7/8 Soccer Teams Open Interscholastic Play

This past week the 7/8 girls and boys soccer teams opened up their interscholastic schedules. The girls team played LuHi and Waldorf, while the boys faced LuHi and Solomon Schechter.

What Can You Tell Us About the 7/8 Girls Team?
The 7/8 Girls Soccer Team has a some rebuilding to do. Last year's team was dominated by 8th graders, most of whom are now on the JV Girls Soccer team or playing on the Varsity side. So the team has many players without much experience at this level. Head Coach Miss Nugent has coached this level for 4 years now, and I don't think it will take her long to get her charges into shape and playing winning "football". Their are some nice pieces in place. 7th graders Ceci Mulry and Eve Shapiro share time in the goal and both are strong players, as is midfielder Arielle Parris. 8th graders Martine Krown and Lisa Dourmashkin are key defenders in a group that is improving with every practice.
After taking it on the chin 7-0 in their first game against LuHi, the girls bounced back the very next day and played a tough Waldorf team to a 1-1 draw. It will be interesting to watch this team and see how it develops as the season goes on.

How Does the 7/8 Boys Team Look?
7/8 boys soccer at Portledge has 21 wins and only 3 losses over the last two years, so this year's squad has quite a legacy to follow. This is a well rounded team with some strong holdovers from last year's exciting side. 8th graders Eric Diamataris, "TJ" Roberts and Doug Powers are the heart of the defense, while 8th graders Justin Starrantino, Michael Bruschi and Brendan McGovern control the midfield. Up front there are many attacking options , but opposing defenses better focus on new 8th grader Matt Crockett. This young man has some moves and a nose for the net. He will be supported in the attack by 8th graders Nick Lobley and Joey Brambil and 7th graders Joe Sartori and Ted Hagerty. The team has 28 total players, so many others will be rotating in and out of the line-up.
In the team's first game the young Panthers went up 2-0 before the LuHi boys came charging back to take a 3-2 lead early in the the 2nd half. Matt Crockett then found the net with a long blast from the right side and the Portledge side was once again full of enthusiasm. As the game was winding down Joe Sartori scored for the second time and team leader Justin Starrantino added one for insurance. Coach Schwab noted in his game report that 7th grade goaltender Ian Estevez made several key saves to keep the Panthers close before the eventual 2nd half offensive explosion.
The second contest of the year saw the 7/8 boys take on a determined side from Solomon Schechter. SSDS has been a tough opponent over the last few years and right from the beginning the Panthers knew they were in a tough match. Portledge was trailing 2-0 as time was winding down when a well developed attack culminated with Starrantino being taken down in the box. The 8th grader calmly converted the penalty kick and Portledge trailed by only one. It looked as if that would be the final, but in the closing minute Starrantino intercepted a throw by the SSDS goalie and slotted a perfect shot just inside the right post. Credit should go to the SSDS side for playing a great game, particularly their sweeper #3, and to the Portledge boys for not giving up and playing right to the end. A 2-2 draw was a fair result in this excellent game.

Varsity Girls Soccer Continues Impressive Play

The VGS team was in action twice this week and their performance in both contests illustrates an evolving cohesiveness and a dogged determination to succeed. The victories over Waldorf and Chapin raised the team's overall mark to 4 wins and 0 losses.



What Happened in the Waldorf Game?
The girls from Garden City were a young team without a great deal of Varsity experience. From the very start of the game it was apparent that the Portledge team was superior in all facets of the game. The Lady Panther side methodically worked the ball around until they saw crevices in the Waldorf defense. Then, quicker than you could say "jackrabbit precision" the central players would create scoring chances out of seemingly harmless ball control. Two of the early goals game on long looping shots by midfielder Addie Riley. Riley, a sophomore new to Portledge, and a very savvy soccer player, has been content during the first few games to lay back in the midfield , win balls, and try to set up her teammates for scoring chances. So it was great to see her step up and put a few long range shots "right in the back of the ol' onion bag". What a great addition this fine young athlete is to the Portledge side.
The rest of the game was completely dominated by the home team and a succession of players added their names to the score sheet. One particular goal of note was scored by freshman striker Ashley Wade. Wade corralled a cross at the top of the box with a skillful trap, and then in one graceful motion spun towards goal unleashing a solid strike that flew by the helpless Waldorf keeper and settled into the back of the net. Wade added another tally late in the game to demonstrate that she is yet another weapon in the arsenal of the Portledge attack.
Coach Coope played several young players late in the game as the team's attention turned to the primary focus of the week- a match against last year's NYC Champ and NYSAISAA qualifier The Chapin School.



Mr. Coope addresses the team at half time of the Waldorf win!







How Did the Chapin Game Unfold?
The best Portledge had been able to manage against Chapin since the creation of the Varsity Girls Soccer program was a 2-2 tie last year. The Portledge side was thoroughly outplayed in this game, so this contest was billed as real test for the development of Portledge girls soccer. Portledge was able to take advantage of their home turf and a bit of "bus legs"on the Chapin side by scoring an early goal through the powerful forward play of junior Alex Siwiec. Siwiec muscled her way down the right flank before slipping one past the sprawling Chapin keeper. Both teams played fairly conservatively for the rest of the half with the Chapin side carrying the better of the action.
Early in the second stanza Siwiec once again found herself free down the right wing. After fighting off a determined challenge from a Chapin defender, Siwiec sent a softly weighted cross by the Chapin goalie and across the now undefended net. Sophomore Chelsea Caracciolo pounced on the loose ball and deposited it with authority into the back of the opposing net. Portledge continued to press forward for the rest of the game and any Chapin attacks were easily handled by the Panther keeper, sophomore Chelsea Estevez. It should be noted that Estevez and the entire Portledge defense were extremely well organized throughout the whole contest. The Lady Panthers now prepare for a huge week during which they will face two of their biggest rivals, LuHi and LWA.

