St. Anthony's Boys Soccer Team Eyes Historic Season as Playoffs Approach

The St. Anthony's High School boys soccer team, ranked ninth nationally with a 15-0-1 record, is preparing for the playoffs with aspirations of etching their names into the school's storied athletic history. Head coach Don Corrao expressed pride in his team's dedication, noting their eagerness to practice and improve.

"We look forward to coming to work every day because of their work ethic," Corrao told The Post. "They want to come to work every day."

The Friars began their season with a 0-0 draw against Bergen Catholic of New Jersey and have maintained an undefeated streak since. Their final regular-season match is scheduled against archrival Chaminade.

Corrao noted that the team's ambition was evident early on, as players inquired about the program's historical achievements. Senior co-captain Jayden Crespi recalled the team asking, "What is the best team in [school] history? Because we want to be better than them."

Historically, St. Anthony's soccer program has seen success with the 2008 team, which finished 20-0-1 and was ranked second and sixth nationally, and the 2013 team, which also finished 20-0-1 and achieved a sixth-place national ranking. Corrao emphasized the hard work required to reach such heights, a sentiment the current team has embraced.

"I said, 'In order to get to those heights, it would take a lot of hard work,'" Corrao said. "Fortunately, they listened."

The team's commitment was highlighted during an early morning practice session held in dark and cold conditions, which co-captain James Kelly described as filled with "the biggest smiles on our faces."

Corrao called the session "without a doubt, our best training session of the year," praising the players' energy and work rate.

Beyond their rigorous training, the Friars have developed a unique game-day ritual: dancing in a corner during halftime, regardless of the score. Junior midfielder Nicholas Gentile believes this camaraderie is crucial.

"If you don’t love what you’re doing, why do it at all?" Gentile said. "You’ve got to be positive, even if you’re having an off day; off days are gonna happen. You just have to enjoy the moment."

Crespi mentioned that the team draws inspiration from the kickline team for their sideline routine, with "Swag Surfin'" by Fast Life Yungstaz being a particular favorite.

Despite the national recognition, the team remains focused on the task ahead, aware that a single loss could overshadow their successful season.

"There’s still a very long way to go," Corrao stated.

Adding to their motivation is the prospect of reclaiming the league title from Chaminade, who have won the championship for the past two seasons. "Chaminade had us the last two years now, and winning it back is just everything to us this year," Kelly said. "We didn’t want it as much last year. I think this year it’s very clear how much we want it."