There are no Varsity soccer games this weekend, so it gives us a chance to catch our collective breath and take a look at where these teams stand in the overall picture of their respective leagues, and in terms of qualifying for the NYSAISAA Soccer Tournaments.
Where Do the Varsity Girls Stand in the PSAA Girls Soccer League?
The Portledge Varsity Girls Soccer team has an overall record of 5 wins, 1 loss and 2 ties. Their PSAA league mark is 2 wins and 2 ties and the girls are 1 and 1 in non league play. They have three critical league games left on their regular season schedule. The first will be this coming Wednesday at HOME against the United Nations School. That will be followed by two tough road matches at Staten Island Academy on Wed, Oct 17th and against league champ LWA on Sat, Oct 20th. The Lady Panthers will also play non league contests with Packer Collegiate (10/13), Poly Prep (10/23), and Ivy League power Riverdale (10/25). In regard to the PSAA league, the girls have control of their own destiny in terms of securing home field for a semi final game, but it will probably take victories in all of their final three league games to make this happen. The regular season championship, and its automatic NYSAISAA Tournament berth, is still a possibility, however, the girls will need some help in the form of either a tie or loss by LWA in some of their remaining games before the big regular league season finale on Sat, Oct 20th, and then of course a Portledge victory in that game. Last year three teams from the PSAA were selected to participate in the NYSAISAA Tournament. If the Portledge girls could win four of their last six and gain a semi final win in the PSAA play offs, it would probably be enough to qualify. Needless to say, there is a good deal of tough "football" ahead, and the girls will need all the support they can get during this challenging stretch run.
This past Thursday was one of the team's finest efforts yet. They took on a talented side from Berkeley Carroll here at the Portledge fields. The Lady Panthers forged ahead mid way through the first half when speedy winger Chelsea Caracciolo got loose down the left side. Caracciolo then sent a slashing cross into the BC area. Freshman striker Ashley Wade, playing her best overall game of the year, was able to get a foot on Caracciolo's feed and deflect the "rock" into the back of the BC net. Everything seemed comfortable for Portledge as the teams retired for halftime rest, however, little did we all know. BC came out fired up in the second half and immediately tied the score at 1. After some intense scrambling in front of the BC net, Caracciolo was able to secure control of a loose ball and drive it into the back of the " ol' onion bag" putting Portledge ahead once again, only to see BC equalize yet again from a beautiful header off a corner kick. The stage was set for a dramatic finish. As the sun was beginning to set and shadows started to dominate the pitch, Sophomore half Addie Reilly was able to get off a right footed "rocket" ( just kidding) that eluded the BC keeper and dribbled into the goal. The final few minutes saw several desperate rushes by a determined BC side, but the Portledge defense, anchored on this day by fine play from Claudia Rogers, captain Jess Sarrantonio and 'hard as nails' marking back Ashley Gilchrist, was able to withstand all the challenges. This really was an outstanding game and I know that the girls would like to thank all the fans that were there to cheer them on to victory. Extra Good Luck down the stretch girls! WE ARE ALL BEHIND YOU!
Is the Varsity Boys Soccer Team Also in Good Position?
The simple answer to that is yes, but it also gets more complicated. The Varsity Boys Soccer team has an overall record of 5 wins, 2 losses and 1 tie. They stand at 5-0-1 in IPPSAL
Division I Boys Soccer and have four league games remaining. In IPPSAL Boys Soccer the automatic NYSAISAA Tournament spot goes to the play off champion, not the regular season champ. So the boys still have a good deal of work to do, if they want to participate in the "big enchilada" at the end of the season. The team will have an opportunity to improve on their 0-2 non league record this coming week as they face a tough United Nations side from the ACIS League, before hosting Fieldston, Columbia Prep and Packer Collegiate in the Portledge Invitational Soccer Tournament next weekend. Fieldston is from the Ivy League, long considered the finest private school boys soccer league in the metropolitan area, and Packer has won the Portledge Tournament for as long as anyone can remember. Thus, this coming week will tell us a great deal about the ultimate potential of our Varsity boys side. Will they be able to lift their play and challenge some of the best private school competition this area has to offer? If their recent form has anything to say about it, the answer should be yes!
This past week the Panthers were faced with the daunting challenge of back to back league games on the road against determined opponents. On Tuesday they traveled down the block to Pascucci Field in Glen Cove for a local darby with Solomon Schechter. It was a tense game with hard tackling from both sides, but Portledge was able to secure the victory through goals by Trevor Wolfson, Renny Kraft and Senior captain Ray Weinmann. The defense was very strong, and the switch of Mark Dourmashkin to right back looks to have been an astute move by coach Coleman and his excellent assistant Mr. Patrick Meyers. Austin Prey was very solid in goal, making all the necessary saves and keeping things very organized in the back. Prey's ability to quickly distribute the ball with accurate throws, in addition to his booming kicks, also gives the Portledge attack another dimension. Pascucci Field had been a "House of Horrors" for the Panthers over the last few years, so this victory gave the boys a good deal of confidence. Something they would draw upon when faced with some adversity in the next match.
On Thursday the Portledge boys traveled out east to take on the team from Our Savior New American. The OSNA side has had a difficult time in Division I over the last few years, but a victory over Solomon Schechter and a draw with defending league champs LuHi has the OSNA boys ready to face any challenge. "The OSNA side can score" said coach Coleman after this exciting game. OSNA had a 3-1 lead on the Panthers with time winding down in the second half and Portledge playing without starters Alain Mathieu and Aaron Lee, out due to injury and illness, respectively. Junior striker Trevor Wolfson was about to explode though, and rescue the Panther's unbeaten league mark. Twice in the final 10 minutes Wolfson broke down the right side and pounded home goals to even the score at 3. The dramatic comeback has added to the team's growing confidence and should serve them well in the tough play ahead. Congratulations guys and good luck against UNIS and in the Portledge Tournament.
