The Chaminade Flyers have once again punched their ticket to the NSCHSAA league final. After a dominant 7-0 victory over St. John the Baptist on Tuesday at SUSA Sports Complex, the Crimson and Gold are set for a rematch with the St. Anthony's Friars - this time with a title on the line.

"Obviously, the win against St. John the Baptist was a good performance for us. We did a nice job of attacking the goal," said second-year head coach Brian Anselmo. "We know we will have to play well to win [against St. Anthony's]. We need to block out all the noise that a final brings, stick together, and commit to doing the things we know help us be successful."

Just a year after taking down the Friars 1-0 in the 2024 NSCHSAA championship match, Chaminade seeks to claim back-to-back league titles. 

After starting their 2025 campaign 6-1, the Crimson and Gold ended the regular season with 10 victories in their final 12 matches, defeating opponents like St. Augustine Prep, St. Anthony's, and La Salle Academy along the way. The Flyers, who claimed the regular-season championship in the NSCHSAA, reached the 13-win mark for the third straight year. 

"I am very happy with the regular season. Finishing first in the regular season was one of our goals, and the team has consistently improved," reflected Anselmo. "The number of wins we have achieved over the last few seasons is something we are proud of. It is evidence of our consistency."

At the end of September, Chaminade traveled to New Jersey to participate in the Delbarton Invitational. At the event, the footies defeated St. Augustine Prep and drew with Delbarton. The Flyers' attack was spearheaded by the efforts of Gianluca Falanga, who scored a goal in each contest. 

"I was able to be successful through the team's trust in me. It was because of their confidence in me that I almost felt no pressure at all," said Falanga. "The overall team performance through those two games was exceptional. Each and every player played his part."

Not long after, another chapter of the greatest rivalry on Long Island was written as St. Anthony's, who was ranked #25 in the country in the United Soccer Coaches poll a week prior, came to Gold Star Stadium to take on Chaminade. 

The Flyers' midfield and defensive units were outstanding throughout the 80 minutes, shutting down the Friars' attack, which was headlined by leading scorers Shane Rossiter and James Kelly. 

On the offensive end, the Crimson and Gold created numerous chances, but they couldn't get anything past Friars goalie Cole Lawrence. That was until the late stages of the first half, when Massimo Bruno scored his first and only goal of the season to give Chaminade a 1-0 advantage.

"Since I started the game on the bench, I knew I needed to step up. Going into the game, I had one focus, and that was to score and finally unlock myself," recalled Bruno. "It was a huge moment for me."

Bruno's tally ended up being the deciding factor in the match, as with under 20 seconds remaining, Athanasios Pasakiolis made a diving save in the box to clinch the Flyers' fourth straight victory over St. Anthony's.

"The win against St. Anthony's was huge. It was a great way to take command of the league and put ourselves in a great position to win the regular season championship," said senior co-captain Jack Dorsey. "We were able to shut down their top players by just doing what we have done all season and defending together as a team."

Five days later against La Salle Academy in Rhode Island, Chaminade got a pair of goals from unexpected scorers - Alexander Blair and Michael Price - en route to a 2-0 win. This match displayed the diversity that the Flyers possess on their roster. 

"Our depth has been very important. We have had different players step up throughout the season, and this has created confidence throughout the team," said Anselmo. "Against La Salle, we were not surprised by either Michael or Alex's goals. They are both quality players, and we know that they are capable of producing in those situations."

In their final four contests, the Crimson and Gold went 3-0-1 in league play, tying St. Anthony's 1-1 in their final regular-season match on October 23 at Cy Donnelly Field. Blair registered a goal off a stellar corner kick from Bruno to clinch both the draw and the playoffs' top seed.

Then, in the postseason, Chaminade battled St. John the Baptist in the NSCHSAA semifinals for the fourth straight year. In each of the previous three years, the Flyers defeated the Cougars, and this time around, it was the same story.

The Crimson and Gold had control of this game all the way, netting seven goals against the Cougars and shutting out St. John the Baptist. Falanga once again led the charge on offense for Chaminade, totaling three goals in the match.

"I found most of my success through simplicity and confidence. I kept my game really simple, not really taking more than one or two touches unless absolutely necessary," said Falanga. "The team did very well at moving the ball and playing unselfishly. It was very good to see our offense flowing like we know it can."

The opening kickoff for the Flyers' league final match against St. Anthony's is at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday at Adelphi University. If they defeat the Friars, the Crimson and Gold will move onto the New York State playoffs with a chance to capture the program's tenth New York State crown.