Byram Strikes First in Win over Somers; Carmel Tops ’Town
News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
By Ray Gallagher, Examiner Sports Editor @Directrays
As two of the favorites to challenge for the Class A Section 1 title, host BYRAM HILLS and SOMERS simply could have avoided one another during the regular season in the hopes of meeting up when it matters most: In the playoffs.
But the fabric of these two juggernaut programs is woven in the competitive spirit of their coaches; Bobcat legend Matty Allen and fiery Tusker guru Brian Lanzetta, two of the top coaches in NYS. Rather than kick back and let things play out, the two coaches scheduled one another for Friday’s highly-anticipated tilt, which saw NYSPHSAA runner-up Byram Hills prevail, 3-1, behind a pair of goals from senior captain Harry Boyd, who picked up where he left off after scoring the game-winning header in the 2023 state semis.
“It was a nice win for us against a high-quality Somers team,” Allen said.
Somers, in fact, isn’t ducking anyone. The Tuskers opened their 2024 campaign against a Class A Eastchester team that reached the Class AA finals before falling to Scarsdale in PKs. The Eagles are going to be a hassle for Class A foes this season, and Somers found out in a 3-1 season-opening loss earlier in the week.
“I set my schedule to play the best,” Lanzetta said. “I want to test my boys. I’m not here to micro-manage a schedule. I asked to play some of the best to get my guys ready. The plan is simple: my program will always be feared, and I wouldn’t want to play us come October no matter what our record is.”
The Tuskers bounced back nicely in Saturday’s 6-3 win over an improved MAHOPAC club. The WolfPac can’t allow six goals and expect to win many games, so they need to tighten up defensively as they did during the first 40 minutes when they trailed just 1-0, and the three goals from Oliver Filip was quite promising. The Tuskers, though, got three goals from good-looking sophomore Harper Ritson and never trailed by less than three goals the rest of the way.
Ritson also scored Somers’ lone goals in the losses to Byram and Eastchester, both off feeds from Daniel Nikac.
“To be honest, everyone is good no matter who we play,” Lanzetta said. “I would not want to be playing Mahopac in an early playoff berth. They’re well coached and have some studs.”
As does Byram, which featured Boyd’s game-winning goal against Somers and another from snipe-happy Chris Amenedo (1G), perhaps the section’s premier goal-scoring threat.
Sebastian Olego had two assists for the Bobcats and Tyler Bond added another. G Gavin Nichols came up strong with seven saves. It was tied 1-1 at half.
LAKELAND posted a mighty big win, 2-0, over Pearl River as the Hornets improved to 1-1 behind a first-half goal from Lucas Boyko (40 yard free kick goal) and a second-half insurance mark from Vinny Karaqi (7 mins left in game). Matteo DiLaura had an assist and G Oban Rader (7 saves) stopped a PK save with 10 mins left at 1-0.
WALTER PANAS had HEN HUD’s number in a 2-0 triumph on Friday when Jake Burns (1G), Chase Ferguson (1G) and Jonathan Alvarez (1A) found the scoresheet.
CLASS AA
CARMEL won 1-0 over YORKTOWN off a great shot from outside the box by sniper Kevin Hernandez, and GK Alex Berrardi came up huge with 17 saves for the rising Rams.
“It’s Kevin’s fourth year on varsity, he’s the leader of the team,” Rams Coach Vasiliy Shevelchinsky said. “It was a beautiful one-touch strike from outside the box in a very tough game.
Since coming on board some five years ago, Coach Shevy has changed the culture of Carmel soccer. There was a time not long ago when Carmel couldn’t hold Yorktown’s collective jock, but here the Rams are on the cusp of competing for their first sectional title should they rise to such a challenge.
“Means a lot,” he said. “Still plenty of ball left to play!”
Yorktown opened the season with a 5-0 win over BREWSTER when Haniel Flores (1G, 2A), Colin Worden (1G, 1A), Ricky Tiberii (1G), Sean Davis (1G) and Lumi Bajrami (1G) worked the rebuilding Bears.
