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.

10-9-08 St. John the Baptist 3-0 W

St. Anthony’s beat St. John the Baptist, 25-19, 25-23, 25-15, in a Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA girls volleyball match.

10-6-08 @St. John the Baptist 4-0 W

Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA girls soccer game at St. John the Baptist. St. Anthony’s won, 4-0.

9-22-08 ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST 2-1 W

The Friars beat St. John the Baptist, 2-1, in a Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA girls soccer game.

9-18-08 ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST 2-1 W

The pregame handshake was friendly.

BY JASON MOLINET

What should have been a singular victory against a top Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA rival was marred by a violent end. St. Anthony’s topped St. John the Baptist, 2-1, in a boys soccer showdown that was high on emotion and physical play Thursday night at Cy Donnelly Field in South Huntington.

In the end, tempers flared and the game was stopped with 1:39 remaining in the second half when a brawl erupted just beyond the St. Anthony’s goal. The melee lasted 30 seconds and both benches left the sideline. According to St. Anthony’s athletic director Don Buckley, who conferred with the officials on the field in the aftermath, three players from each team was given a red card and ejected (their names were not released).

Buckley said he would speak with St. John the Baptist athletic director Ralph Dalton in the coming days on an appropriate course of action. St. John the Baptist also saw Stephen Richardson ejected with 7:19 left, forcing the Cougars to play a man down. Each player given a red card must sit out the next league game.

The emotion built with each goal. St. Anthony’s junior forward Nick Masotto struck first with 90 seconds left in the opening half. St. John’s scored the equalizer with five seconds left in the half when Kyle Grell hammered home a direct kick by Adriano Gabriele.

But the Cougars could not beat St. Anthony’s senior goalkeeper Alex Naples twice. He blocked a blast by Gabriele with 16 minutes left. Another potential goal hit the goal post with 11 minutes to go.

Once SJB was forced to play a man down, the momentum swung the Friars’ way. It stayed there until the end when things got ugly. The full extent of the fallout will be known in the coming days. Any way you look at it, this was one costly game.

9-16-08 St. John the Baptist 3-2 W

St. Anthony’s beat St. John the Baptist, 20-25, 26-24, 28-26, 20-25, 25-16 in a Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA girls volleyball match.

JV Photo Gallery: St. John the Baptist 9-13-08

9-13-08 @St. John the Baptist 14-0 W

St. Anthony’s beat St. John the Baptist 14-0 in a freshmen football game.

9-13-08 ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST 40-6 W

Sophomore quarterback Charlie Raffa scrambles.

BY JASON MOLINET

It was a delayed start to the season – and well worth the wait. With the early Labor Day came the opportunity to play nine regular season games. But a Week 1 matchup fell through, leaving the St. Anthony’s junior varsity football team sidelined while the rest of the CHSFL got busy.

Coach Phil LaGreca’s team played with purpose on Saturday in the season opener at Cy Donnelly Field in South Huntington. The offense scored on its first four possessions and the special teams and defense each came up with turnovers as the Friars cruised to a 40-6 win over St. John the Baptist.

These JV Friars ran all over St. John the Baptist. Sophomore quarterback Charlie Raffa set the tone, scrambling for 52 yards on four carries and two touchdowns – all in the first half. The first score was a wild 22-yard run that ended when a diving Raffa pushed the ball over the goal line for a quick 7-0 edge.

St. John the Baptist fumbled the ensuing kickoff and sophomore defensive back James Mercurio scooped up the loose ball and returned it to the SJB 4-yard line. Mike Schillizei scored on a 1-yard run two plays later.

A three-and-out by the defense put the ball back in the hands of Raffa. Despite three holding penalties on the drive, the Friars managed to move 52 yards. One play after Victor Belgiorno had his 30-yard fourth-down scoring run called back, he got the ball again. This time Belgiorno spun off several tacklers and broke free down the right side for a 35-yard touchdown and 21-0 lead.

Another three-and-out by the defense was followed up with a great punt return by sophomore Greg Danseglio to the SJB 20. Raffa scored on a keeper three plays later. The kick by Justin Whalley made it 28-0.

Sophomore defensive back Eddie Finnocchialo intercepted the next offensive play by the Cougars. The Friars drove to the SJB 10 before letting the clock run out on the first half. What a half it was. The defense gave up minus 7-yards in the opening half while the offense could not be stopped.

St. Anthony’s finished the game with 326 yards on the ground and 34 passing. Sophomore Tim Fiola broke an 87-yard scoring run on the final play of the game.

SCORING
TEAM…………………..…1……2…..3…….4 — FINAL
St. John the Baptist………0……0…..6…….0 — 6
St. Anthony’s……………14…14…..0…..12 — 40
SA – Raffa 22 run (Whalley kick)
SA – Schillizei 1 run (Whalley kick)
SA – Belgiorno 35 run (Whalley kick)
SA – Raffa 1 run (Whalley kick)
SJB – McCarthy 29 pass from McQuade (pass failed)
SA – Gellineau 7 run (kick failed)
SA – Fiola 87 run (no attempt)

9-25-08 @St. John the Baptist 4:15 p.m.

Nassau-Suffolk CHSAA girls tennis match at St. John the Baptist.

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