Valhalla Busts Up Class B; Tuskers, Rams, Foxes, Huskers Advance in AA
News Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Byram, Lakeland, Panas Reach Class A quarters; Westlake, Croton Moves on in B
By Ray Gallagher, Examiner Sports Editor @Directrays
Bracket busters were tough to discover during the first round of the Section 1 soccer tournament, except for Coach Sandro Prosperino’s VALHALLA Vikings, who, as the No.13 seeded, shredded the Class B bracket by taking out No.4 Irvington by a 1-0 count.
This learned group has been as up and down as any team in Section 1 this season but they never stopped believing.
“We’ve had a roller coaster of a year this season and as coaches we continue to adjust and make changes,” Prosperino said. “I know from the outside things looked bleak having drawn a 13 seed and a top-notch soccer program in Irvington for our first first match up. But 100% of the credit goes to the boys, who all showed up and stepped up in the biggest game of the season. As coaches we haven’t stopped believing in this group.”
The biggest dilemma for the Vikings (8-9) was scheming a game plan to contain an all-state caliber striker in Bulldog Brandon Dhanoola. The game was a nail-biter from start to finish, played with high intensity by both teams. The Vikings got on the board early in the second half off a 30 yard back-post screamer from Ian Silvero.
“And then we withstood Irvington’s end-of-game barrage of opportunities,” Prosperino said.
Freshman G Jacob Bricker was as cool as can be with his second clean sheet of the season, and D Kori Prosperino cleared two balls off the goal line in the closing minutes of the game.
The Vikings were set to take on No.5 Rye Neck in the quarters.
CLASS B
No.3 Croton-Harmon 5, No.14 Yonkers Montessori 0
Tiger Marcos Goni “settled” for a hat trick after scoring nine goals in two games to conclude the regular season. His crafty scissor kick provided the final margin. Liam Stapleton (1G, 1A), Charlie Forth (1G), Jack Ter Boss (1A) and Louie North (1A) provided the offense while G Cole Cross (4 saves) earned the shutout for the league champion Tigers (11-3-1), who were set to take on No.6 Bronxville in the quarters.
No.7 Westlake 5, No. 10 Dobbs Ferry 1
Thomas Lyden (3G, 1A) continued his reign of terror on opposing goalies while Cian Kelly (2G, 1A), Collin Lyden (2A) and Jonathan Thomas (1A) found the score sheet for the Wildcats (10-6-1). Jozsef Varadi had six saves for Westlake, which was set to visit No.2 Keio, who ended No.15 Putnam Valley’s season with a 7-0 opening round advance.
No.5 Rye Neck 1, No.12 Pleasantville 0
G Jack Dillane made 11 saves for the Panthers (5-9-2) but the attack was held in check.
CLASS AA
No.9 Fox Lane 3, No.8 Peekskill 2 OT
Gavin Morales, Michael Mazurek, and Connor Cox all found the back of the nets in the game of the day. Oliver Ruiz and Tucker Wein each had an assist for the Foxes (9-7-1), who used some chicanery in OT to hammer home the GWG from Cox, who touched off a madcap celebration. Fox Lane was set to visit defending NYS champion Scarsdale in the quarters.
“It was an unbelievable game,” Fox Lane Coach Mike Tomassi said. “One of the best games I have ever been a part of. The boys didn’t come out as we had hoped, but they never quit. Michael Mazurek gave us great energy and effort in the second half. He scored the first goal of the game for us, which really changed the momentum. Gavin Morales, Fredy Contreras gave great effort and energy as well. Oliver Ruiz assisted on both goals on the corner kicks. In OT we were able to get an early opportunity and Connor Cox put the ball in the net and Eli Daglio made some great saves to keep us in the game as well.”
Peekskill finishes an outstanding campaign at 9-8, building blocks for the future of this program.
No.7 Yorktown 3, No.10 Clarkstown South 0
Big-time players make big-time plays when it counts and Husker Nick Varela (2G) did just that. Ricky Tiberii added a third goal while T.R. Araneo, Christian Beitler and Justin Soliz each had an assist for the reigning Section 1 champions, who were set to visit No.2 Eastchester, ranked 4th in NYS, in the quarters.
“Yes sir, a big time player, making big plays,” Yorktown Coach Zoran Milojevic said of Varela. “We are on the way up!”
No.3 Somers 5, No.14 Mahopac 0
The state-ranked (No.9) Tuskers spread the wealth as Hyugo Todo (1G, 1A), Brady Leitner (1G, 1A), Daniel Nikac (1G), Nate Cohen (1G), Diego Verdesoto (1G) and Lucas Arbelaez (2A) all found the score sheet and G Matthew D’Ippolito notched the shutout. The two-time state champion Tuskers (14-2-1) were set to host No.6 Carmel in quarters. Somers is one of three Section 1 Class AA teams ranked in the top 10 in NYS, including No.1 Scarsdale.
No. 6 Carmel 4, No. 11 Clarkstown North 0
We’ve been telling folks not to sleep on the Rams (8-6-3) all fall and Neel Walia (1G, 1A), Christian Matera (1G), Kevin Hernandez (1G, 1A), Andre Houston (1G), Andy Kozlowicz (1A) and the Rams were in total control from start to finish as G Patrick Schoellig needed just four saves for the clean sheet.
“Our whole team agrees that was our best performance of the season so far,” Carmel Coach Vasiliy Shevelchinsky said. “It took this long, but everyone was working and covering for each other. Players kept their shape and we were able to finish the opportunities that were presented in this sloppy weather.”
No.5 Harrison ended No 12 GREELEY’s season in 3-0 fashion.
CLASS A
No.4 Byram Hills 4, No.13 John Jay-Cross River 0
Chris Amenedo did what Chris Amenedo has done all season, bagging a hat trick and leading the way for Coach Matt Allen’s Bobcats (11-2-4) who were set to host No.5 WALTER PANAS, a 3-0 winner over No.12 Ardsley. This game has CLASSIC written all over it. Coach Allen recently admitted that the Panthers were the third best club in Class A, just a smidge behind state-ranked (No.1) Tappan Zee and No.20 Pearl River.
No.7 Lakeland 1, No.10 Edgemont 0
Hornet Jake Pepaj scored the game’s lone goal off a feed from Lucas Boyko. G Oban Rader (5 saves) came up strong between the pipes for the Hornets (10-5-2), who were set to visit Rye in the quarters.
No.3 Pearl River ended HEN HUD’s season in a 2-0 loss for the Sailors (5-12).
CLASS AAA
WHITE PLAINS (5-8-3) saw its season end in a 1-0 loss to rival Port Chester. Third-seeded and state-ranked (No.15) OSSINING (12-4) had an opening-round bye and was set to host No.6 Port Chester roday in what should be an epic, quarterfinal fight to the finish.
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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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