PEEKSKILL has done similarly under Coach Jonathan Iasillo, who had rendered the Red Devils relevant the last few years, including a 3-1 season-opening win over Harrison, which failed to slow down Red Devil Umaru Conteh, who scored from 10 yards out at fifth minute from Randy Tapia’s assist and then again on a PK at the 19th minute. Chris Chalco, from six yards out at 26th minute, scored off a Juan Ventura assist to ice the Huskies. Peekskill G Angel Cabrera (6 saves) held the fort.
Conteh also slipped two goals past Lakeland in a 2-1 season-opening win.
CLASS B
BRIARCLIFF held off VALHALLA for a 2-1 win in the opening round of the Mt. Pleasant Cup tourney, doing so behind Lucas Apter (1G), Rohan Karnik (1G), Nathaniel Rohde (2A) and G Conall Torres (4 saves). Valhalla’s Heming Huang (1G) and G Jacob Bricker (7 saves) came through for the Vikings, who had to feel good about their season-opening effort.
“It was a back and forth first half,” said Bears Coach Paul Bordenero.
PLEASANTVILLE won the other side of the bracket after advancing on PK’s in a 1-1 tie with WESTLAKE. Joel Beccerra scored from Erik Nanaj and Panther G Joseph Pecararo stopped three penalty kicks as Pleasantville advanced to Saturday’s finals against Briarcliff, which were postponed due to heavy rains and will be made up this week as the four Mt. Pleasant Cup challengers (plus their parents, boosters and fans) raise funds for cancer awareness.
Westlake and Valhalla finished in a 2-2 draw in the consy round when Wildcats Nico Costa (1G), Cian Kelly (1G) and Joseph Vulcano (2A) met a stalemate with Vikings Joshua Abraham (1G), Arthur Barrozo (1G), Alex Gonzalez 1A and Ian Silvero (1A).
CLASS AAA
WHITE PLAINS forged a 2-2 tie with Mamaroneck when Eric Garcia (1G), Jeiby Maldonado (1G) each scored off an assist from Andres Arc (2A) while Tiger keeper Edgar Garcia made nine saves as the Tigers erased a erased a 2-0 deficit in the final 26 minutes on opening day.
Alex Lenaghan and Adrian Alvarez each scored for OSSINING in a 2-1 win over CROTON-HARMON, which saw Gavin Cunningham put one between the pipes while Tiger G Joseph Nee prevented 12 goals.
CLASS C
HALDANE was cooking early and often when the 2023 NYS champ Blue Devils saw four different players score goals in a 4-1 win over YMA, including Brandt Robbins, Ty Villella, Roth Westphal and Rhys Williams. Matthew Silhave (2A) and G Marc Firpo (11 saves) figured prominently in the win.
Week 1 Top 5 Examiner-Area Banger
No.1 Byram Hills – 2023 NYS Class A runner-ups are clearly at another level.
No.2 Carmel – Class AA Rams beat Yorktown, got our attention.
No.3 Briarcliff – Not sure if the Bears can hang in Class A with Somers, Byram etc. but we like ‘em in Class B.
No.4 Peekskill – Formerly a regular 2/4-win also-ran prior to his arrival, Coach (JP) Iasillo has the Red Devils more than relevant.
No.5 Yorktown – Loss to Carmel should put Huskers on alert.
HM Somers – Haven’t ducked a soul while opening with Class A powers Byram and Eastchester but something is off; White Plains, Ossining, Fox Lane, Lakeland, Panas
Ray has 33 years experience covering and photographing local sports in Westchester and Putnam counties, including everything from Little League/Travel Baseball to varsity high school prep sports and collegiate coverage. He has been a sports editor at Examiner Media since its inception in 2007.
Visit Ray’s author bio page for more details. Also read Ray’s archived work here and his Direct Rays column here.
