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By Anthony Parelli
Brooklyn Daily
Carvel Crossman has been the best scorer on the Grand Street boy’s soccer team all season, so it was no shock that his goal gave the team its first city title. The only surprise was that he didn’t score earlier.
Crossman saw Mott Haven keeper Emmanuel Anning made a great save on his penalty kick four minutes into the game. He got a second chance to score on the rebound, but sailed the ball clear over the goal. Crossman said he got carried away and anxious and his miss only made him want to produce more.
“I thought, ‘Oh man.’ But I couldn’t give up,” he said. “I just kept fighting and fighting. It made me want to finish the game for my team.”
The talented striker did just that when he corralled a loose ball. He dribbled 50 yards, weaving through almost the entire Mott Haven defense before finding the back of the net.
Crossman’s goal was the only one the No. 5 Wolves needed for a 1–0 win over No. 2 Mott Haven in the Public School Athletic League Class B final last Saturday on Randall’s Island.
“Carvel is an amazing, special player that will definitely play Division-I soccer at the next level,” said Grand Street coach Johnny Chavez. “He’s a person who never stays still. He works hard and fights for the ball like a hungry dog looking for food.”
Scoring early has been a mantra throughout the Wolves’ playoff run. Grand Street has successfully been ahead before halftime in each of its postseason games.
“That’s what has gotten us here,” Chavez said.
A key part of sustaining that strategy is being able to guard a lead, and the Grand Street (15–1–1) defense did just that against Mott Haven (17–2–0). It allowed only three shots on goal for the entire contest.
“We play defense together,” Chavez said. “When you play defense together it’s easy to keep the opposing team from having shots on goal.”
The championship victory came in Chavez’s third year coaching the Wolves, but he also played for Grand Street in high school before moving on to play at Long Island University. Being an alum makes the win just that much sweeter.
“I was a student at Grand Street,” Chavez said. “For me soccer has always been special as a player and now as a coach, and this season has been the best.”