Classes AA, A Will Provide a Fight to Finish for Locals
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
At the start of the 2024 campaign, it was thought – by some in the know – that Class AA soccer was a tad down when compared to Class AAA and A, but we’ve come to find that AA soccer is a legit brand; with what looks like nine serious challengers, including state-ranked (No.11) Tappan Zee (11-2, currently No.1 in the Sect.1 bracket), No.15 Peekskill (12-2-1), Harrison (8-4-2), No.16 Horace Greeley (7-1-4), Yorktown (7-2-2), Carmel (5-2-5), Fox Lane (7-3-2), Mahopac (7-4-1), and even Roosevelt (we suppose, at 10-1-1 against a soft schedule).
The road to the Class AA finals will be teeming with capable clubs and getting out of the quarterfinals and into the Final 4 will be no easy chore, much less the finals #GetYourPopcornReady!
YORKTOWN (6-0-1 in last 7 games, 2 wins this week over previously state-ranked RCK and Poughkeepsie) and GREELEY (which is unbeaten in last 6 and hasn’t lost since a 3-0 setback to Mahopac on 9/14) are percolating as we head into the final stretch of the regular season.
In Yorktown’s 4-2 win over Ketcham, Ricky Tiberii (2G, 1A) had his way while Haniel Flores (1G, 1A), Colin Worden (1G) and Ryan Dean (1A) all found the stat sheet.
Nick Pozzo was unstoppable in the Huskers’ 5-3 win over Poughkeepsie, as he bagged a hat trick while Worden (1G, 2A), Flores (2A) and Lumi Bajrami (1G) complemented.
In Greeley’s 2-2 with gritty Port Chester, Quaker captain Ryder Goodman (2G) was as good as advertised and Isaac Carillo picked up an assist.
MAHOPAC has hit a speed bump and hopes to get back on the trail after losses to Yorktown and Arlington. The Wolf Pac did manage a 3-1 win over BREWSTER when Aidan Paris-Devanne (1G, 1A), Oliver Filip (1G, 1A) and Sebastian Bilinski (1G) all tickled twine. Ashwin Sookram scored from Dante Gulla for the Bears (3-10).
PEEKSKILL took a 4-2 decision from HEN HUD when Umaru Conteh, Brandon Rodriguez, Ariel Tenezaca and Chris Chalco all found the back of the net, courtesy of some fine playmaking from Juan Ventura (3A) and Daniel Farez Sierra (1A).
Peekskill also blitzed Edgemont, 7-0, when Conteh (2G), Daniel Farez Sierra (1G), Charlie Berardi (1G, 1A), Melvin Criollo (1G), Rodriguez (1G), Andres Cabrera (1G, 1A) and Chunchi (1A) all feasted in front of G Jonathan Farez (4 saves).
CARMEL blanked Brewster, 2-0, behind goals from Andy Kozlowicz and Zach Foltz.
FOX LANE had its way with Lincoln in a 9-0 win where Gavin Morales (hat trick), Fredy Contreras (1G, 2A), Miguel Sagastume (2G) and Eduardo Lopez Lemus (1G, 1A) all had multi-point games.
CLASS A
Equally as tough as Class AA, Class A is loaded with challengers to the throne that state-ranked (No.5) BYRAM HILLS sits upon. The undefeated Bobcats, the 2023 NYS runner-ups, lead a cast of strong local challengers, including current No.4 seeded PLEASANTVILLE (7-1-3), No.5 LAKELAND (8-3-1), No.6 SOMERS (8-5-1) and No.7 WESTLAKE (6-4-3)
It seems like Pleasantville is tired of those doubting them after a 3-0 whitewashing of Westlake, which failed to contain Erik Nanaj (1G, 1A), Garvin Kayizzi (1G), James Winn (1G, 1A) and Kevin Shahinllari (1A).
If that weren’t enough to impress, the Panthers erased a 2-1 deficit and tied a quality Blind Brook club, 2-2, behind a pair of goals from Kai Martens Wallace and Jonah Aghern, assists coming from Erik Nanaj and Luke Pawlowski.
It also looks like Somers has had enough of the nonsense, the Tuskers putting their best foot forward in 3-0 win over host Lakeland, avenging an earlier 2-1 loss to the Hornets. Tuskers Connor Van Tassel (1G, 1A), Daniel Nikac (bicycle kick goal, 1A), Trevor Keimig (1G) and Noah Hechler (1A) put on a heck of a display.
