Haldane girls only squad still alive after first week
By Skip Pearlman
The Beacon High School girls’ soccer team, seeded No. 8 in the Section 1, Class A playoffs, got off to a good start in its first-round playoff game on Oct. 21 against No. 9 Horace Greeley, from Chappaqua. But a defensive mistake cost the Bulldogs an early goal and set the tone for what turned out to be a 2-0 loss and an end to the season.
“It was disappointing,” said Coach Hugo Alzate. “We came out playing with confidence, moving the ball well, and we hit the crossbar in the first minute. But then they came down and we had an unforced error, we fouled, and they got a penalty kick in the first five minutes. That changed the game.
“I’m still very proud of the girls,” he said. “They worked through it, kept on fighting. We had other opportunities, we just couldn’t finish. It was somewhat satisfying in that we saw that we can play with them.”
Meagan Meeuwisse made seven saves in goal for the Bulldogs, who finished the season 9-5-2.
Alzate said his team had a plan to slow down the Quakers’ top scorer, Allie Forester, and executed it well. “Analiese Compagnone had a very good game, as did freshman Maddie Bobnick, and Katelyn Rosa had two shots hit the crossbar.”
Somers Defeats Beacon Boys
The Beacon boys’ season came to an end Wednesday (Oct. 24) in the Section 1, Class A semifinals when the seventh-seeded Bulldogs fell, 3-1, at No. 6 Somers.
The score was tied, 0-0, at half before Somers scored on a header off a free kick. It scored twice more to take a 3-0 lead. The Tuskers (16-5) advance to Saturday’s championship game at Lakeland High School, while Beacon finished its season at 15-6.
The Bulldogs won their first two games of the tournament, defeating No. 10 Nyack, 1-0, on Oct. 19 on a Devin Lambe goal, and taking care of business on Oct. 22 against a disciplined No. 15 Keio Academy team, 3-0. The Unicorns (10-9) controlled the ball well, so the Bulldogs knew that when they had possession, they needed to make the most of it.
Coach Craig Seaman said that Keio’s focus on possession made it susceptible to counterattacks. “We knew we’d concede a number of possessions in the middle,” Seaman said. “But in the attacking the final third I thought we were better.”
Seaman complimented his defense, as well. “Our back four have been brilliant all year,” he said. “Carter Pederson, John Mesnick, Aaron Davis and Carter Hull and our keeper, AJ Lucas, who is a freshman, gave up very few goals, and they don’t get much credit. Our front four are dangerous, and our middle is kind of by committee, some young guys.”
Against Keio, Dillon Kelly, Noah Montrose and Lambe all scored in the final 25 minutes for the Bulldogs. Lambe, a senior, had the score against Somers to finish with 26 goals for the season, plus nine assists, and 71 career goals.
Photos by S. Pearlman
Haldane Boys End Tough Season
The Haldane High School boys’ team ran into a strong Alexander Hamilton squad Wednesday (Oct. 24) on the road in the Section 1, Class C semifinal, losing, 6-1.
Jesse Sherman scored for the fourth-seeded Blue Devils, who finished 2-15. Haldane goalkeeper Ben McPherson had five saves.
Hamilton, the No. 1 seed, scored three minutes into the game and put it away soon after, finding the net three times in a five-minute span.
“They were the better team, undoubtedly,“ said Coach Craig Canavan. “We didn’t start with the energy and enthusiasm we had hoped for. Luke Hammond and Jesse, both juniors, played well.”
Despite the team’s record, Canavan said the Blue Devils had improved over the season. “It was disappointing to lose this way,” he said. “The kids were enthusiastic, and the feeling has been, in the next game, we’ll be better. But now that there is no next game, I do feel bad for the seniors. Our record is not indicative of this group.”
Haldane Girls Beat Hamilton
The Haldane girls’ team (6-8-1), seeded No. 2 in Section 1, Class C, defeated visiting No. 3 Hamilton, 4-1, in its first-round game on Thursday (Oct. 25). The Blue Devils advanced to the championship game on Sunday, Oct. 28, against No. 1 Solomon Schechter at Arlington High School at 1:30 p.m.
Against Hamilton, Sophia Scanga scored twice for Haldane, and Jade Villella and Julia Rotando each had a goal.
Photos by Scott Warren
