CHS Soccer beat the fourth-ranked team in Pennsylvania on Saturday as the Crusaders roared to a 7-0 win over Cathedral Prep of Erie, Pa., Saturday on Koessler Field at the Stransky Athletic Complex.

Cathedral Prep entered the game as the No. 4 team in MaxPreps' Pennsylvania state rankings. Canisius entered the game ranked 53rd in New York by MaxPreps and is now ranked 22nd in the state this week.   

The Crusaders wasted no time asserting control in the home non-conference matchup against Erie powerhouse Cathedral Prep. Senior Henry Smith struck twice in the first half to give the Crusaders an early cushion, before sophomore forward Tony Franjoine added a third with a header off a cross from junior Elliott Manley, sending the Crusaders into halftime with a 3-0 lead.

The momentum carried into the second half when Manley scored his first goal of the season, heading home off a corner kick to extend the advantage. Smith later completed his second hat trick of the year with another goal after the break, followed by Tony Franjoine's second strike of the match, assisted by Carter Amodeo. Junior Gabriele Pili then closed out the game, netting the seventh goal off a setup from Xiao, sealing the statement win.

Defensively, the backline anchored by Matthew Kreuzer, Hayden Cunningham, Victory Shalamba, and Elliott Manley limited Cathedral Prep's chances to speculative efforts from distance. Goalkeepers Octaviana Santicrose and Christian Lumba recorded the shutout during the commanding victory, the team's fifth clean sheet of the season and second in a row.
 

GAME NOTES

• The Crusaders improved to 5-1-1 overall with the victory.
• Senior Henry Smith scored twice in the first half and later completed his second hat trick of the season, giving him 8 goals and a team-leading 21 points on the season.
• Sophomore Tony Franjoine scored once in the first half on a header assisted by Elliott Manley and later added an assist, bringing his season total to 5 goals, 2 assists, and 12 points.
• Junior Elliott Manley scored his first goal of the season and added an assist, now with 1 goal, 5 assists, and 7 points on the year.
• Junior Gabriele Pili scored his third goal of the season, assisted by Xiao. Pili now has 3 goals, 2 assists, and 8 points this season.
• Senior captain Austin Xiao recorded two assists, moving his season totals to 4 assists and 4 points.
• Goalkeepers Octavian Santicrose and Christian Lumba recorded the shutout, the Crusaders' fifth of the season and second consecutive.
• Canisius has scored 25 goals across seven matches while conceding only 4.

UP NEXT
The Crusaders travel to Rochester, N.Y., on Thursday, Sept. 25, for a non-league matchup against Aquinas at the Wegman-Napier Athletic Center. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. as the Crusaders look to continue its five-game win streak.

Students and families interested in CHS Soccer and the excellence only found in a Jesuit education at Canisius – ranked as the Buffalo area's "Best Catholic School" by Buffalo Business First – can learn more by arranging an on-campus experience via canisiushigh.org/visit or by joining us at our Open House on Oct. 5-6.

This place is special. Let us show you why.

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