The Stepinac Soccer Program, New Pride and Glory
The Stepinac Soccer Program has gained a new sense of pride and self-satisfaction this season among their players. The Crusaders have recorded a 6-0-2 record, which has them undefeated at the mid-point of their schedule this season.
On Thursday, Sept. 25, at Stepinac High School, the Crusaders made easy pickings of the winless, 0-7-1, Holy Cross Knights from Flushing. The Crusaders ran past the Knights, 6-2, to keep their undefeated home record (3-0) in tact.
The Crusaders jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half; with senior forward Martin Dedvukaj scoring early in the half assisted by senior Co-Captain Brendan Monaghan.
After the Crusaders other Team Captain Junior Batista filled the net for their second goal; Dedvukaj revisited Knights goalie John Stefnauee and scored his second goal of the game, again assisted by Monaghan.
Before the 80 minutes of play ended Dedvukaj had accomplished the elusive “hat trick” in soccer by scoring three goals in the game. “It is a good feeling but it is all about the team. I am glad that I could help out and the three goals statistic is great,” said Dedvukaj.
Junior forward Andrew Laurenzano was all over the field for Holy Cross. Laurenzano scored the Knights only two goals, with one goal coming early in the second half. Then he got a penalty kick past Crusader goalie Rob Sanders to end the game.
The Crusaders also scored three times in the second half, as they did before halftime. Besides Dedvukaj’s “hat trick” goal in the second half; Batista kicked his way to his second goal of the game, assisted by Dedvukaj and Monaghan finished the scoring with a goal.
Crusaders soccer has had resurgence this season under new Head Coach Matthew Hanley and his second-year Assistant Coach Bijan Maleki. Hanley returns to Stepinac after coaching the soccer team in 1992 and 1993. Hanley led the Crusaders to the CHSAA A Sectional Title in 1993. Maleki was an assistant last year and returned to help Hanley revise the program.
Under Hanley and Maleki’s tutelage this year, Stepinac soccer is in the midst of having their best season since 1998. “The fact that I have a great assistant coach (Maleki) and his good relationship with the players from last year’s team, would be the first contributing factor to our success this season,” acknowledged Hanley.
“Also, we have a lot of returning players, we are senior heavy and they have all stepped-up and are leading the younger players,” said Hanley. The Crusaders have 14 seniors and 13 juniors on their roster this season.
Nonetheless, if shutting-out a winless Holy Cross does not display the level of competition Stepinac has competed against this season. Then consider that they have also beaten Iona Prep in New Rochelle, Christ The King and Xaverian away, Monsignor Farrell and Regis High Schools at home, while tying soccer powerhouse Fordham Prep at Fordham.
“It is a great accomplishment so far this season, it is a big milestone in Stepinac’s history,” commented Dedvukaj. “It is not often over the years that we have done this, it is a really big step-up for us and we figure, why not go all the way.”
