Soccer Notebook
Mahopac Girls, State-Ranked Yorktown Boys Post Monster Wins
To say the Mahopac girls’ are excited about their 2018 aspirations is putting it mildly, and Coach Ross Fumusa’s Indians (2-0), who’ve reached the Class AA Final 4 two years running, sure looked like a team on a mission in last Friday’s 6-2 win over host Somers. Mahopac saw six different players tickle the twine (five in a dominant second half), including Grace DiVincenzo, Mia Klammer (1A), Sama Colatruglio (1A), Sabrina Nogula, Carly Steinberg (1A) and Katrina Klammer. It’s been a combination of veterans and rookies getting it done.
“We’re excited,” Fumusa said. “The base of our team has had a few years of varsity experience already. Some girls have been on varsity since they were freshmen or sophomores, so they have the experience and know what it takes to win. They have been on the teams that knocked off top-seeded Greeley two years ago and No.2 North Rockland last year and then made it to the semifinals of sectionals two years in a row. Mix that with some exceptional talent and work ethic from the new girls on the team, and we think we have something here.”
Some of the rookies have already burst onto the scoring sheet, including Emma Goodrow, Maddy DeCola and Hailey Pereira in a 7-0 rout of Port Chester.
“I’ve been a part of successful teams in the past where we flew under the radar and shocked some teams in the sectionals,” Fumusa said. “This team has an entirely different feel. If we don’t get too over confident, if we don’t take any team lightly, if we stay healthy and stay focused on our goal — which is to win the section — this is the team that just may do that. This team has the makeup to do something very special. It’s going to be an exciting run.”
And it’s off to a great start…
The Yorktown girls took their tournament title with a 4-0 win over Lakeland with a dominant second half after beating Arlington (B), 2-1, in overtime in the opening round off a second tally by tourney MVP Chayce Buono. Against Lakeland, the Huskers used goals by Buono, Hailey Soliz, Sophia Spallone (All-Tounament) and Leanna Biberaj (assists go to Stryder Underwood, Buono and Alyssa Perrino) to put down the pesky Hornets. Husker Shannon Grass (5 saves) earned the shutout. After a solid start, the Huskers are dreaming big in Class A this season…
BOYS NOTES: The 2017 reigning Section 1 Class AA champion YORKTOWN Huskers (ranked No.3 in NYS) are also off to a great start after Saturday’s 2-1 triumph of Somers in what was a highly-anticipated matchup of two of the top Class A programs this season in the championship game of the Yorktown Tournament.
“It absolutely had the atmosphere of a sectional game,” Yorktown Assistant Coach Justin Huff admitted. “We are looking to make some history and win Class AA and A back-to-back. The program has been through so very tough loses since I’ve been here, and I think now we’re in the midst of the redemption tour. We left a lot on the table last year and want to go even further, but Class A is so balanced, so we need to stay focused and hungry.”
The game was a true contrast in styles: Yorktown plays a rugged, physical style while Somers prefers a quick-touch finesse game, which the Huskers were able to slow down…
Yorktown, which lost to Ithaca (Sect. 4) in the state quarterfinals last year, got goals by Zack Stanik (assisted by Sergio Spiniello) and the game-winner from Timmy O’Callaghan (assisted by Paul Duffy in the final minute) while netminder James D’Alessio needed just six saves to thwart the vaunted Tusker attack. Lucas Fecci scored for the Tuskers, his fifth of the season (he has 7 points so far).
“It’s a huge win,” Huff said. “We had such a great showing from the home fans, and I think it actually hurt us early on. We had trouble settling in, and with the quality Somers has up top, it was trouble and we went down early. We then battled back and slowly took control of the game. We made halftime adjustments and did a good job of frustrating Somers. They are a strong and fiery team, with a great coach and friend in Brian Lanzetta.
Lanzetta admitted the Tuskers were somewhat surprised by Yorktown’s unforgiving style, and expects his team to respond when they see each other again on September 27th.
“Yorktown was hungry and definitely wanted it, you’ve got to respect Yorktown for coming out like they did, their fans, too,” Lanzetta said. “The game is growing, and it was great to see a rowdy football-like crowd.”
Rocky Bujaj scored the only goal in Yorktown’s opening-round win over Arlington B…
Not all is lost for Somers, though. The 2016 NYS champion Tuskers now know that they can’t just throw that jersey on and expect to win Class A this season…
Niko DeCola scored twice for Class AA MAHOPAC in a 2-1 consolation tournament win over Arlington B, who found the sledding tough with LB John Shea leading a stout ’Pac defense…
Joe Shamash and Ethan Furphy scored for HEN HUD in a big 2-1 win over LAKELAND, which hasn’t happened often in recent years…
Fecci scored twice in Somers’ 4-2 win over Mahopac, who saw Bryan Tenenpaguay and Pat McGrinder score. Bennett Leitner and Joe Grippo scored for the Tuskers while Andrew Lasher dished two assists…
Don’t sleep on OSSINING this year in Class AA. Nolan Lenaghan (5 points), Alessio Hernandez (4 points) Mateo Marra (2G), Mike Quintuna (3 points) and flexible G Carlos Zabarburu are getting it done early and often for the unbeaten Pride (3-0), ranked No.13 in NYS.
Attn. Soccer Coaches: please email raygallaghersports@gmail.com or DM @Directrays with game stats and comments after each and every game.
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.
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