Last Tuesday the Varsity Girls Soccer team was defeated by the girls from Berkeley Carroll in the semi final match of the PSAA post season tournament. When coupled with the Varsity Boys team's loss in the IPPSAL semi final match, it meant that neither Varsity side had earned an automatic bid to the state championships. Thus, both teams would be thrown into the group of at large schools hoping for selection by the respective tournament committees. Overall record, head to head competition and general strength of schedule are all part of a complicated criteria that the committees use to select the field for the independent school tournament. Needless to say, the relative size of Portledge when compared to the larger NYC schools usually paves the road of exclusion for Panther squads, when we are compared to our larger city neighbors. So when the Athletic Dep't phone rang with the news that both of the Varsity teams had been selected to participate, there was a feeling of disbelief that preceded the jubilation of all involved. This is the third time the Varsity Boys Soccer team will play in the NYSAISAA Tournament, with 1998 and 2003 being the other years. While for the girls program, this is the first NYSAISAA Tournament berth, and really is an exceptional achievement considering it is only the sixth year of Varsity Girls Soccer at Portledge. The fact that both teams were selected is an even more amazing event. The facts are that only one other school, Riverdale Country School of the Bronx, a perennial metropolitan soccer power, had both their girls and boys selected to participate in this year's championships. A heartfelt congratulations go out to all the players and coaches of both teams for working so hard to reach this exceptional level of recognition. A particular nod of appreciation is given to the seniors on the respective teams for all their efforts during the last four years and throughout their Portledge soccer careers.
When will the boys compete?
The boys are the #8 seed and will take on the #9 seed Lycee Francais on Thursday afternoon
@Portledge (2:45pm). The teams met early in the season and played to a 0-0 draw, so this should be a hard fought and exciting contest. If victorious, the boys will move on to play #1 seeded Horace Mann on Friday afternoon in the Bronx.
When will the girls compete?
The girls received the #7 spot and will play the #2 seed Berkeley Carroll @ the Brooklyn Parade Grounds on Friday (2:45pm). This is a rematch of the PSAA semi final which was won by BC by a score of 2-0. Portledge was a 3-2 victor in the regular season match between the two PSAA powers. This "rubber match" should be something to see. The winner will play the victor of the Fieldstron v. LuHi (4 v. 5) game.
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