Through it all, the one team in Class A that has held true is Byram Hills, which took out Rye and Harrison by identical 2-1 counts.
Against Rye, Bobcats Ryan Pero (1G), Seb Olego (1A), Chris Amenedo (1G) and Owen Lee (1A) factored in the scoring while G Gavin Nichols made eight saves to secure the win.
Olego (1G) and Amenedo (1G) are proving to be a lethal tandem as they each scored in the 2-1 win over Harrison. The Nichols boys – Ryan Nichols (1A) and G Gavin Nichols (9 saves) – figured prominently in the victory.
PANAS has been an enigma all season, having beaten Lakeland and tying Byram Hills, the Panthers (3-7-4) have shown they have the ability to compete, just like they did in a 6-1 win over John Jay-CR. It’s consistency, which has plagued Panas, but the Panthers will be a tough out in the playoffs.
CLASS AAA
WHITE PLAINS is showing serious signs of life, having gone 3-0-2 in the last five, including a 2-2 tie with New Rochelle, which had no answer for Jeremiah Rojas (2G), who was set up by Mustafa Ghafoor and Alexander Napoli while Tiger G Edgar Garcia notched eight saves. Garcia was equally busy in a 1-1 tie with Fox Lane, making nine saves in a 1-1 draw. Eric Garcia (from Rojas) scored for the Tigers while Kenny Mejia Lopez (1G) and G Samuel DeMarco (7 saves) stood out for the Foxes.
OSSINING lost 1-0 to Port Chester and fell to 6-3-3, and have now lost two of the last three.
Examiner-Area Super 7 Banger
No.1 Byram Hills (10-0-3) Class A – State-ranked (No.5) Bobcats stared down their tough stretch against Harrison and Rye with a pair of 2-1 wins #WhatsNotToLike.
No.2 Peekskill (12-2-1) Class AA – State-ranked (No.15) Red Devs are in control when Umaru Conteh does his business, which is often. Kid has All-NYS written all over him.
No.3 Greeley (7-1-4) Class AA – Ranked No.16 in NYS, the Quakers are about as hot as anybody in Section 1. League wins over Ossining and White Plains, which would lock down a league title, this week might put the Quakers as the team to beat in AA.
No.4 Fox Lane (7-3-2) Class AA – 1-1 tie with White Plains keeps Foxes on the radar and head-to-head win vs. Yorktown keeps them ahead of Huskers, for now.
No.5 Yorktown (7-2-2) Class AA – Love the balance, love the current 23-6 scoring run over the last 7. Lots to love down the stretch here.
No.6 Somers (8-5-1) Class A – Something tells us we were right about the Tuskers looking forward to the rematch with Lakeland last week when they avenged a 2-1 setback to the Hornets a few weeks back with a 3-zilch win.
No.7 Pleasantville (7-1-3) Class A – Just give the Panther his due already. They are beating everyone on their schedule, just hope it’s enough to prep for post.
No.7A White Plains (5-4-3) Class AAA – Since getting clocked by Greeley, 3-0, Tigers are 3-0-2 #StillNot100%Sold
Honorable Mention (in no order)
Carmel (5-2-5) Class AA – Rams don’t lose much (just twice) but these 5 ties could catch up in the end when Section 1 let’s us go to OT and chips are on the line.
Mahopac (7-4-1) Class AA – Wolf Pac are coming up short against the powers that be in one of the toughest leagues in NYS (losses to Arlington and John Jay EF), but they need to right ship down stretch vs. Carmel, RCK, Yorktown to get back on track for a sustained run.
Lakeland (8-2-1) Class A – Have followed this program since Chris Pangalos was an All-American in like 1980, but it’s time to put your best foot forward right here, right now and reach a Final 4.
Ossining (5-3-3) Class AAA – Losses to White Plains and Port Chester knocks the Pride out of Super 7 for at least a week, and a tough stretch awaits: Fox Lane, Greeley, White Plains.
Briarcliff (4-2-5) Class B – 2-1-2 in last 5 but remain a solid Class B contender if they can run with Keio.
Westlake (6-4-3) Class A – Step up in classification will be a tough road to hoe after going 1-4 in last 5.
Panas (3-7-4) Class A – Lost 1-0 to Somers. Been a tough season record-wise but nobody wants to see Panas in the postseason.
DAVID TABER PHOTOS
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.
