WEST HAVEN – When Rays Kisaku came to Xavier, he said he promised something to his boys soccer coach.
“I told my coach (Brian Fitzgerald) I would win it (a championship) for him,” Kisaku said.
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It took three seasons, but Kisaku cashed in on that promise. He scored in the early stages of the second half, the game-winning goal, for top seed Xavier in a 2-1 victory over No. 3 Wilbur Cross Wednesday at Ken Strong Stadium.
The Falcons (17-0-2), the No. 2 team in the GametimeCT rankings, won their eighth SCC championship, fifth in this decade alone. After winning four straight from 2020-23, Xavier missed out the last two seasons.
“It’s a goal every season to win the division, win the conference and win states,” Fitzgerald said. “We tell the guys from the get-go, they know the expectations are high. They work, they work for it. We hold them to a high standard and every year that culture doesn’t change, that standard doesn’t change.”
This was the first appearance in an SCC championship game for Wilbur Cross (14-3-2). The Governors salvaged a 1-1 tie with Xavier during the regular season.
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“It’s bittersweet because we came here to win. The kids battled their rear ends off,” Wilbur Cross coach Scott Raffone said. “I’m so proud of them, so proud of the effort.”
Kisaku scored just 1 minute, 26 seconds into the second half. John Staron, who scored Xavier’s tying goal, had the initial shot.
Wilbur Cross goalkeeper Luis Rodriguez kept the Governors in it with eight saves. One of those came on Staron’s shot. But Rodriguez could not control it.
“Whenever he shoots, I kind of just run for it. I always know it’s going to be on frame, so on that play I saw it, the keeper is bound to deflect it,” Kisaku said. “From then, I just chased it down and put it in the back of the net.”
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Kisaku believed the defense would hold up and the Falcons proved him right.
Xavier goalkeeper Roldofo Fraschilla was named the SCC tournament Most Outstanding Player. He allowed just the one first-half goal to Wilbur Cross in the three-game tournament.
“They pressured us in a way where I was on my toes until the very last second,” Fraschilla said. “At no point did I let my guard down.
“I was always on high alert. I don’t play this sport for awards, I play it for my team. I’m so proud of these guys. This group of very accomplished players, I can’t wait to see where all their careers take them.”
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Leo Castellano scored the opening goal for Wilbur Cross off a direct kick.
Rays Kisaku, Xavier: Junior buried the rebound off an initial shot to put Xavier ahead to stay, 2-1 in the second half.
“A hard-fought win against a quality opponent like Wilbur Cross is great.”
-Xavier soccer coach Brian Fitzgerald
(at West Haven)
W. CROSS 1 0 – 1
XAVIER 1 1 – 2
Scoring: WC: Leo Casatellano, 6:29; X: John Staron, 20:25; Rays Kisaku (Staron), 41:26. Shots: X 17; WC 6. Saves: WC: Luis Rodriguez 8; X: Rodolfo Fraschilla 2. Records: X 17-0-2; WC 14-3-2.
This article originally published at Xavier edges Wilbur Cross to capture eighth SCC boys soccer championship.
