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Elmira-Corning Boys Soccer: Top players, team outlooks for 2023 season

andrew legare, elmira star-gazette
·5 min read

Corning takes a streak of three consecutive Section 4 Class AA championships into the boys soccer season and early results show the Hawks have the firepower to make it four straight.

The Hawks scored 35 goals in winning their first four games and senior Carter Rosno notched his 42nd goal during that stretch to become the all-time leading goal-scorer in program history.

This is the first season the New York State Public High School Athletic Association includes a Class AAA in soccer and some other sports, increasing the number of sectional and state champions from five to six.

Corning and Elmira are the lone AAA schools in Section 4, so that final is set. Class AA includes Ithaca, Binghamton, Horseheads, Vestal and Union-Endicott.

More: Section 4 boys soccer 2023: Results, top performers

A look at Corning and other Elmira-Corning region boys soccer teams.

Corning goes for 4 straight

Corning's Carter Rosno (11) controls the ball during a 4-0 win over Elmira in the Section 4 Class AA boys soccer final Oct. 28, 2022 at Waverly Memorial Stadium.
Corning's Carter Rosno (11) controls the ball during a 4-0 win over Elmira in the Section 4 Class AA boys soccer final Oct. 28, 2022 at Waverly Memorial Stadium.

Last year's record: 15-3-1.

Head coach: Chad Freelove (11th season).

Players to watch: Rosno scored 24 goals as a junior and was the Elmira-Corning Elite 15 Boys Soccer Player of the Year as selected by Gannett Central New York newspapers. Through the first four games this season, he has 15 goals. Other top offensive threats include Jake Kempton (6 goals), Taylor Freelove (4 goals) and Devin Ianovici (5 goals).

Outlook: "This team is very technically sound with great tactical understanding as well," Freelove said. "They work very hard at training sessions and they understand what it is going to take to maintain the level of success there has been in these past handful of years at (Corning-Painted Post). There are some big shoes to fill, but we are confident they can accomplish it.

"Every night out every team in this conference will have to bring their best game. We look forward to seeing how this group responds to the challenges ahead."

Young Elmira comes off strong season

Elmira's Ashtyn Traugott-Knoll (14) brings the ball up the field during a 1-0 win over Horseheads in STAC West boys soccer Sept. 14, 2022 at Ernie Davis Academy's Marty Harrigan Athletic Field.
Elmira's Ashtyn Traugott-Knoll (14) brings the ball up the field during a 1-0 win over Horseheads in STAC West boys soccer Sept. 14, 2022 at Ernie Davis Academy's Marty Harrigan Athletic Field.

Last year's record: 10-7.

Head coach: Derek Hamilton (19th season).

Players to watch: Senior forward Ashtyn Traugott-Knoll, sophomore midfielder Luca Capilli, senior goalie Sam Brenen-Buseck (Southern Tier Athletic Conference West/Metro all-conference in 2022), junior defender Anthony Kitching.

Notable: Highly regarded and successful veteran coach Steve Mastronardi is in his first season as an Express assistant.

Outlook: Elmira, which has lost to Corning in the last two sectional finals, has the youngest team in the Southern Tier Athletic Conference West Division with five sophomores and two freshmen. The Express is off to a 3-1 start. Said Hamilton: "The group doesn't lack quality as they play a high level of soccer on a year-round basis. Traugott-Knoll returns to provide scoring punch. ... Luca Capilli fills the midfield role with a high engine and Anthony Kitching is an all-conference defender."

Horseheads seeks rebound in 2023

Horseheads' Ben Church (17) goes up for the ball between two Elmira players during the Express' 1-0 win in STAC West boys soccer Sept. 14, 2022 at Ernie Davis Academy's Marty Harrigan Athletic Field.
Horseheads' Ben Church (17) goes up for the ball between two Elmira players during the Express' 1-0 win in STAC West boys soccer Sept. 14, 2022 at Ernie Davis Academy's Marty Harrigan Athletic Field.

Last year's record: 4-9-1

Head coach: Mark Mucci (12th season as head coach, 18th overall).

Players to watch: Seniors Matt Mucci (STAC All-Division), Ryan Anderson and Jaret Teeter; and juniors Ben Church (STAC All-Division), Elijah Friend and Dominic Hugg.

Outlook: The Blue Raiders had what Mark Mucci described as an "injury plagued campaign" but over the years have shown the ability to compete with the best teams in Section 4. Said Mucci: "Several strong technical players within the starting 11 should help the team to maintain possession and move the ball up the pitch. Several players are entering into their third season at the varsity level and bring with them their experience and tactical understanding of the game. We have a good group of newcomers and are looking for a few to provide some valuable minutes. STAC West will be very competitive this season."

More: Watkins Glen’s not-so-easy path to Lake Hawks nickname, mascot

Watkins Glen tries to build off last year

Last year's record: 2-8-2.

Head coach: Jessica Purpura (second season).

Players to watch: Defenders Jaymes Forker (All-IAC South Small School first team) and Sam Hohle; midfielders Aidan Kelly and Savie Purpura (IAC South second team); forward Liam Smith (IAC South second team), striker Michael Purpura (returning from surgery and a year off). Sophomore Caleb Bresett steps into a starting role at goalie after he was a backup last year. Christopher Simiele, a midfielder and forward, is an impact newcomer for the Lake Hawks.

Outlook: "Team is very young, but we do have 13 returning players from last year," Coach Purpura said. "Hoping to build on our chemistry, create more scoring opportunities and have more wins.

"We are rebuilding a program that struggled with numbers the past few years. The team is working hard and very determined. They maintain a positive outlook and great sportsmanship.  Hoping to have a successful season."

More: Southern Tier Athletic Conference welcomes Waverly effective in 2023-24 school year

Waverly joins STAC Central

Last year's record: 9-6.

Head coach: Eric Ryck (sixth season).

Players to watch: Senior defender Sam Knight and senior midfielders Griff Schillmoeller and Charlie Larrabee were IAC South Large School first-team all-stars in 2022.

Outlook: The Wolverines are competing in the STAC Central Division after playing in the Interscholastic Athletic Conference since 1987. Said Ryck: "Looking forward to this season and our new era in the STAC. We return seven seniors, so we have a really good core group to lean on. Our goals this year are to compete every game and build on the success we’ve had the last two seasons.  Looking to make a third straight sectional bid and grab our first postseason win."

Notre Dame seeks sectional return

This year's record: 1-1-1 through Tuesday.

Head coach: Josh Miller.

Players to watch: Jose Marcotti Neto scored three goals in the Crusaders' 5-0 victory over Newfield on Tuesday.

Outlook: Notre Dame, eight years removed from the most dominant state title in New York state history, has been competitive early this season after falling short of sectionals last year. The Crusaders' lone loss in their first three games came in overtime against Dryden.

O-M struggled last year

Last year's record: 1-12-2.

Head coach: Ken May.

Players to watch: Senior goalie David Patterson was a first-team IAC South Small School all-star last season and sophomore Patrick Croft was a second-team All-IAC South midfielder.

Outlook: Odessa-Montour has the second-smallest enrollment in the IAC behind Notre Dame. Last year the Grizzlies qualified for the Section 4 Class D tournament despite winning one game.

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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: 2023 look at boys soccer teams in Elmira-Corning region of Section 4