The 2014 Unionville High School boys’ soccer team completed the season without a loss — and now begins its postseason as the top seed in AAAA District 1.
16-0-2 Indians start postseason Thursday
EAST MARLBOROUGH — Unionville High School has a long and storied history when it comes to its athletic teams. And the boys’ varsity soccer program has been one of its most successful. Through the years the boys varsity teams have won 13 league championships and have qualified for district playoffs an incredible 28 out of 34 years.
But no team in UHS history, regardless of sport, has had the kind of regular season success this 2014 team has enjoyed. Lead by 11 seniors, the 2014 Indians finished its 18 game regular season undefeated (16-0-2) after last Friday’s nail-biting comeback win, 2-1, over a very determined and upset-minded Council Rock South. Along with the ’83 and ’84 boys varsity squads (both 10-0-0) the Indians finished a Chest Mont league perfect 14-0-0.
The Indians have excelled in all phases of the game. On defense they allowed a Chest Mont league low of 10 goals while on offense they tallied 43 in league play. Lead by Junior Peter Ferraro’s 12 goals, the Indians have had 13 different players score goals with over 75% of the goals benefitting from an offensive player’s assist.
Lead by Senior Captains, Henry Shafer, Brian Cortese, Sam Alfonsi and Andrew Chegia (all of whom have been school teammates since Fall 2009 when they played on Patton Middle School’s 7th grade team), the team plays an aggressive yet unselfish, ball-control style of play. The mid-field is patrolled and dominated by midfielders, Logan Carlow, AJ Bernstein, Tim Yarosh, and Jeff Stautberg. The defense is anchored by Cortese, Dan Beckman, Jack Seilus, and Chegia with Shafer in goal. Up top, the brunt of the offensive damage is inflicted by Peter Ferraro, Aiden Walsh, Alex “The Great Dane” Andersen and Alfonsi. In addition to the senior dominated squad, the roster has some outstanding talent from the UHS Class of 2016 which includes Juniors Mark Ellsworth, Eli Lipsman, Mike Kosuth, Austin Brown, Ryan Humes, Mike Ceribelli and EJ Jankowski.
The Indians are the #1 seed in the upcoming District 1 AAA playoffs and will play their first round match at UHS at 7 PM, on Thursday, Oct. 23.
Can’t wait for Thursday. Hope the student section is filled to the brim (you hear me, Danny Donovan, Jonsey and Pechin!!).