By Larry Moko
As St. John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary School celebrates its 50th anniversary, the Cardinals senior boys' soccer team is getting in on the fun.
Newman captured the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic championship with a 3-0 victory over the visiting Bishop Ryan Celtics Thursday.
Overall, this is the 48th year of Newman soccer. And in 42 of those 48 seasons, the team -- known initially as the CN Express before becoming the Cardinals -- qualified for the final.
Newman has won OFSAA gold medals four times. And, most recently, they earned two silvers plus an antique bronze from 2023-25.
No other sport has brought the Stoney Creek school such acclaim over the years as soccer.
This year also marked the sixth consecutive championship game appearance for coach Gerry Moretuzzo's squad.
"This is a special place," Moretuzzo said. "I've always felt privileged to have this opportunity (to coach).
"There's a commitment by so many people in the soccer community. And we have great kids."
Moretuzzo, in his 15th season, also mentioned the foundation laid by former Newman coaches Ron Kelly, Carm Dahlia and Mark Kovacs.
Both Newman and BR advance to the Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference semifinals on May 26. The Cardinals play host to Burlington's Assumption Crusaders while the Celtics travel to Oakville to take on the Garth Webb Chargers.
Bishop Ryan and Newman have faced each other in the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic final five times in a row.
"I thought Bishop Ryan came prepared and with a bit of a jump," Moretuzzo said. "They were playing well. We had to suffer to get through the momentum they had."
An outstanding individual effort got the ball rolling for Newman. Ethan Crossan raced up on a deep defender and stole the ball from him before opening the scoring in the 26 minute.
Crossan said he had noticed the Celtics were "slow across the box" and he took advantage.
The Cardinals padded their lead in the final seconds of the first half on an own goal after Nico Angelini crossed a ball from near the corner flag.
Angelini then capped the scoring in the 59th minute after taking a cross from Stefan Trkulja.
Anthony Villella was in goal for the shutout.
"We wanted it," Crossan said. "We really pressed them today. We had good ball movement."
Crossan hopes to make a third-consecutive OFSAA appearance next month when the showcase event is in Grimsby.
Newman finished the regular schedule in first place with a record of 6-0-1, while the third-place Celtics were 5-2. The Cardinals then topped the ACMT Jaguars and Cathedral Gaels in playoff action. Bishop Ryan edged the St. Jean de Brébeuf Braves and St. Thomas More Knights in its quarter-final and semifinal rounds, respectively.
Other players on the Cardinals roster include Joshua Mayich, Afef Binafif, Adrian Didonato, Marko Moravac, Marco Toffolon, Sahir Sierra Dominiquetti, Jayden Morgato, Damian Lucato, Luca Liszek, Sasha Sablic, Santino Di Sibio, Christian Bernoldi, Amadeo Serafino, Vic Defaveri, Jaxson Iaquinto, Adis Mustedanagic, Tatenda Maningi, Mohamed Abdo and Leon Zelenika.
Bishop Ryan won the bronze medal at OFSAA in 2025. The Celtics roster is comprised of Max Demetri, Rudi Jurincic, Tino Angelini, Tevin Clarke, Lucas Underhill, Adriano Infurnari, Santiago Ortega, Aron John, Mateo Murillo, Gianni Cino, Farel Mougau, Mofe Atolagbe, Coby King, Moyo Akinbobola, Mofe Akinbobola, Turner Anacleto, Angelo Hanna, Francesco Monaco, Sam Riverso, Mateus Grubasz, Omar Agha, Logen Wentworth, Eric Gouvia and Christian Spinosa.
Photos by Richard Andoga
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