Chaminade advances to CHSAA soccer championship
Second goal of the night scored on a penalty kick by Chaminade's Matthew Vowinkel during the CHSAA boys soccer state semifinal playoff game where Chaminade defeated Archbishop Molloy, 3-0, at St. John's University on Nov. 13, 2015. Credit: Patrick E. McCarthy
It's been five years since Chaminade advanced to the CHSAA boys soccer Final Four and Friday night, the Flyers won their semifinal over Archbishop Molloy in convincing fashion.
Junior Matt Vowinkel scored twice and Chaminade was never severely tested on its way to a 3-0 victory.
After creating chances in the game's opening minutes, Chaminade broke through when Alec Brutschin took a pass from captain Nicholas Lavinio found senior Alec Brutschin and scored from 12 yards. The goal, coming just 4:01 into the game, gave Chaminade a quick lead in front of an estimated 1,300 at St. John's Belson Stadium.
Brutschin, a junior, fielded the pass and one-timed it with a forceful shot to the left side of the goal.
"Once it hit my foot, I knew it was going to go in," Brutschin said, "and I just thought it was a great moment because going up 1-0 in the semifinals, it just gave us a great chance to win the game."
Chaminade plays Canisius High School of Buffalo in the CHSAA championship Sunday at Belson Stadium at 1 p.m.
The Flyers put a finishing stamp on the victory in the second half. After pushing the pace to start the half, Vowinkel was fouled on the right side of the box. The result: a penalty shot and Vowinkel's 23rd goal of the season.
Archbishop Molloy couldn't produce any threatening scoring chances in the first half due in large part to the back-line play of Chaminade seniors Kevin Lee, Matthew O'Connor and Dylan Dwyer, along with junior Nicholas Milano keeping Molloy star Jesse Rodrigues in check.
Archbishop Molloy pushed the pace a little more in the second half but the Chaminade back line proved impenetrable. The Stanners had the first scoring opportunity of the half but Dwyer stepped in and booted a cross just a few yards in front of the net out of danger to the relief of goalkeeper Yanni Rigos.
"It's really awesome because us seniors, we got knocked out in the Long Island final last season and that was just devastating," Dwyer said. "So we worked all season to this and we finally got it."
Chaminade's final goal came when Davis sent a cross off a corner kick from the right side, which Vowinkel went up for, jerked his head back and nailed an emphatic header into the top of the net with 12:41 remaining.
Chaminade will be playing for its first state title since 2010 Sunday. Canisius defeated Fordham Prep, 1-0, in the earlier match.
