2026 STAC Boys Soccer Large School Championship
Ithaca 3 – Vestal 1
Ithaca Goals: Samuel Lima (PK), Benjamin Susskind, Felix Teschl
Vestal Goal: Sebastian Pineros
2026 STAC Boys Soccer Small School Championship
Susquehanna Valley 3 – Seton 0
Susquehanna Valley Goals: Giano Lisi, Dustin DeMoney, Sean Skinner
STAC Championship History:
2026 Large: Ithaca d. Vestal 3-1
2026 Small: Susquehanna Valley d. Seton 3-0
2025: Maine-Endwell d. Oneonta 2-0
2024: Owego d. Ithaca 4-1
2023: Vestal d. Chenango Forks 5-2
2022: Vestal d. Corning 1-0
2021: Maine-Endwell d. Chenango Valley 3-2
2020: No playoffs due to Covid-19
2019: Ithaca d. Oneonta 1-0
2018: Vestal d. Elmira 3-2
2017: Vestal d. Ithaca 1-0
2016: Vestal d. Ithaca 1-0 (OT)
2015: Ithaca d. Vestal 7-0
2014: Ithaca d. Vestal 3-0
2013: Vestal d. Corning 3-2
2012: Oneonta d. Corning 3-2 (OT)
2011: Vestal d. Ithaca 2-1
2010: Vestal d. Oneonta 2-1
2009: Vestal d. Oneonta 2-1
2008: Elmira Free Academy d. Susquehanna Valley 1-0
2007: Vestal d. Johnson City 4-0
2006: Horseheads d. Vestal 2-1 (2 OT)
2005: Vestal t. Horseheads 2-2 (co-champions)
2004: Vestal d. Maine-Endwell 2-1 (OT)
2003: Vestal d. Horseheads 4-0
2002: Owego d. Susquehanna Valley 2-0
2001: Owego d. Union-Endicott 4-3 (OT)
2000: Union-Endicott d. Owego 3-0
1999: Susquehanna Valley d. Ithaca 3-2
1998: Union-Endicott d. Vestal 2-1
1997: Ithaca d. Vestal 2-0
1996: Vestal d. Union-Endicott 3-2
1995: Union-Endicott t. Vestal 0-0 (co-champions)
1994: Union-Endicott d. Vestal
1993: Union-Endicott d. Ithaca 3-1
1992: Union-Endicott t. Vestal 1-1 (co-champions)
1991: Chenango Forks d. Vestal (0-0 tie, 4-2 on PKs)
1990: Vestal d. Maine-Endwell 1-0 (OT)
1989: Vestal d. Union-Endicott 2-0
1988: Vestal d. Ithaca 3-1
1987: Vestal d. Union-Endicott 2-1
1986: Vestal d. Maine-Endwell 6-1
1985: Oneonta d. Vestal 1-0
1984: Vestal d. Maine-Endwell 4-0
1983: Vestal d. Oneonta 2-1
1982: Vestal d. Oneonta 1-0
1981: Vestal d. Norwich 2-1 (4 OT, 3-1 on PKs)
1980: Vestal d. Oneonta 3-1
1979: Ithaca d. Norwich 4-1
1978: Ithaca d. Oneonta 2-1
1977: Ithaca d. Oneonta 2-1
1976: Ithaca *
1975: Vestal *
1974: Vestal d. Oneonta 1-0 (4 OT)
1973: Oneonta *
1972: Ithaca *
1971: Ithaca *
1970: Ithaca *
1969: Ithaca *
1968: Ithaca *
1967: Maine-Endwell *
1966: Vestal *
* No championship game; finished 1st in division
STAC Championships by School:
Vestal – 29 (2023, 2022, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003, 1996, 1995, 1992, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1975, 1974, 1966)
Ithaca – 14 (2026, 2019, 2015, 2014, 1997, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1976, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1968)
Union-Endicott – 6 (2000, 1998, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992)
Owego – 3 (2024, 2002, 2001)
Oneonta – 3 (2012, 1985, 1973)
Maine-Endwell – 3 (2025, 2021, 1967)
Susquehanna Valley – 2 (2026, 1999)
Horseheads – 2 (2006, 2005)
Elmira Free Academy – 1 (2008)
Chenango Forks – 1 (1991)
****
Game Previews:
2026 STAC Boys Soccer Large School Championship
Ithaca (West: 10-0, 13-1) at Vestal (Metro: 8-2, 9-2)
(* This year, the champion of the Metro division will host the STAC Large School Championship. It will rotate to the West division next year. Also, please note that STAC switched from one overall champion to Large School [West/Metro] and Small School [Central/East] Championships going into this school year.)
