Hen Hud ‘Liv-in’ Large Behind Senior Johnsen; P’Ville Rocks on

By Tony Pinciaro

Every time Liv Johnsen steps on field for HEN HUD, she immediately draws the opponents’ undivided attention. And, with good reason.

The senior striker is one of Section 1’s most prolific offensive players. When the soccer ball is on Johnsen’s foot one of two results will occur, she will set up her teammate to score or she will find the back of the net herself.

The four-year varsity starter has rewritten the Hen Hud girls’ soccer record book after scoring her 60th varsity goal and registering her 34th assist. Both are new standards, eclipsing, ironically, older sister Lena’s totals of 58 goals and 31 assists. Lena Johnsen attends Fordham and is a member of the women’s soccer team.

Along with Johnsen’s record-setting year to date, Hen Hud is currently 9-4-2 after wins over Ardsley (3-1) and Edgemont (2-0).

Hen Hud Coach Bill Pagel praised Johnsen for being an outstanding leader, player, student and person. Even with her scoring prowess, Pagel is awed by one aspect of Johnsen’s game.

“The thing that amazes me most about Liv is her willingness to set up her teammates for success,” Pagel said.

“Someone with Liv’s ability could easily dominate the ball, but Liv willingly looks to get her teammates involved and will often pass to a teammate instead of taking a shot.

“It has been a true joy watching Liv play and I’m grateful that she has been a part of our team the past four years.”

Johnsen, who is well aware of the opponent’s defensive strategy, is always thinking of the team first when she has the ball.

“I shift positions where I can find a bit more space,” said Johnsen, who will attend SUNY Buffalo next September and also play soccer. “I also get fewer players on me when I drop back a little, which gives me the opportunity to get the ball in my own half, and I can dribble into space—usually on the flanks—and from there I can get the ball to a teammate who will have a better chance to score. Soccer is a team sport, and it does not matter who scores.”

Johnsen authored a new page in the record book with her goal and assist, on freshman Skyler Selkin’s goal, against Edgemont. Johnsen was able to celebrate with friends and family, including Lena, who was in attendance.

“My sister and I have always competed in soccer, and actually Lena was at the game, so it was special to have her there,” Johnsen said. “I know she will always say that her record was achieved in three years – our club didn’t allow their players to play high school at the time, so her accomplishment is still impressive (though I did not play much my junior season). Lena was supportive and happy for me. It was a great night, which was only made better by her being there.”

Johnsen’s numbers would be even more impressive, but she explained she missed time her junior season playing abroad.

“Records are definitely nice to hold, but the thing I am most proud of is playing for the U17 Danish Youth National Team, last year,” Johnsen said. “I traveled to Europe twice to play in friendlies, and Union of European Football Association Championship qualification matches. They were incredible experiences. But being away so much last year meant that I didn’t play very much for high school that season, which explains my stats from that time. I also had to be very disciplined with my school work, and I was happy to be able to maintain my grades, even while missing school.”

Johnsen, along with fellow seniors, Eleni Schattman, Kiely Morley, Oakley Gougelmann, Lena Pfeiffer, Monica Rocha, Catherine Wright and Yuliana Guevara returned this year with renewed determination.

The Lady Sailors prepared for a grueling schedule with a tough preseason, which was needed as the team faced Briarcliff and John Jay-Cross River early. Despite the results, Hen Hud came away optimistic.

“Looking back to the first two games against Briarcliff and John Jay-Cross River, I can say that we showed potential to play well later in the season, despite us not coming out of those games with wins,” Johnsen said. “We dominated the game against Briarcliff, creating many scoring opportunities, while showing off our ability to build up an attack. We nearly drew to a talented John Jay-Cross River team after playing a game the day before, and even then we displayed some good possession.”

Since then, Hen Hud is 9-2-2 despite battling injuries, which has left the team somewhat depleted.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries this year, and we still have been able to compete in many games,” Johnsen said. “There were stretches in the season when we had only 12-14 field players available, and we still managed to get results. At one point, a JV goalkeeper was pulled up to varsity because our two goalies were unavailable, but still put in a great shift.”

In Hen Hud’s victory over Ardsley, Johnsen had a hat trick and the Schattman sisters – Eleni and Yorgia – rang up assists.

Hen Hud will complete the regular season, Wednesday, at Sleepy Hollow.

PEEKSKILL posted a pair of impressive wins – 6-1 over Spring Valley and 6-0 over Ramapo on Senior Night.

“Getting two wins at this time of the year is important,” Peekskill Coach Anthony DiCuio said. “We’ve talked this season about not just qualifying for sectionals, but trying to have the best seed possible. Qualifying shouldn’t be ‘good enough.’ Our girls have worked extremely hard to improve and their progress is evident every time they step on the field.”

On Senior Night, six different players scored goals – Natalie Foster, Valeria Otavalo, Dayani Sari, Janeyra Maldonado, Jackelin Alfaro and Alejandra Morocho. Jozelyn Zhinin added two assists and Kimberly Alfaro, Amy Merchan, Maldonado and Morocho had one apiece.

DiCuio was quite happy to celebrate the win with his seniors.

“Our senior group is special and they have had a vision for how they want this program ro operate, inclusive of all players regardless of grade, and committed the team to being a family,” DiCuio said. “They have set a great example for the underclassmen to follow. I am so proud of them and they all have bright futures ahead of them. They will be missed.”

