While happy it had earned the Section III Class A championship, the Christian Brothers Academy boys soccer team was far from satisfied.
The chance to earn the program’s third state championship was still within grasp for the undefeated Brothers, who entered the regional round no. 5 in the state Class A rankings.
First on the agenda was a trip to Potsdam High School to meet Section X champion Massena last Wednesday night, and with depth and balance CBA easily subdued the Red Raiders 4-0.
Echoing what it had done in the sectional final against New Hartford, the Brothers were in front before the 10-minute mark, Connor Morgia getting the opening goal.
Barely three minutes later, Will Harrigan made it 2-0, and CBA carried that margin into halftime before doubling it in the second half to get clear.
Eighth-grader Zack Walma burst through to score just past the midway point of the half to make it 3-0, and Santiago Betancourt-Trompia added a fourth goal.
Morgia picked up an assist, as did Jack Griffith, while Juliuz Pichardomkp gained a pair of assists.
The regional final Saturday at Troy pitted CBA against Section II champion Columbia, who had a 9-2-6 record, though most of the Blue Devils’ losses came against Class AA foes.
In theory, this was supposed to make Columbia a tough opponent – but CBA proved even more dominant here than it was against Massena, not letting up until it had secured a 6-0 victory and a trip to the state final four.
Just as he did in each of his previous post-season games, Morgia put in a goal in the early stages, with Griffith also finding the net as, once again, the Brothers found itself in front 2-0 at halftime.
Early in the second half, any questions about the outcome quickly went away. Morgia hit for a second goal and Harrigan converted, too, with Griffith returning to pour in a 30-yard shot to make it 5-0 and Caleb Buddie adding a late tally.
Andrew Kohlbrenner, back from an injury suffered in the sectional final, picked up a pair of assists, with Walma and defender Tom Leskoske also getting assists.
CBA now joins three other Section III teams – Cicero-North Syracuse (Class AA), Skaneateles (Class B) and Cooperstown (Class C) in making the trek to the Hudson Valley for championship weekend.
In Saturday’s state semifinal at 12:30 at Monroe-Woodbury High School, CBA faces Section IX’s Beacon, who will be playing close to home. The winner advances to Sunday’s final at 1 p.m. at Middletown High School.
