Kellenberg boys soccer leaves no doubt in its win as host of the Firebird Invitational

The Kellenberg boys soccer team needed just 31 seconds to score against Mount St. Michael Academy.

Chants of “Alex” for goalscorer Alexander Buckenmeyer erupted from the Firebirds’ bench. Less than nine minutes later, Buckenmeyer beat his defender, won a tackle and passed to Joseph Montenegro, who had assisted Buckenmeyer’s opening goal.

Montenegro scored. Once again, the chants began. But 25 seconds after play restarted, centerback Emmett Secaur lined a ball to the feet of Buckenmeyer, who turned and ripped a shot into the bottom-left corner. Two minutes later, Secaur’s throw-in found Daniel Quinn’s head, giving Kellenberg a four-goal advantage by the 12th minute.

There were no more chants needed. The performance on the field said enough.

“We put them in,” Buckenmeyer said. “That’s our job.”

Kellenberg went on to defeat Mount St. Michael Academy, 7-1, at home in its third annual Firebird Invitational tournament Sunday. Kellenberg (7-1-1) took possession almost immediately and never wavered as midfielders Ciaran Smith, Nathaniel Jean, Finnegan Augustin, to name but a few, moved the ball sideline to sideline. Micah Joseph glided across the field in front of them, opening space for runs behind him. David DelCastillo Diaz added two goals late.

Quality ball movement leads to Kellenberg’s Alexander Buckenmeyer’s second goal in the first 10 minutes.

Only a sophomore, one of 16 returners in 2027 for the Firebirds.

Absolute snipe 🎯 pic.twitter.com/X7SBYyoA1m

— Michael Sicoli (@Michael__Sicoli) September 20, 2026

What was most impressive, perhaps, was how stable Kellenberg’s possession was despite plenty of substitutions.

“The defining trait is the chemistry,” Kellenberg coach William Masiulis said. “It’s the team-centrism that the boys were demonstrating. Some kids will get more minutes than others, but I’m not seeing the negativity of their lack of minutes … They’re willing to make the sacrifice to get out there and give me that five or 10 [minutes] so the team wins.”

The tournament brought public and Catholic school teams together as South Side, Floral Park and Rhode Island’s Barrington joined the likes of Chaminade, St. Anthony’s, St. John the Baptist, Xavier and Monsignor Farrell.

“It’s bringing unity to these leagues,” Masiulis said. “At the end of the day, we all are part of the same fraternity, right? We all love soccer.”

It’s been a great season for Kellenberg, which outscored its first six opponents, 17-2. That includes several tough teams like Mepham, Stony Brook School and reigning Catholic state champions Chaminade.

With a road trip to undefeated St. Anthony’s awaiting Tuesday night, Kellenberg will need to be at its best.

“We got to stick together as a team, play for the people left and right of you, and just fight for each other,” Montenegro said. “It’s not a one-man effort; it’s a team game.”