Kimberly Alfaro had a hat trick, Zhinin contributed a goal and two assists and Otavalo added two assists against Spring Valley.

CARMEL had its best week of the season with four wins – 4-1 triumphs of Arlington B and Brewster, 1-0 over R.C. Ketcham, and a 10-0 whitewash of Poughkeepsie.

Nadia Kiswani, Kaiyla Gard, Ava Connors and Sadie Scalzitti had the goals against Arlington B with assists going to Claire Kelley, Kaity Ardisana and Macey Rivard. Brianna Pena scored twice and assisted on a goal against Putnam County-rival Brewster. Scalzitti finished with a goal and an assist. Ava Connors had a goal and Lauren Vara and Rivard added assists.

Pena scored on an assist from Rivard against Ketcham as the goal was all the Rams needed thanks to goalie Madison Moran, who made 12 saves.

Gard led the offensive eruption against Poughkeepsie with two goals. The other goalscorers included Jessica Martins, Kiersten Motta, Ayva Rivard, Claire Harney, Katherine Morelli, Ardisana, Macey Rivard and Moran. Scalzitti and Connors each had two assists.

PLEASANTVILLE added two more wins, via the shutout – 4-0 over Bronxville and 2–0 over Sleepy Hollow – and is now 13-0-1 this season. The Panthers would be seeded first if the Section 1 Class A Girls’ Soccer Championships began today.

Faith Brown scored twice and Sam Schultz added a goal and two assists against Bronxville. Mary Kate Winn contributed a goal and an assist and Montana Peppard handled nine shots. Natalie Viviano and Schultz had the goals against Sleepy Hollow and Brown registered an assist.

“We had good results against two very talented and very well-coached teams,” Pleasantville senior and captain Skylar Aghen said. “While we are happy with the results, our team is focused on the process and on how we can improve and prepare for sectionals.”

VALHALLA tied rival Westlake (1-1) and defeated Rye Neck (2-1). Valhalla Coach Chris Doerr was quite impressed with his team’s performances.

“Two rival teams who share a lot of history with each other dating back to the seniors playing AYSO together,” said Doerr of the Westlake game. “The game was packed with energy and emotion. Westlake took the early lead in the first half off of a free kick. With constant action on both ends of the field, we had several opportunities to score.

“With five minutes remaining in the game, Violet Mattoni scored to tie the game. Overall, both teams played great and, as a coach, I’m extremely proud of our seniors.”

Luciana Shleveli had WESTLAKE’s goal and Danielle Michilli made five saves.

Isabella and Violet Mattoni had Valhalla’s goal against Rye Neck. Keeper Giulia Rutigliano, who made 10 saves against Westlake, stopped 11 shots against Rye Neck. One of Rutigliano’s 11 saves came on a penalty kick with five minutes remaining in the game.

“The game was well-played by both teams,” Doerr said. “It was back-and-forth with both teams having quality chances.”

HORACE GREELEY registered two shutouts – 6-0 over Port Chester and 5-0 over Arlington B, improving to 8-3-2 this season. Rachel Glick scored two goals and set up a goal and Avery Fitzgerald and Hailey Stern had one goal and one assist apiece against Port Chester. Izzy Flores and Clementine Martin combined for four saves for the Quakers.

Glick was the offense’s initiator against Arlington B with three assists and she had a goal. Stern added two scores and Parker Ginsburg and Fitzgerald had a goal apiece.

OSSINING overcame Fox Lane, 2-0, as Sofia Soares and Michelle Zuniga scored in a four-minute span late in the second half. Lindsay Saich made seven saves to register her fourth consecutive shutout.

YORKTOWN opened with an 8-0 win over Poughkeepsie, but dropped a 2-1 verdict to Arlington, currently the top-ranked Class AAA team in Section 1.

The Cornhuskers received goals from eight different players against Poughkeepsie – Kendall Kardon, Caitlin Mulvihill, Caoimhe Vallely, Emily Tian, Peyton Case, Bre Dicioccio, Ava Chibbaro and Lea Bryan. Bryant scored Yorktown’s goal – on a penalty kick – against Arlington.

FOX LANE went 1-1 for the week – an 8-0 victory over Lincoln and 2-0 loss to Ossining. The Foxes had a balanced attack as eight different players scored against Lincoln. The goalscorers were Jillian Kurchack, eighth-grader Lauren Spolansky, Agnes Mazurek, Amanda Griffin,  Nora Dooley, Brynn Anthony, Ashley Herrero and Emily Morales. Michaela Kaltsas collected two assists and Spolansky added one. In Fox Lane’s loss to Ossining, G Berit Rose was outstanding, making 16 saves.

WHITE PLAINS posted a pair of shutouts – 4-0 over Port Chester and 8-0 over Arlington B.

Violeta Figueroa Montoya had a hat trick and Melanie Rodriguez rang up three assists against Port Chester.

Jordan Ford finished with a goal and Lily Obligado had an assist. Pilar Abdel-Aziz handled four shots.

MAHOPAC lost to Arlington, 7-3, as Fiona Kelleher netted two goals and Cam Wilson had one.

The following schools did reply to emails regarding information on their games: BREWSTER, HALDANE, LAKELAND, PANAS, SOMERS, CROTON, BRIARCLIFF, WESTLAKE and BYRAM HILLS.

 

ANDY JACOBS/DAVID TABER PHOTOS