A lackluster performance by the St. Edmund Eagles cost the soccer squad dearly on Wednesday as they lost 5–0 to defending Catholic School Athletic Association champs Monsignor McClancy Crusaders — blowing any chance to advance to the league finals.
It was the second straight year that the Crusaders crushed the Sheepshead Bay kickers. Eagles’ coach Chris Fugelsang said his team didn’t show up to play, forcing goal keeper Terrance McCarthy to do all the heavy lifting — making three point blank saves in the first 18 minutes before McClancy’s offense finally broke through.
“Our goal keeper kept us in the game,” Fugelsang said. “He wants to be a field player, but I need him in the goal because he is just so valuable.”
Despite the poor showing, Fugelsang says he’s happy with his team’s performance in the playoffs, since the Eagles advanced a round further than a year ago.
St. Edmund beat Bishop Ford 2–0 in the first round of the semifinals and upset champs Cardinal Spellman 5–4 on penalty kicks after a 2–2 score in regulation play.
Last Wednesday marked the second time in three years that the Eagles had reached the final four — not a bad end for a team hampered with injuries all season, Fugelsang explained.
“It was kind of nice to get to this point again,” he said. “It’s another step in the right direction.
Reach reporter Joseph Staszewski at jstaszewski@cnglocal.com. Follow him on twitter @cng_staszewski.
