsung heroes such as Botte. Midfielders such as senior Keith Jecewiz controlled the tempo and pushed the ball around the field, making opponents chase and react. And on the few occasions a forward broke through, the defense went to work.

It was much the same against Molloy. Friars senior goalkeeper Alex Naples was hardly tested, although he did surrender his fifth goal of the year with 7:17 left and the Friars sitting on a 3-0 lead.

But the game was all but over by then.

Senior midfielder Mike Valencia, two days after a two-assist effort in a semifinal win over Buffalo-Nichols, struck first against Molloy. He was taken down in the box just 4:03 into the title game and earned a penalty kick. Valencia went right and buried the ball in the back of the net for a 1-0 St. Anthony’s lead.

Senior Greg Mallia’s goal just before intermission made it 2-0. Sophomore Henry Tirado put in another goal off a rebound with 18 minutes left. Senior Chris Durant made it 4-1.

The bench might have been sky-high by that point, except for the fact that winning has been such an everyday feat for these Friars. Well, there’s nothing standing between these Friars and greatness now; no one else to conquer. Enjoy it.

11-8-08 State CHSAA Class AA Tournament

Caitlin Connelly helped the Friars go 6-0 in pool play.

The St. Anthony’s girls volleyball team went 6-0 in pool play to advance to the state CHSAA Class AA semifinal for the fifth straight season on Saturday at St. Mary’s in upstate Lancaster.

It was a total team effort. Caitlin Connelly led the way with 34 kills and 8 aces. Mariel Metalios registered 100 assists. Caroline Scalamandre made 21 kills and young Michele Imprellizeri added 26 blocks and 14 kills.

The Friars earned the top seed and will face Brooklyn-Queens CHSAA champ St. Francis Prep in a semifinal match at 10 a.m. Sunday. The Terriers went 2-4 in the opposite bracket and won a playoff to advance.

It’s all Buffalo in the other semi: St. Mary’s versus Sacred Heart. The final is 40 minutes after the conclusion of the semis.

11-7-08 State CHSAA Semifinal 4-0 W

The Friars take control.

BY JASON MOLINET

As the first semifinal game moved into overtime and beyond, there was a fear the long delay might impact the St. Anthony’s boys soccer team. The Friars warmed up. Then they retreated into the locker room. And then players came back out to watch as Molloy advanced past Iona Prep on penalty kicks, 4-1.

By the time the Friars took the field against CHSAA Buffalo champion Nichols, an hour had come and gone. Would it have an impact on the game?

Not on St. Anthony’s. The Friars dominated from start to finish, controlling the midfield in a 4-0 win late Friday in state CHSAA boys soccer semifinal at Adelphi in Garden City. Junior Nick Masotto scored twice and Nichols didn’t manage a shot on goal until the game’s final 1:05.

Call it complete domination. In fact, starting goalkeeper Alex Naples could do nothing more than clap on his teammates. Now St. Anthony’s (19-0-1), ranked second in the nation by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, plays Molloy for the state title at 3 p.m. Sunday at Adelphi.

“They weren’t ready for our style of play,’’ said midfielder Mike Valencia, who recorded two assists. “They were just chasing us. You could hear them getting winded after just 10 minutes.’’

Masotto got things going with 21:19 left in the opening half.

It was still 1-0 early in the second half. Keith Jecewiz pressed Nichols with two great drives. The first was a flick over the charging keeper just 30 seconds into the second half. But the ball sailed just over the crossbar. Jecewiz got the ball with a shot on goal again just two minutes later. This time he fired a blast that the keeper absorbed in the gut.

The Friars finally broke through in the 47th minute when Greg Mallia dribbled through a pack of defenders and fired near corner from just outside the box. The ball sliced between a narrow gap between the keeper and the post for a 2-0 lead.

Masotto struck again three minutes later and the rout was on. Coach Gene Buonaiuto began wholesale substitutions moments later.

Matt Barry closed scoring with 3:58 left. It was a long night, but worth the wait.

11-7-08 CHSFL Class AAA Quarterfinal 31-14 W

Tom Schreiber was lost in the first quarter.

