By Dylan Butler
Tamer Mohamed is an eternal optimist.
For the first time in the program’s history, the Holy Cross soccer team will not get the luxury of a first-round bye in the CHSAA playoffs, and instead will host Archbishop Stepinac in a first-round game Thursday at 4 p.m.
But for Mohamed, a senior midfielder, that’s just fine.
“You’d like the bye to rest, but we need to learn how to play as a team more,” said the talented Mohamed, who has drawn interest from Duke, Boston University, UConn and Brown. “I see it as a positive.”
Despite uncharacteristic regular season struggles, which saw Holy Cross finish third in Brooklyn/Queens with a 1-3-2 record and lose to rival St. Francis Prep for the first time in at least five years, first-year coach Dom Cinelli is philosophical about playing a first-round match.
“It will be the road less traveled, playing another game,” he said. “It should be a good learning experience. Maybe we need more before we go up against tougher opponents. By Thursday, we’ll be ready to go. You’ll hear from us again.”
Holy Cross has improved, as evidence of last Thursday’s 1-0 loss to Archbishop Molloy in their league finale. The Knights did well to possess the ball, played better defensively, but — as has been the case for much of the year — struggled in the offensive third.
“I wish we would’ve finished better, but now we have to do it the hard way,” said junior Jeovani Parades. “We’ve been unlucky lately, but hopefully we can step it up in the playoffs. I still think we can win the city championship.”
Is there a doctor in the house?
The first-round bye can only help Molloy, the defending state champions, who have yet to play a game this year with a completely healthy team.
A rash of injuries this season has allowed some players who normally wouldn’t get quality playing time an opportunity to play some important minutes for the Stanners, who won the Brooklyn/Queens title for a third straight year.
“It’s been tough, we’ve had a lot of injuries,” said senior defender Nick Katsanos. “Everyone had to step up. We played as a real team. Everyone did their part when they had to.”
Molloy (11-3-3, 6-0) will play the winner of the Xavier/St. Peter’s match Sunday in the CHSAA quarterfinals at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point at noon.
“We try to emphasize ‘team’ as much as possible. Last year the seniors had some injuries and we pulled it off,” said Molloy coach Andy Kostel. “This year, there’s been more [injuries]. This bodes well for the future of a lot of players at Molloy.”
A new attitude for St. Francis Prep
St. Francis Prep coach Franco Purificato has told anyone who would listen that he thought he would have a quality team. But first he had to convince the Terriers that their underachieving of the past is behind them.
The final selling point for St. Francis Prep (7-2-2) was its 1-0 overtime win over Holy Cross, the first time the Terriers defeated their rivals in at least five years. Two days later St. Francis Prep defeated Xaverian, 3-0, to clinch second place in Brooklyn/Queens and secure a first-round bye.
“They always knew we have a good team but we always expect something to happen,” Purificato said. “At the start of the season we had the same attitude but once we tied Holy Cross and then beat them, it was a real morale booster. I think we definitely can make some noise.”
The Terriers face defending city champions Monsignor Farrell in the CHSAA quarterfinals Sunday at 2 p.m. at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.
The semifinals are Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Kings Point and the CHSAA ‘A’ championship game is Saturday, Nov. 2, at 7 p.m.
Because of a myriad of makeup games due to inclement weather, the CHSAA ‘B’ division playoffs have been delayed until Nov. 5.
Chaminade 4, Molloy 0. Eric Leidner netted his second hat trick of the year, Gabe Ramos added a pair of assists and Derek Sudan made three saves for his third shutout for Chaminade (11-3-2).
Holy Cross 1, St. Anthony’s 1. Maciek Serafin put St. Anthony’s in front 10 minutes into the second half, but Bobby Milonovici tied the game for Holy Cross less than two minutes later.
Monsignor McClancy 4, Cathedral Prep 1. Danny Tarantino scored twice while teammates Julian Escobar and Adam Brunengo added one apiece to lift McClancy over Cathedral Friday. McClancy also scored a 4-2 win over Cathedral earlier in the week.
Christ the King 6, St. Edmund Prep 2. Filippo Rappa scored three times, Kayode Sodeinde added two and Michael Alesi scored once in the Royals’ win last week, raising the team’s record to 7-0 in league play.
Reach Associate Sports Editor Dylan Butler by email at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 143.
