Confidence flowed through Kevin Duffy's veins on Tuesday night as he scored the game-winning and only goal in the NSCHSAA championship match at Adelphi University. The victory sent Chaminade, the number-four ranked team in the nation according to United Soccer Coaches, to the New York State semifinals.
"I was talking to him about confidence throughout the week," reflected head coach Brian Anselmo. "We have tremendous confidence in Kevin. We were waiting for him to break out, and he did in this one. He was difficult for St. Anthony's to handle."
"I knew that Coach Anselmo was right when he spoke to me throughout the week," added Duffy, flashing a huge smile on his face after the game. "I knew that I needed to break out, and the confidence in me made that happen. My teammates really helped me out today - they made me a better player on the pitch."
The Flyers fought and battled all season to get to the championship round. Many obstacles were conquered, including in each of the squad's two regular-season wins over St. Anthony's, as well as throughout a tough semifinal match against St. John the Baptist last Tuesday - one which featured an overtime winner by Jack Veletanga to send Chaminade to the final.
The Flyers were riding high on a seven-game win streak dating back to the regular season, but their mindset remained the same.
"This game is the most important game of the season against a very tough opponent," said Coach Anselmo pregame. "We need to play our soccer and stick together."
After lineups were read and the starters were introduced to the crowd, Blake Donahue kicked it off at Motamed Field.
Quickly, the Flyers found two shots on goal. The first 50 seconds saw an attempt from Gavin Coogan. He controlled the ball at the left wing from 40 yards out before striking it on net. The curler floated right into the hands of the Friars' keeper and NSCHSAA Goalie of the Year, Cole Lawrence.
The second attempt also came off an effort from Coogan. With the ball on his feet, he crossed from the near wing to the middle of the box. Cutting inside was Danny Bonilla, who leaped to make a play, but Lawrence skied in the air to negate the chance.
The next five minutes didn't feature much, as both teams couldn't establish an offensive attack. That changed with about 30 minutes to play in half number one.
After a beautiful serve from Veletanga, Donahue - the NSCHSAA Offensive Player of the Year - controlled outside the box. Reaching the top, the senior circled around one defender, creating separation up the gut. Sensing the pressure, the Friars defense slid over in an attempt to contain Donahue, who quickly reversed it to a slashing Duffy bearing down on goal. Duffy didn't think twice when the ball reached his feet, powering a blast on net near the far post. The missile accelerated past an outstretched Lawrence to give Chaminade a 1-0 lead.
"Confidence, baby! That's it! It's all about confidence!" screamed Coach Anselmo to his senior midfielder as he celebrated near the center circle.
"That pass from Blake was the best pass I have ever seen!" raved Duffy after the match. "All I had to do was tap it in. Blake did the heavy lifting and made me a better player because of it."
For the next 15 minutes, Chaminade played their bread-and-butter game - dominating time of possession. With smart plays up the field, the Flyers were able to matriculate down the pitch time after time, peppering shots on net and not allowing St. Anthony's to generate an offensive attack.
"Well done, take the yards!" yelled goalies coach Matthew Mason from the sideline, pleased to see his team making the right decisions.
Despite numerous chances, Chaminade couldn't convert again. Twenty minutes in, Franco Ferazzoli pounded a 40 yard-shot on net, resulting in a save by Lawrence. Later, Jack Dorsey had an open shot from the left wing, but he swung it wide to the right. Shortly after, Veletanga dished it in front for Bonilla, but Lawrence made yet another save.
Chaminade kept pushing for a second goal, but they couldn't find it. With 12:40 to go in the opening half, Velentanga found Dorsey, who drilled a shot on net. It was blocked, but the ensuing rebound bounced to Veletanga, who put it back on net. The ball curled to the far post, but it was Lawrence who was there once again to keep the Flyers' lead at one.
Chants of "Let's go Flyers!" rained from the stands as the Chaminade faithful energized their squad in the push for another goal.
Chaminade's last opportunity of the half was created by Donahue. After he swerved around one defender, he crossed it from the right corner to the middle of the box, where Thomas Prince was positioned. Prince jumped in the air and made contact with the ball, forcing it to carom near the net, but Lawrence punched it out to keep the score 1-0 at the break.
