Derek Hamilton's tiebreaking goal lifts St. Anthony's boys soccer to NSCHSAA Class AA championship

St. Anthony’s had just yielded the tying goal to Chaminade on a penalty kick in the 63rd minute. And so the fate of the Friars’ super season was up in the chilly air Sunday night at Adelphi.

But that equalizer made this undefeated soccer team more determined to take the NSCHSAA Class AA championship, something that eluded St. Anthony’s the previous two years thanks to title game losses to the Flyers.

“Once they tied the game, I just knew we had to get more into work,” junior center attacking midfielder Derek Hamilton said. “Just put more into the attack, press harder and just do more.”

Then Hamilton did more, scoring the tiebreaker with 11:48 left.

And top-seeded St. Anthony’s held on to win the championship game for the first time since 2023, emerging with a 2-1 win over No. 2 Chaminade.

“The last two years, we knocked; we didn’t get it done,” Friars coach Don Corrao said. “That was enough motivation for this crew right out of the gate. Probably the hardest-working team I’ve had the privilege of coaching.”

Now his 17-0-2 team can chase a state CHSAA title, which Chaminade won last season. St. Anthony’s will play in the state semifinals against the eventual Diocese of Brooklyn/Queens champ at St. John’s on Nov. 13, a game tentatively down for 7 p.m.

SEE PHOTOSPhotos: NSCHSAA Class AA boys soccer final

“I think if we keep the same mentality that we came out with tonight, I think we can get the job in the states,” said senior center back Liam Kessler, the game MVP and league’s co-defensive MVP with Chaminade’s Michael Price.

The defense has conceded just eight goals in 19 games. The Friars also have the league’s goalkeeping MVP in Matthew O’Shaughnessy, who made four saves in the championship game.

“We stay compact, we communicate well and we bring each other up no matter what mistakes we make,” Kessler said of the defense.

The offense, meanwhile, has scored 82 times.

The league’s offensive MVP, Jayden Crespi, sent the ball to Hamilton for the winner from the right side of the box.

“This team is so good because … every practice we put in the work,” Hamilton said. “We always have a great attitude.”

In the 17th minute, Nick Gentile served a corner kick into the box. Kessler headed it past Conner Gawlik, who made nine saves.

So it was 1-0 at halftime.

“I actually thought the momentum was changing in the second half,” Flyers coach Brian Anselmo said.

Then Hudson Keefer tied it, sending his penalty kick low into the left side of the net.

“I think we were reenergized by it,” Corrao said. “The way we responded and as quickly as we responded, look, as a coach you can’t be happier. … They just wanted it more.”

So Chaminade ended at 10-7-1 after starting at 1-4.

“Listen, I’m disappointed that we lost, but I’m really proud of our guys,” Anselmo said. “We battled. If a bounce had gone another way, maybe we would’ve had a chance. But they’re excellent.”