By ZACH BRAZILLER
When Archbishop Molloy and Regis walked off the pitch at Alley Pond Park in Glen Oaks, a familiar disappointment was etched across each side’s faces.
For after 80 minutes, neither could claim victory nor defeat. They played to a 2-all draw, an all-too-common result for both, the fourth tie for Molloy and third for Regis.
“We’re majoring in ties,” Molloy Coach Andy Kostel said.
Regis (4-1-3) felt a little better about itself as, unlike Molloy (3-2-4), it has defeated the teams it is superior to and has just one loss, to rival Xavier, on its docket. The Stanners, meanwhile, were coming off a tie against Xavier and are struggling to find themselves.
The Catholic league played overtime seven years ago, but Regis Coach Vinny Catapano said there aren’t set plans to return to the format. The league does vote on it every year, but a majority of coaches have to approve the change, which has yet to occur.
“It’s not something anybody feels strong about,” Catapano said.
Earlier in the year, the issue for Molloy was lack of offensive punch. That hasn’t been a problem of late — Molloy scored twice against Xavier last Thursday and Gabe Maurello and Nick Matusewicz scored Friday — but now the defense is springing leaks, blowing a 2-1 lead against Regis. Kostel is still mixing and matching in the back and will continue to do so until the playoffs, he said.
“We’re getting more dangerous and we have more work to do in the back,” Kostel said. “I don’t think it’s that bad, but there are certainly things I need to fix. That’s what [the regular season] is about.”
Catapano was, for the most part, pleased with his team’s effort. He was particularly happy to see senior striker Bobby Santariello score twice. The workmanlike senior played outside midfield last fall, is a defender on his club team, but was moved up front alongside leading scorer Ryan McLaughlin this fall. After a slow start, he has begun to find the scoring touch, tallying four times in three matches.
“I was preparing myself in the summer for the transition,” he said. “I knew my team was going to need me.”
His emergence can only help McLaughlin as the playoffs near, forcing the opposition to pay attention to the Raiders’ other weapons.
“It will make us that much more of a threat when teams realize we have a few guys that can put the ball in the back of the net,” Catapano said. “A lot of people overlook Bobby because Ryan is our leading scorer, but I think they pair well together. A lot of the time Ryan will score the goals and Bobby is the workhorse. It was great to see Bobby flip that role. It will be needed down the stretch.”
The draw was even more proof Regis possibly belongs among the Catholic league’s best. The Raiders’ three draws have come against defending champion Iona Prep, Fordham Prep and now Molloy. Further tests loom next week, starting with a home match against powerhouse St. Francis Prep.
“We’re making our way there,” Santariello said. “We have a few tough games to show people where we are. We’re a good team — we’re gonna prove that.”
