On Wednesday May 15th the St. Anthony’s Friars took on the Chaminade Flyers in the CHSAA class AAA championship at CY Donnelly Field.
These two arch rivals played once before during the regular season where the Flyers won 13-7. Sr. Greg Campisi said, “We are a completely different team from the last time they saw us. Since that loss, we changed our mentality and are focused on playing as a team”. The Friars were determined to avenge the earlier season loss.
The game started out as a nightmare for the Friars as the Flyers scored three straight to open the game. However the tide shifted when Jr. Jake Naso ripped a shot past the goalie with 7:06 remaining in the quarter. Naso would later say, “We didn’t get the start we wanted going down 3-0 so I knew I had to get one to shift the momentum”. The Friars kept the momentum going with goals a minute apart by Jr. Robert Mcgee and Jr. Brennon O’Neill tying the game at 3. However the Flyers would get another one with 1:55 left closing out the scoring in the first.
The Friars opened up the second with a bang as Jr. Aidan Danenza would tie the score at 4. However the Friars lead would be short lived as the Flyers would score only 20 seconds later and then add another going up by 2. The Friars seemed to lose their momentum and looked to their MVP O’Neill as he delivered with his second goal of the game pulling the Friars to within one at 6-5. The Flyers would answer right back with 2 more goals putting them back up by 8-5. Credit to the resiliency of the Friars as Jr. Johnnie Rebuth scored with just 22 seconds remaining sending the Friars into the locker room down by 2.
The second half opened up with the Flyers scoring and regaining their third 3-goal lead of the game. The Friars showed their character with a never quit attitude and started their comeback. So. Andrew Macadorey scored making it 9-7. The crowd was back into the game and provided the Friars with a big boost. O’Neill would score his 3rd and 4th goals of the game tying it up at 9. The Friars would take their first lead of the game when Jr. Jack Walsche scored however, the lead would not last as Chaminade would score 3 quick goals to make it 12-10 at the end of the third.
The Friars were down by two entering the final 12 minutes of their season. Coach Wiezorek instructed his team to leave it all on the field. O’Neill would score his 5th and 6th goals of the game tying the game at 12. The Flyers scored with just 4:28 left regaining the lead at 13-12. The Friars knew to win the championship they would have to comeback one more time. Macadorey picked up a loose ball and sprinted down the field and firing a bullet pass to O’Neill as he fired home his 7th of the game. With 4:03 left in the game Sr. Jake Bonomi one- timed an amazing pass from Sr. Danny Parker and scored with an over the shoulder shot to give the Friars the lead they would never relinquish. The Friars would hold on and win the championship 14-13.
The Friars had an outstanding season going 15-1 against some of the top talent in the nation. Although losing the senior leadership, this team is loaded with talent and will look to dominate next season.
By: Alex Rocco is a junior at St. Anthony’s High School, writing for his third year with the Friar Scoreboard. He hopes to have a career in Sports Management and Media one day. He is also a member NHS, SALT, Friar Faithful, Special Needs Ministry and Franciscan Youth Ministry.
