All Christ the King coach Ovid Cusu wanted was for his team to be competitive in its first season in Class A. The Royals accomplished that with a third-place finish in Brooklyn/Queens. On Wednesday, Christ the King picked up its signature win of the season.
CK struck for five second-half goals to defeat Regis, 5-2, in a first round Class A intersectional playoff match at Juniper Valley Park on Wednesday afternoon. The Royals advance to the quarterfinals to meet No. 4 Iona Prep Sunday at Maritime College.
“We played the best 30 minutes of the season in the second half because we kept the ball down,” Cusu said. “We will play hard the next game because we have nothing to lose.”
After a scoreless first half, Regis (4-8-4), ranked No. 6 in the CHSAA by The Post, took the lead on a goal by Will Salter, but No. 7 Christ the King (7-9-0) erupted for five consecutive goals as Calogero Curcuru struck twice and Federico Curbelo, Cesar Oviedo and Chris Munoz all found the back of the net. Billy Carballiera added the second goal for the Raiders, but it was too little, too late.
Xavier 4, Holy Cross 2: Marco Fronterre, Ed Wagner, Ed Sullivan and Trystan Montero scored for No. 5 Xavier (9-4-3) in a Class A intersectional first round game at Aviator Sports Complex Wednesday night. The Knights advance to take on No. 2 Fordham Prep in a quarterfinal match Sunday at Maritime College. Holy Cross ends its season at 1-11-4.
Archbishop Stepinac 2, Monsignor Farrell 0: Co-captain Rory O’Neill struck in the first half on an assist from Michael Ameiro, co-captain Jason Vargas added a goal in the second half and goalkeeper Michael Pizutti made five saves to earn the clean sheet for No. 10 Archbishop Stepinac (6-9-1) in a Class A intersectional first round game in White Plains Wednesday afternoon. The Crusaders will take on No. 1 St. Francis Prep in a quarterfinal match Sunday at Maritime College. Farrell ends its season at 1-11-1.
St. Peter’s 3, Xaverian 1: Kevin Baroz and Matt Dalton struck early in the first half and Dylan Ross scored a key insurance tally with seven minutes left in the second half for St. Peter’s (5-7-2) in a Class A intersectional first round game on Staten Island Wednesday afternoon. The Eagles advance to the quarterfinals to take on No. 3 Archbishop Molloy Sunday at Maritime College. Michael Marando scored the lone goal for Xaverian, which ended its season at 1-14-1.
CLASS B
Bishop Ford 1, All Hallows 0: Oscar Castillo struck for the game’s lone goal in the 18th minute to lead Bishop Ford (6-5-0) in a Class B intersectional first round game at Aviator Sports Complex Wednesday afternoon. The Falcons will play either Cardinal Spellman or Cathedral Prep in the second round. All Hallows ends its season at 5-6-3.