In the halftime huddle, the Flyers knew the assignment at hand: Play 40 minutes of Chaminade soccer, and take home a trophy. The final words before play resumed were shouted by Veletanga: "Play our game! This is our half!"
With that, the final frame was underway.
Much like the first half, Chaminade quickly created chances. Thirty seconds in, Duffy found a two-on-one up the near side. Though his shot was stopped, it resulted in a pair of corner kicks. One attempt was dangerous - the ball was swung in to Charles Reina on the near side, trickling just inside the box to Veletanga on the left wing, where he stepped into a shot but sent it over the net.
Two minutes later, the Flyers thought they had their second goal of the game. Streaking up the near side, Reina found a cutting Diego Abrego on the doorstep. As the ball popped off the foot of Abrego, it floated near the goaline. Abrego leaped up and made solid contact with the ball, sending it past Lawrence and towards the cage. As the ball rolled to within a yard of goal, Ferazzoli slid, tapping it into the back of the net to give Chaminade what they thought was a 2-0 advantage.
As the ball went in, the Chaminade bench erupted, but one of the officials was blowing his whistle and waving his hands back and forth to indicate that the goal was no good. Ferazzoli had been ruled offside.
Despite this disappointment, Chaminade continued to push for goal number two but could not meet with success.
Donahue again found Duffy, this time up the near side, but defenseman Luke Chekmayan of St. Anthony's blocked his shot. Then, Dorsey's in-close chance from the right wing was deflected, again by Chekmayan.
The best chance in this short spurt came from Bonilla. With 27 minutes left, after a shot inside the box on the right side came from Duffy, the ball was headed into the air. Circling inside the six, the ball flew to the far post area, where Danny Bonilla stood alone. He took his time and directed a header towards the cage, but he didn't make great contact, and Lawrence sprawled over to incredibly knock the ball out of play, keeping the score 1-0.
Despite not being able to convert, the Flyers kept putting the pressure on St. Anthony's. With 20:35 to play, Dorsey was given another chance, this time up the middle, but he clocked a blazing shot wide of the near post. A few moments later, Reina served up Veletanga with a nice pass to the left wing, where he fired on net, but the shot was blocked by Friars' defenseman Mark Berner. Shortly after, Dorsey swung it in front to a knifing Ferazzoli, but he tapped it right into the mitts of Lawrence.
With 12 minutes remaining in regulation, St. Anthony's turned up the offensive pressure, as an effort was headed into the box of Chaminade goalie Keegan Portsmore. As the ball flew toward the senior keeper, Portsmore, in an effort to clear the ball out of the box, punched it into the air, unintentionally pushing it to bounce toward the far post. The ball then was headed on net by St. Anthony's while Portsmore was out of position. Coogan came to the rescue for the Flyers, however, as he stuck out his foot and kicked the ball out of play for the clearance.
Five minutes later, a similar play occurred, and it ended in the same result. As the Friars rushed towards net, Bonilla, Abrego, and Portsmore all slipped to the ground, giving St. Anthony's perhaps their best opportunity. Despite falling to the turf, Portsmore quickly got up, and as the ball bounded toward the goal line, he was able to clear the threat and end the danger for Chaminade.
In the waning minutes, the Flyers locked down defensively, not letting anything get near Portsmore.
As time ran under 15 seconds, the Chaminade bench began counting down aloud: "3…2…1…"
Motamed Field went silent for a moment, but then the horn sounded, and the Flyers' stormed the pitch as NSCHSAA champions.
After a brief celebration, the team gathered for a postgame huddle to recap their incredible season and look forward to the state playoffs.
"There are not many Chaminade teams that can say they beat St. Anthony's three times, but we can!" said Coach Anselmo. "It's great that we can say that we won a Catholic League championship. This is a big deal. St. Anthony's is a quality opponent, and I give them a lot of respect."
Still, one can't help but look a few days forward to the state championship matches.
"The mindset is the same as always - the next game is the most important game of the season," said Anselmo. "We must be humble, stick together, and play our soccer."
The quest for a state championship continues Friday night against St. Francis Prep at St. John's University. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
