It has been quite a spring on the lacrosse fields at Portledge School. We saw a Portledge Varsity team be ranked #1 among independent schools in the metro area for the first time ever, and both the girls and boys varsity teams have never dipped below fourth position in the laxpower.com rankings. The teams have a combined record of 23 wins and 6 losses and have registered victories over perennial metro area powers such as Poly Prep, Hackley and Riverdale. The boys team ended the regular season ranked third among metro area independent schools and has an overall record of 13 wins and 3 losses. They average well over 12 goals a game, while only giving up around 7. The Panthers will have home field advantage throughout the NYMLA playoffs and hope to reach the championship game for the first time since the programs three consecutive NYMLA Championships from 1998-2000. The girls program has been consistently strong over the last few years qualifying for the NYSAISAA Tournament in each of the last two seasons. In the spring of 06' they reached the semi final round and in 07' they were knocked out in the quarterfinals, both of these losses at the hands of the girls from The Hackley School. The boys will open the NYMLA Playoffs at Home with a Round of 16 game v. Archbishop Stepinac on Thursday @ 4:30, while the girls should also open at Home on Sunday in a quarterfinal game against a yet to be determined opponent. Good luck to both teams and let's hope for some championships.
How Did the Varsity Girls Team Finish Up the Season?
Unfortunately for the VGL team, a few rainy days towards the end of the season forced the cancellation of games v. Chapin and Riverdale, two longtime rivals of the girls lacrosse program. Without these contests the Lady Panthers have their impressive victory over Hackley to dwell on as a positive, and their defeat at the hands of Poly in the back end of a home and home as motivation, heading into the NYSAISAA Tournament. If Portledge can get their high powered offense clicking at the right time, there is no reason they can't win this very competetive tournament. Seniors Ashley Gilchrist, Liz Lanza, Yola Yu, Miyuki Miyagi and Jess Sarrantonio will all be playing in their last games for Portledge during this tournament. These girls have meant a great deal to Portledge girls lacrosse and to Portledge female sports in general. Their efforts are appreciated and they will all be sorely missed by those of us involved in Portledge Athletics.
Is the Varsity Boys Team Ready for Another Run in the NYMLA Tournament?
With a lofty record of 13-3 and a #1 overall seed the VBL team is primed for another run in the upcoming NYMLA Tournament. This is a four round marathon with 16 teams representing four different leagues. In order to progress, a team must be playing its best lacrosse as it faces the top teams from all the metro area organizations. Last year's champ, Fieldston, looks tough again, as do a host of other top teams from the Catholic, Ivy and PSAL Leagues. The Panthers finished the regular season with some very impressive play over their last four games. Wins over Poly Prep, LuHi, Monsignor Farrel and Riverdale have the Portledge team playing with a great deal of confidence. It has been a real team effort as many of the offensive players have raised their games to compensate for the loss of Junior attackman and All American candidate Tim Morrison. Juniors Captains Renny Kraft and Aaron Lee have led the way and Senior Austin Prey has also played some great offensive ball. The defense, led by Junior captain and goalkeeper Dan Duffy has been rock solid down the stretch and many of the role players are making timely contributions to Portledge victories. This group has worked very hard and I know they will be leaving it all out the field as they go for the NYMLA Championship
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Take Me Out To The Play Offs/Varsity Boys Baseball Sweep of Solomon Schechter Puts Panthers in IPPSAL Post Season
Coming off two tough losses to Waldorf, the Varsity Boys Baseball team was facing must wins in a two game home and home series with Solomon Schechter. Fortunately, the games would be broken up by four days, thus allowing the Panthers to start "Ace" pitcher Reid Erickson in both games. The first game was played at SSDS in Glen Cove. Erickson was the story in this game as he completely shut down the Lions' offense. Senior Dan Leavey ran his consecutive on base streak to 11 straight plate appearances and Mark Dourmashkin contributed both at the plate and in the field, as he has done all season. Now the pressure would mount though, as the teams squared off for one game that would determine which school qualified for the IPPSAL play offs. This time it was the Panthers attack that carried the day. Sophomore Mark Dourmashkin, Junior Mike McCloskey and Senior Kai Stoll each had two hits as Portledge scored early and often on their way to an eventual total of 8 runs. Once again Erickson was rock solid on the mound as he scattered 5 hits over the game and held SSDS to a total of 3 runs. There was a great crowd for the home game in this series, and making the play offs is a real accomplishment for the young program. Portledge will finish up the regular season with a two game home and home series v. Upper Room this week. Hopefully, familiarity will be an advantage for the Panthers, as Upper Room will most likely be their heavily favored opponents in the semi finals of the IPPSAL Tournament.
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