As if Fairview’s boys soccer team needed the help.
The Tigers, the state’s top-ranked Class 2A program most of this season, led Fort LeBoeuf 1-0 less than seven minutes into their Oct. 14 match at Keck Field at Jack Bestwick Stadium.
It wasn’t due to Joey Chiocco or Eli Iszkula, the hosts’ top two scorers, but an own goal by the Bison.
Iszkula’s two goals soon followed. They gave Fairview a 3-0 halftime advantage, which Chiocco helped expand upon over the final 40 minutes.
The 9-0 shutout concluded a 17-0 overall record for the Tigers, who also topped District 10’s Region 3 standings at 8-0.
It also capped back-to-back perfect seasons for Fairview, whose 2025 team experienced its lone loss to Lewisburg in the PIAA 2A final.
“We thought we had a good group coming back,” coach Sonny Vidakovic said, “but you never know. When we schedule (non-region opponents), we don’t really think about wins or losses whatsoever.
“We think we have to play our best going into (each match).
LeBoeuf returned to Waterford at 1-5-1, 8-7-1.
More: Follow the list of District 10's top performers for the week of Oct. 12-17
Better than expected
Chiocco finished the regular season with 28 goals. The junior went into Oct. 14 with the third most goals among the district’s players.
Iszkula’s two goals nudged his season total to 16.
Chiocco didn’t have quite the same faith in the 2026 Tigers as Vidakovic expressed.
“This (perfect record) feels good,” he said, “because we didn’t think we were going to be this good because of the players we lost, including my brother Jackson. But everyone here stepped up with the goal scoring and the defending.”
Chiocco also mentioned Fairview’s stellar goaltending effort, if not Landen Smith by name.
Smith, as a freshman, expected to watch and learn from Quinn Wall throughout this fall. Wall was the Tigers’ starter in net for their 2A final.
That radically changed when Wall suffered an injury that progressed from short term to long term. It also thrust Smith into the starter’s role.
However, his performance and those of the veterans in front of him were why the Tigers' shutout of LeBoeuf was their 12th.
Fairview’s 7-3 victory at Mercyhurst Prep on Sept. 2 was the most goals it allowed over its 17 victories.
Playing up in age for club soccer, plus extensive time in net during the Tigers’ preseason scrimmages, soothed Smith’s high-pressure scenario.
“That helped me get up to speed to learn how different high school (soccer) was,” he said, “but this team helped a lot get adjusted to that. Plus, the coaches here are amazing.”
Who’s next
Fairview’s upcoming postseason is already assured to be harsher than its 2025 run.
Harbor Creek, despite losing to Fairview in the district’s 2A final, still advanced to the PIAA tournament as a second seed.
The at-large berth the Huskies received doesn’t exist on this year’s state bracket, which begins play Nov. 11. Only northwestern Pennsylvania’s best team will compete.
“We already know that one loss (in districts) and we’re out,” Vidakovic. “and we already know that we have a target on our back. Whether it’s (Cathedral) Prep or LeBoeuf, we know (2A) teams are coming for us, so we have to play our best.”
LeBoeuf will conclude its regular season with an Oct. 20 home match against Corry.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Fairview's boys soccer team concludes second straight undefeated regular season