Yanni Gordon's goal helps Chaminade boys soccer beat Monsignor Farrell to endthree-game skid
Yanni Gordon (far right) of Chaminade is congratulated by teammate Tyler Arma after scoring the game's only goal against Monsignor Farrell during the Firebird Invitational soccer tournament at Kellenberg on Sunday. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
The other teams had left with clean sheets against Chaminade in three straight games.
“Honestly, it’s been frustrating,” Flyers junior midfielder Yanni Gordon said. “This is a strong squad with a lot of potential.
“We know we’re capable of creating chances, but this is our first year playing together, and it’s just a matter of time where we start connecting and gain chemistry as a team.”
Gordon snapped that streak in the first half Sunday, scoring against Monsignor Farrell in the rain-soaked Firebird Invitational at Kellenberg. The defending state CHSAA champion Flyers held on for a 1-0 win, ending their three-game skid and bringing them to 2-4.
And despite scoring just once, there was offensive progress for a soccer team with only two starters back. Chaminade had several chances. But Lions goalkeeper Jack Power made eight stops, and another Gordon shot struck a post.
“We had a number that were close,” Flyers coach Brian Anselmo said. “Their goalkeeper made a number of good saves. I think we were very close to putting two or three more goals in.
“… We were creating the opportunities. We just need to put a couple more of them in the net, and I feel like that’s going to happen as we move through the season.”
They broke through with 15:58 left in that first half.
Jack Allen ripped a shot off the left post. Gordon was in the box and banged in the rebound.
“I just think I was in the right spot at the right time,” Gordon said.
This was a rematch of a 2025 state CHSAA semifinal, a game Chaminade won 2-0. But Monsignor Farrell (2-4) has just one returning starter.
The Lions finally came on after halftime.
“It took us 40 minutes to adjust,” coach Ed Hynes said. “Their speed of play — they were putting us under pressure.”
Conner Gawlik saved the lead, making a nice stop with about 10 1/2 minutes remaining.
“We see from where we were at the beginning of the season until now, we think offensively and defensively we are starting to come together,” Anselmo said. “It was definitely a positive step.”
