State Of Emergency Forces South Girls Soccer Team To Play Away

The Clarkstown South High School girls soccer team just wants to play on its own turf, both literally and figuratively.

After a 3-0 win Saturday against White Plains High School, the Vikings were preparing for a second-round matchup in the section tournament to be played Monday at home against Horace Greeley High School.

Instead, the game was not only postponed, but moved to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Horace Greeley since Clarkstown sn still in a state of emergency and there is no school Monday or Tuesday.

“Obviously I’m not happy about it,” South Head Coach Tom Rolston said Monday night. “I thought we were clear to play because power is back on at South and the routes to get there were all open.”

Even though South didn’t have school thanks to superstorm Sandy, the team practiced on its turf field starting Thursday of last week.

“I heard they have a grass field over there and that might not be in the best shape either,” Rolston said. “We’d much prefer to play on our own turf field, or just a turf field in general, especially with how the weather has been lately.”

The Vikings will have to make due, as should they win their quarterfinal matchup, the semifinals would be Wednesday, and if they win again, the section finals would be Thursday. Both of those games would be away games for the Vikings no matter if schools are open, should they advance.

Even with the change of a home game to an away game, Rolston thinks his team can handle it.

“As long as we don’t have to forfeit the game, I guess that’s okay,” he said. “The girls just have to not over think it. They just need to do what they do and they get to the next round.”