Varsity Boys Soccer Starts IPPSAL Play Strong

The VBS team opened up IPPSAL play this week with a pair of league games. The Panthers took on the Lions of Solomon Schechter Tuesday, and followed that up with a contest against a newly promoted Varsity side from The Waldorf School of Garden City.


What Happened in the Solomon Schechter Game?
The emerging confidence of the VBS team was on full display during the team's first game this week v.SSDS. The Panthers controlled play from the get go as senior midfielder and captain Ray Wienmann discected the Lions defense with some" laser" like one touch passing. This keyed the team's offense and created some opportunities for the striker pair of Trevor Wolfson and Chris McCloskey. When Wolfson's precision cross found the head of McCloskey, and McCloskey's well struck header found the "back of the ol' onion bag" everyone could see that Portledge was on their way to victory. The SSDS team did not give up though, and drew as close as 3-2 with about 10 minutes remaining. Wolfson, whose skills are really starting to shine, then added his second tally of the game and the positive result was sealed.



Coach Coleman gives his team a motivating speech at half time of the Waldorf game!







Did the New Div-I Side From Waldorf Give the Panthers a Game?
The answer to that question is yes! Having lost by one against LWA in their IPPSAL opener, the boys from Waldorf arrived at Sawyer Field brimming with confidence. It certainly showed ion their play as they took the game to Portledge in the early going. The woodwork saved Portledge once and senior keeper Austin Prey was called on time and again to turn away the Waldorf attack. Towards the end of the first half the Portledge side sensed some openings and struck twice to deflate the Waldorf swagger a bit. The second of these goals was another header by rookie Chris McCloskey, this time off a long throw from Wolfson. The 2-0 lead was enough as Portledge pulled back a bit and put the game in the sure hands of Prey and his junior defense tandem of Aaron Lee and Mike McCloskey. These three shut down the Waldorf offense for the rest of the game and the Panthers moved to two Wins and no losses in league play. Things should get interesting next week as the boys move into some heavy competition against rivals LuHi and LWA surounding a tough non-league test v. Columbia Prep. See you at the "pitch".

Austin Prey '08 makes a great save -- one of 19 v. Waldorf.

Upper School Athletes of the Week

Congrats to the two athletes of the week from Boys Varsity Soccer. Co-captains, Ray Weinmann and Austin Prey have shown much leadership and dedication all the while playing some excellent soccer. Way to go boys!

A Miracle on the West Side

How Did the JV Boys Soccer Team Do in Their 2nd Game?

The JV Boys Soccer team bounced back from a loss in their initial game to earn a hard fought victory over the JV Boys team from Columbia Prep. The score was 1-0 and freshman Niko Snow certainly deserves praise for a fantastic job in the goal. Snow turned away several CP chances to keep the score even at 0 late into the game. As time was running down freshman Anthony Pergola,
known as a goal scorer from his Middle School days, got loose in the box and rammed home the game winner for the young Panthers. Coach Sandoval skillfully manipulated his substitutes in the closing minutes and Portledge went on to win by the1-0 score. After the game Coach Sandoval was talking to reporters when he said,
"my guys never give up...they keep on working no matter what the situation is, and their lucky to have a coach like me", once again I have taken some liberties with Coach Sandoval's real post-game comments, but I'm sure it went something like that. Congratulations to all the players on the team and good luck in your future matches.

Varsity Girls Tennis Gets First Win

Who,What, Where, When?

The Varsity Girls Tennis team won it's first match of the season and took the early lead in IPPSAL girls tennis with a convincing 5-0 win over IPPSAL competitor Martin Luther. Sienna Falino, Ellen Huai and 8th grader Rachel Scheinman all won their singles matches, while the doubles teams of Maria Wade-Elizabeth Girgenti and Stephanie Heggarty-Robyn Worall were also both victorious. The girls match scheduled for Tuesday, Sept 18th has been postponed until Wednesday, Oct 10th.

JV Soccer Starts at Portledge

It has been several years since there was a JV Boys Soccer team, and there has never been a JV Girls Soccer team. That all changed yesterday, however, when both these squads took to the field in the first JV soccer games of the year. The creation of JV programs in soccer is an important step in the overall soccer program. It allows the younger players in the Upper School, who might not be ready for Varsity action, a chance to play in real games and obtain some competitive experience. Thanks to their coaches, Mrs. Schwam (girls) and Mr. Sandoval (boys) for helping get these programs started.

How Did the JV Girls Do?
The JV Girls Soccer team played an excellent and hard fought game against the JV girls from Sacred Heart of NYC. After falling behind 2-0 in the first half the young Lady Panthers fought back behind some strong goaltending from Hope Mulry and some fine midfield play from Tatiana ("Tat") Parris. Sophomore Marian Juste scored for Portledge early in the second half and it looked as if a miracle comeback was under way. Unfortunately, it was not to be as the girls from Sacred Heart added an insurance goal shortly before time ran out. It was a great effort from the Portledge side, and it looks as if this team will have a bright future.

How About the JV Boys Game?
Well, the JV Boys Soccer team had a bit of a rough start. Playing against a Varsity team from IPPSAL Division II ( Martin Luther), the Portledge boys went down to defeat by a score of 6-0. All was not negative though as their were several extended periods of fine play from the young Panthers. Coach Sandoval was not deterred in his optimism about this fine group of athletes.
" The boys gave it their all today, had I not made some real coaching blunders, we would have had a better result".
Just kidding, my embellishment, the big guy coached a great game, and I'm sure we will see better results as the season goes along.