Rollin..Rollin...Rollin/ Varsity Boys Soccer Ups Overall Record to 7-1-3 with Impressive Tie v. UNIS and Victories Over SSDS and Friends Academy

The Portledge Varsity Boys Soccer team is on a roll. Their play of late is incredibly well balanced as this consistent side has mixed complicated attacking play with some good old fashioned hard nosed defense to boost their season record to a very lofty place. The Panthers have only been beaten once in ten games and currently stand at 7 wins, one loss and three ties. The latest draw came against ACIS powerhouse The United Nations School. The UNIS team boasted a fine record of their own, having only lost to Packer Collegiate, while playing the first half of a very challenging ACIS schedule. The Panthers trailed in this one by a score of 2-0 before thundering back with two second half goals to even the score. Even more impressive was the fact that it was the Panthers who were carrying the play in the final minutes as darkness slowly enveloped the "pitch". Junior keeper Daniel Leask was asked, however, to make an outstanding diving save as a last minute UNIS counter attack produced a dangerous chance to gain the result. The final horn sounded as both teams could barely see each other in the darkness, but knowing they had all played an excellent match of"football".

Obviously boosted by the UNIS result, the Panthers went on a two game tear last week beating last year's IPPSAL champs, SSDS, by a score of 7-0 and then handing our Duck Pond Road neighbors, Friends Academy, a 3-0 defeat. In their last five games ( LWA, Columbia Prep, SSDS, UNIS and Friends Academy ) the Panthers have scored 17 goals and given up only two. The fine overall play of a now healthy Mark Dourmashkin in midfield, and the tremendous consistency of the back four ( Seniors Aaron Lee and Mike McCloskey, Junior MJ Shin and Sophomore Vishal Chichwadkar ) have made this incredible play possible. Keep it up guys...we are all pulling for an IPPSALChampionship and a NYSAISAA berth in your future!!!