7/8 Soccer Teams Open Interscholastic Play

This past week the 7/8 girls and boys soccer teams opened up their interscholastic schedules. The girls team played LuHi and Waldorf, while the boys faced LuHi and Solomon Schechter.

What Can You Tell Us About the 7/8 Girls Team?
The 7/8 Girls Soccer Team has a some rebuilding to do. Last year's team was dominated by 8th graders, most of whom are now on the JV Girls Soccer team or playing on the Varsity side. So the team has many players without much experience at this level. Head Coach Miss Nugent has coached this level for 4 years now, and I don't think it will take her long to get her charges into shape and playing winning "football". Their are some nice pieces in place. 7th graders Ceci Mulry and Eve Shapiro share time in the goal and both are strong players, as is midfielder Arielle Parris. 8th graders Martine Krown and Lisa Dourmashkin are key defenders in a group that is improving with every practice.
After taking it on the chin 7-0 in their first game against LuHi, the girls bounced back the very next day and played a tough Waldorf team to a 1-1 draw. It will be interesting to watch this team and see how it develops as the season goes on.

How Does the 7/8 Boys Team Look?
7/8 boys soccer at Portledge has 21 wins and only 3 losses over the last two years, so this year's squad has quite a legacy to follow. This is a well rounded team with some strong holdovers from last year's exciting side. 8th graders Eric Diamataris, "TJ" Roberts and Doug Powers are the heart of the defense, while 8th graders Justin Starrantino, Michael Bruschi and Brendan McGovern control the midfield. Up front there are many attacking options , but opposing defenses better focus on new 8th grader Matt Crockett. This young man has some moves and a nose for the net. He will be supported in the attack by 8th graders Nick Lobley and Joey Brambil and 7th graders Joe Sartori and Ted Hagerty. The team has 28 total players, so many others will be rotating in and out of the line-up.
In the team's first game the young Panthers went up 2-0 before the LuHi boys came charging back to take a 3-2 lead early in the the 2nd half. Matt Crockett then found the net with a long blast from the right side and the Portledge side was once again full of enthusiasm. As the game was winding down Joe Sartori scored for the second time and team leader Justin Starrantino added one for insurance. Coach Schwab noted in his game report that 7th grade goaltender Ian Estevez made several key saves to keep the Panthers close before the eventual 2nd half offensive explosion.
The second contest of the year saw the 7/8 boys take on a determined side from Solomon Schechter. SSDS has been a tough opponent over the last few years and right from the beginning the Panthers knew they were in a tough match. Portledge was trailing 2-0 as time was winding down when a well developed attack culminated with Starrantino being taken down in the box. The 8th grader calmly converted the penalty kick and Portledge trailed by only one. It looked as if that would be the final, but in the closing minute Starrantino intercepted a throw by the SSDS goalie and slotted a perfect shot just inside the right post. Credit should go to the SSDS side for playing a great game, particularly their sweeper #3, and to the Portledge boys for not giving up and playing right to the end. A 2-2 draw was a fair result in this excellent game.