Varsity Girls Soccer Continues Impressive Play

The VGS team was in action twice this week and their performance in both contests illustrates an evolving cohesiveness and a dogged determination to succeed. The victories over Waldorf and Chapin raised the team's overall mark to 4 wins and 0 losses.



What Happened in the Waldorf Game?
The girls from Garden City were a young team without a great deal of Varsity experience. From the very start of the game it was apparent that the Portledge team was superior in all facets of the game. The Lady Panther side methodically worked the ball around until they saw crevices in the Waldorf defense. Then, quicker than you could say "jackrabbit precision" the central players would create scoring chances out of seemingly harmless ball control. Two of the early goals game on long looping shots by midfielder Addie Riley. Riley, a sophomore new to Portledge, and a very savvy soccer player, has been content during the first few games to lay back in the midfield , win balls, and try to set up her teammates for scoring chances. So it was great to see her step up and put a few long range shots "right in the back of the ol' onion bag". What a great addition this fine young athlete is to the Portledge side.
The rest of the game was completely dominated by the home team and a succession of players added their names to the score sheet. One particular goal of note was scored by freshman striker Ashley Wade. Wade corralled a cross at the top of the box with a skillful trap, and then in one graceful motion spun towards goal unleashing a solid strike that flew by the helpless Waldorf keeper and settled into the back of the net. Wade added another tally late in the game to demonstrate that she is yet another weapon in the arsenal of the Portledge attack.
Coach Coope played several young players late in the game as the team's attention turned to the primary focus of the week- a match against last year's NYC Champ and NYSAISAA qualifier The Chapin School.



Mr. Coope addresses the team at half time of the Waldorf win!







How Did the Chapin Game Unfold?
The best Portledge had been able to manage against Chapin since the creation of the Varsity Girls Soccer program was a 2-2 tie last year. The Portledge side was thoroughly outplayed in this game, so this contest was billed as real test for the development of Portledge girls soccer. Portledge was able to take advantage of their home turf and a bit of "bus legs"on the Chapin side by scoring an early goal through the powerful forward play of junior Alex Siwiec. Siwiec muscled her way down the right flank before slipping one past the sprawling Chapin keeper. Both teams played fairly conservatively for the rest of the half with the Chapin side carrying the better of the action.
Early in the second stanza Siwiec once again found herself free down the right wing. After fighting off a determined challenge from a Chapin defender, Siwiec sent a softly weighted cross by the Chapin goalie and across the now undefended net. Sophomore Chelsea Caracciolo pounced on the loose ball and deposited it with authority into the back of the opposing net. Portledge continued to press forward for the rest of the game and any Chapin attacks were easily handled by the Panther keeper, sophomore Chelsea Estevez. It should be noted that Estevez and the entire Portledge defense were extremely well organized throughout the whole contest. The Lady Panthers now prepare for a huge week during which they will face two of their biggest rivals, LuHi and LWA.