The battle for the STAC Large School Championship is a rematch from a great game a month ago. On September 19, Ithaca defeated Vestal 5-4 in overtime. Benjamin Susskind both started and ended the scoring. His second goal was the golden goal that gave the home team the victory. Felix Teschl, Samuel Lima, and Loic Massingar were Ithaca’s other goal scorers. Vestal stayed right with the Little Red thanks to a pair of goals from Jacob Nelson, and one apiece from Tyler Burgin and Owen Mitsakos.
After a season opening home loss to Fayetteville-Manlius, Ithaca began their undefeated run in STAC play with a 1-0 win over Elmira on a goal by Bennett Rickard. Their defense is the biggest reason for the 13-game winning streak. Since the victory over Vestal, they’ve only surrendered nine goals in nine games. Their 3-1 win over Elmira sealed the West division. Teschl collected a pair of goals.
Vestal is currently on a three-game winning streak, which included an exciting 3-2 home win over Maine-Endwell on October 7. Tied 2-2 with just over a minute left, Nelson nailed the game winner on a one-on-one to give the Golden Bears the victory. Elsan Toric started the scoring and Burgin added another. They overcame two goals by Maine-Endwell superstar Landon Stenta, including a PK that tied it at 2 towards the end of the first half.
Like Ithaca, Vestal relies on their strong defense. They started the season 4-0, all by shutout. Overall, they tallied seven shutouts and only 11 goals surrendered. Ithaca accounted for nearly half of them in the first matchup, so we’ll see how Vestal responds, this time on their home field.
Vestal has long dominated STAC, with an amazing 29 STAC Championships. Their last one was a 5-2 nod over Chenango Forks in 2023. Ithaca will look to win their 14th STAC Championship and first since a 1-0 win over Oneonta in 2019.
2026 STAC Boys Soccer Small School Championship
Susquehanna Valley (East: 11-2, 13-2) at Seton (Central: 11-2, 11-3)
(* Central division hosts this year, with East hosting next year.)
After dispatching Windsor 9-0 on Monday, Susquehanna Valley became the last team to clinch a division and earn a berth to the STAC Small School Championship. The Sabers can thank Norwich for the help, as Wyeth Stafford’s goal accounted for all of the scoring in a big upset over second place Oneonta last Friday, avoiding a tiebreaker game. Seton defeated Owego 4-0 on October 5 to claim the top spot in the Central division.
The first meeting of the season on September 19 was intense, won by Susquehanna Valley as the home squad, 3-2. That handed Seton their first blemish of the season after running out to a 5-0 start. Seton’s Jake Della-Verde got the scoring started before SV’s Grant Wilson tied it up at 1-1 heading into halftime. SV built a 3-1 lead and withstood one more Seton goal to hold on the last 10 minutes for victory.
That win propelled the Sabers to nine straight victories, including a 1-0 win over Oneonta on October 5 to keep the edge on top of the East. Their only losses this season were a pair of 1-0 road losses to Oneonta and Chenango Forks. In the division clincher on Monday, Wilson got the scoring started early, and the Sabers never looked back.
Seton has played the best soccer of their season lately. They’ve won five straight and seven of the last eight. Their only loss was a tight 3-2 setback at Maine-Endwell, which was great non-league competition for both teams. A 3-2 overtime win at Chenango Forks saw Della-Verde notch the golden goal. He also recorded an amazing seven goals in an 8-1 win over Waverly on October 7. The term “one man wrecking crew” was brought to a whole new level by him in that one.
Of the two teams, only Susquehanna Valley has tasted STAC Championship success. They defeated Ithaca 3-2 in 1999. Seton has never appeared in a STAC Championship game, so they’ll be making school history.