The Crusaders Soccer team topped Aquinas Institute 4-2 in a non-league matchup Thursday in Rochester, N.Y.

The Crusaders opened the match with immediate pressure against the host Little Irish, who entered the season off a 13-6 campaign in 2024–25 and an undefeated 20-0-2 run in 2023–24. Gabry Pili converted a setup from Noah Cosgrove to give Canisius the early advantage. Aquinas equalized before halftime on a free kick following a foul, sending the game into the break level at 1-1.

The Crusaders came out strong after halftime, maintaining the high-energy style that has fueled its winning streak. The Crusaders struck twice in the opening five minutes of the second half. Carter Amodeo finished off a precise pass from senior captain Austin Xiao to put the Crusaders back in front, and moments later, Xiao buried one of his own off a setup from Henry Smith to extend the lead to 3-1.

As Aquinas pushed numbers forward in search of a comeback, Cosgrove slotted home a composed finish off another Smith assist to make it 4-1. The Little Irish pulled one back late to cut the deficit to 4-2, but the Crusaders held firm defensively to close out a quality non-league road win against one of Rochester's most decorated programs.
 

GAME NOTES

• The Crusaders improved to 6-1-1 overall with the victory (4-0 in MMHSAA conference play), ranking as the #20 program in New York State and the #5 large school in New York.
• This marks the Crusaders' sixth straight win in all competitions and their second consecutive non-league road victory.
• Gabry Pili scored his fourth goal of the season, assisted by Noah Cosgrove. He has now scored in back-to-back matches.
• Carter Amodeo tallied his second goal of the season, finishing off a setup from senior captain Austin Xiao.
• Xiao added a goal of his own in the second half, assisted by Henry Smith, while also recording his fifth point involvement of the year.
• Noah Cosgrove scored in the second half on Smith's second assist of the match.
• Smith contributed two more assists, raising his season totals to seven assists and 23 points overall. Henry Smith is ranked #5 in Section 6 for points and #9 in goals, while teammate Noah Cosgrove stands at #4 in Section 6 for assists.
• The Crusaders have now scored 24 goals across eight matches while conceding only 6, averaging three goals per game during its current win streak.
• Defensively, the backline of Matthew Kreuzer, Hayden Cunningham, Victory Shalamba, and Elliott Manley limited Aquinas to just two scoring chances from open play.

UP NEXT
The Crusaders return to action on Monday, Sept. 29, in a non-league matchup against Lancaster at the Medaille Sports Complex at Buffalo Color Park. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. against the Legends, who enter with a 5-4 record and are ranked #15 in Buffalo and #6 among large schools in ECIC Conference I. It will be a battle of #5 vs. #6 in Western New York's large schools.

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.