BY JONATHAN WALTER

The injuries continue to mount for the St. Anthony’s football team. The second-seeded Friars may have beaten No. 7 St. Francis Prep, 31-14, in a CHSFL Class AAA quarterfinal on Friday night, but they lost their most irreplaceable player in the process.

Starting quarterback Tom Schreiber was sacked on the third play of the game and suffered a spiral fracture of the fibula, according to one account. He was transported by ambulance to Huntington Hospital.

St. Anthony’s (8-2) was already making due without its most explosive player in running back Atiq Lucas. He broke his leg against Chaminade three weeks ago. But at least the Friars had depth to draw from in the backfield.

There’s no replacing Schreiber. He finished the regular season with the second-best quarterback rating in the CHSFL AAA division. His loss will be tough for the Friars to overcome with two weeks of football left.

Schreiber, a top lacrosse prospect, will have to rehab hard to make it onto a lacrosse field in the spring.

Even still, junior Brendan Schroeder executed the St. Anthony’s game plan well enough.

Down 7-0 going into the second quarter, the Friars were looking for a spark after losing their leader in the first. Nicholas Ferrara got things started with a 38-yard field goal.

The Friars defense answered the call next as defensive back Taylor Chaney intercepted wideout Irick Baccari’s pass on a trick play and ran it back 64 yards for the score. Tight end Jerome Grazioli caught the two-point conversion to put the Friars up 11-7.

After trading punts, the Friars got a big play on special teams when linebacker Paul Alessandri blocked punter Thomas Brady’s kick. The ball fell into the end zone and Alessandri fell on it for the touchdown.

The Terriers managed to close the gap to 18-14 before the half on a 56-yard pass-play from quarterback Nicholas Ramirez to running back Tristan Akong.

That’s a close as St. Francis Prep (4-5) got. Nick Mercurio had a 61-yard touchdown run in third quarter and Kevin O’Malley finished off the Terriers with a 1-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter to make it 31-14.

SCORING
TEAMS………………..1…..2…..3…..4 — FINAL
St. Francis Prep………7…..7…..0…..0 — 14
St. Anthony’s…………0….18…..6…..7 — 31
SFP – Akong 33 run (Brady kick)
SA – FG 28 Ferrara
SA – Chaney 64 INT return (Grazioli pass)
SA – Alessandri recovers blocked punt in end zone (Ferrara kick)
SFP – Akong 56 pass from Ramirez (Brady kick)
SA – Mercurio 61 run (kick failed)
SA – O’Malley 1 run (Ferrara kick)

Football Preview: St. Francis Prep

It’s playoff time for the Friars.

BY JASON MOLINET

It’s the game within the game. Two of the most respected coaches anywhere — and the two winningest coaches in CHSFL history — square off Friday night under the lights in South Huntington.

Vinnie O’Connor brings St. Francis Prep and his 317 career victories to Cy Donnelly Field to take on host St. Anthony’s and coach Rich Reichert. Reichert, 56, is 178-46-3 in 22 seasons at St. Anthony’s, good for a .795 winning percentage. O’Connor is still going strong in this, his 55th season at the helm of the Queens school.

This CHSFL Class AAA quarterfinal has added flavor. The game, at 7 p.m. Friday, may be about players popping pads, but O’Connor and Reichert are masters of the game plan. And no sport depends more on sound strategy than football.

St. Anthony’s (7-2 overall, 6-1 CHSFL) seemed to regain its edge on offense in last week’s 42-27 win over Mount St. Michael. But the defense is suffering from a late-season meltdown. After giving up all of 47 points in the first four games, the Friars have surrendered 129 points (26 per game) over the final five weeks.

One thing you can count on is for the Friars to play with purpose. St. Anthony’s is the seven-time defending league champ.

St. Francis Prep opened the season as the last of 12 teams in the Class AAA division. But after a 4-4 season, the Terriers earned the No. 7 seed in the CHSFL Class AAA playoffs, ahead of such regulars as Farrell and Holy Trinity.

The Terriers have lost three of their last four, including last week’s 47-7 thrashing at the hands of top-seeded Iona Prep. Running backs Tristan Akong and Robert Dougherty can be dangerous. Each has breakaway ability.

Just ask Holy Trinity, which got burned on a kickoff return and long touchdown run by Dougherty in Week 4.

