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!!!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Cold Diplomacy Followed By a Bit of a Flame Out/ Varsity Girls Soccer Slams The United Nations School Before Losing to Defending League Champs BC
The last two games for the Varsity Girls Soccer team can certainly be considered as feast and famine. On Friday, Oct 3rd with the Varsity Girls and Boys teams from the United Nations School visiting beautiful Portledge, our Lady Panthers played some of their best soccer in defeating the UNIS girls 4-0. Junior striker Addie Reilly opened the scoring with an incredible left footed strike from just outside the penalty area as the Portledge girls carried the early play. Super sub Alex Devivo made it 2-0 when her right footed blast blew past the helpless UNIS keeper. As the game went on the Lady Panthers displayed some exquisite "football" as midfielders Claudia Rogers and Alex Siwiec controlled the ball and sent crisp passes through to a darting Monique Kelly on the right flank. In the second half 8th grader Ceci Mulry tacked down a Kelly cross and slipped a perfect pass to Siwiec at the top of the box. The Senior captain then sent a right footed rocket past the UNIS keeper making a huge bulge in the back of the ol' onion bag and Portledge led 3-0. Reilly added another as she maintains her remarkable scoring pace, and the Portledge faithful were all smiles on this afternoon.
Unfortunately, those smiles turned to frowns four days later as a confident Portledge Lady Panther team visited the Brooklyn Parade Grounds for a match against defending PSAA League champs Berkeley Carroll. The BC girls have had the Portledge girls number recently, winning two straight at the end of last year, after an early season 2-2 draw between these two quality sides. Things played out much the same this crisp fall day as BC scored mid way through the first frame, and then twice again in the second half to hand the Portledge girls only their second loss of the season. According to Head Coach Mr. Michael Coope, Portledge had some strong ball control, but could not generate any really good scoring opportunities as attack after attack sputtered just outside the BC penalty area. No woories though, hopefully the Lady Panthers will get another shot at the BC girls in either the PSAA playoffs, or possibly the NYSAISAA Championships, if their final record is strong enough to qualify.
The Portledge girls will be at HOME this coming Thursday v. Brooklyn Friends @4:30, before taking on PSAA rival LWA in a non league game at LWA's Homecoming on Saturday, Oct 18th. Kickoff at LWA will be @ 12:00. If this team sticks together, they have the potential to finish the season with some incredible accomplishments. Good luck girls....your fans are behind you all the way !!!
Unfortunately, those smiles turned to frowns four days later as a confident Portledge Lady Panther team visited the Brooklyn Parade Grounds for a match against defending PSAA League champs Berkeley Carroll. The BC girls have had the Portledge girls number recently, winning two straight at the end of last year, after an early season 2-2 draw between these two quality sides. Things played out much the same this crisp fall day as BC scored mid way through the first frame, and then twice again in the second half to hand the Portledge girls only their second loss of the season. According to Head Coach Mr. Michael Coope, Portledge had some strong ball control, but could not generate any really good scoring opportunities as attack after attack sputtered just outside the BC penalty area. No woories though, hopefully the Lady Panthers will get another shot at the BC girls in either the PSAA playoffs, or possibly the NYSAISAA Championships, if their final record is strong enough to qualify.
The Portledge girls will be at HOME this coming Thursday v. Brooklyn Friends @4:30, before taking on PSAA rival LWA in a non league game at LWA's Homecoming on Saturday, Oct 18th. Kickoff at LWA will be @ 12:00. If this team sticks together, they have the potential to finish the season with some incredible accomplishments. Good luck girls....your fans are behind you all the way !!!
Even Steven With Much Work To Do/ Varsity Girls Tennis Stands at 3 and 3 and Will Play 7 Times Over 14 Days
The Portledge Varsity Girls Tennis team has played well overall, and is looking very good in IPPSAL Girls Tennis competition. While they have not beaten any of their tough non league opponents, they have been very competitive against teams such as Trinity and Rye Country Day. At the same time, the girls are unbeaten in IPPSAL play. Senior Siena Falino is currently playing #1 singles and is usually followed by Junior Elizabeth Girgenti as the #2. Several players, including Freshman Lisa Dourmashkin and Senior Robyn Worrall have alternated as the # 3 player with the doubles combinations being made up from a pool of players that include Lianna Starrantino, Rachael Scheinmann, Stehphanie Hegarty, Michelle Kerwick , Hannah Fortgang, Ali James and Tori Phillips. With so many quality players Head Coach Mr. Henry Stay always has a strong pool to chose from when he makes out his line up sheet. As stated in the title of the post, this team has a great deal of work ahead. Primarily because of some early season bad weather, the Portledge Lady Panther Swatters will play 7 times from Wednesday, Oct 15th through Tuesday, Oct 27th. Hopefully after all these matches they will be in position to play for the IPPSAL Girls Tennis Championship, which will be held here at Portledge on Thursday, Oct 30th @3:00pm. Please come out and see a tennis match and cheer our girls onto a possible sixth IPPSALChampionship in seven years. The next home match will be v. Dwight on Monday, Oct 20th @ 4:00pm.
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