There’s no doubt the Friars will be able to move the ball against St. Francis. And if the defense can revert to its early-season form, then St. Anthony’s should have no trouble.

But you can’t dismiss the Terriers outright. That’s because a true giant of the game patrols the opposite sideline. O’Connor’s presence alone demands respect.

11-4-08 NSCHSAA Final: Holy Trinity 3-0 W

Captains Caitlin Connelly (10) and Megan Fitzpatrick hold the championship plaque.

BY JASON MOLINET

No sooner had St. Anthony’s athletic director Don Buckley handed out the MVP plaque to junior Caitlin Connelly, she turned and walked toward the bench and fell into the arms of coach Donna Newman. Coach and player shared a long embrace as the fans around the St. Dominic gym went wild.

No one was bigger than Connelly as top-seeded St. Anthony’s earned a 25-15, 25-23, 25-13 win over No. 2 Holy Trinity to capture the Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA championship in girls volleyball on Tuesday night. Connelly was a force serving, hitting and on defense. She led the way with 15 kills.

“She is her own worst critic,’’ Newman said. “She wants to be 10 times better. She’s a real leader and a complete player.’’

St. Anthony’s (15-1) advances to the eight-team state CHSAA Class AA girls volleyball tournament at St. Mary’s in upstate Lancaster. Day 1 is pool play. The top two finishers in each bracket advance to Sunday’s semifinals.

Holy Trinity (13-3), the only team to beat the Friars this season, will be in Buffalo as well. The Titans are in the opposite pool, so the teams could meet again in the semifinals or title match on Sunday.

“I would like a chance to see them again,’’ Newman said. The teams met in the 2005 state final.

Everyone was preparing for a war in the league final. When the teams met on Oct. 16, the Titans earned a hard-fought victory in five games. It was the match of the year in the Catholic league.

Not so the third time. The Friars, playing in the final for the sixth straight season, jumped in front 13-6 in the first game and cruised to a 25-15 victory.

But the war was won in the second game. Holy Trinity pressed the Friars throughout. St. Anthony’s saw its lead cut to 22-22 with a block by the Titans’ taller front line. At that point, the entire tenor of the night teetered on the outcome.

The Friars closed out strong. Connelly’s kill made it 24-22. And with Mariel Metailos serving, Holy Trinity returned a long volley for the final point.

The third game was all St. Anthony’s. The Friars roared in front 9-3 and never looked back. As Connelly spiked the ball off a Holy Trinity rival and the ball bounced away for the final point of the match, the crowd on hand rushed the floor.

“This is incredible,’’ said Connelly, who was named tournament MVP on top of being named league MVP.

Metalios, one of three sophomores in the lineup, finished with 49 assists. Caroline Scalamandre had 12 kills. Megan Fitzpatrick recorded 8 kills. And Michele Impellizeri added 10 blocks and 8 kills.

The Friars have won 15 of 17 games since falling to Holy Trinity 19 days ago. Most importantly, St. Anthony’s won its sixth league title since 1991 and second in three years.

CHSFL Playoff Seeds

BY JASON MOLINET

The CHSFL football playoffs seeds are out with quarterfinal opponents set. The coaches meet Monday night to finalize dates and game times.

As expected, St. Anthony’s earned the second seed. The Friars will host No. 7 St. Francis Prep at 7 p.m. Friday at Cy Donnelly Field in South Huntington. These teams didn’t meet during the regular season.

In the mean time, here are the CHSFL matchups:

Class AAA
No. 8 Mount St. Michael (3-6) at No. 1 Iona Prep (9-0)
No. 7 St. Francis Prep (4-4) at No. 2 St. Anthony’s (7-2)
No. 6 Chaminade (5-4) at No. 3 Holy Cross (5-4)
No. 5 St. Joseph by the Sea (5-3) at No. 4 Xaverian (5-3)

Class AA
No. 8 Kellenberg (6-3) at No. 1 Stepinac (4-5)
No. 7 St. Peter’s (6-3) at No. 2 Holy Trinity (4-5)
No. 6 Xavier (7-1) at No. 3 Farrell (2-7)
No. 5 St. John the Baptist (6-3) at No. 4 Fordham Prep (3-6)

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