Boys Soccer: Panthers Win High-Scoring Affair Vs. Bears

When you think of sports that produce high scoring outcomes, soccer normally isn’t the first one to jump into your mind.

But yesterday, the and boys soccer teams proved that there’s always an exception to the rule.

The longtime rivals battled back and forth going goal for goal, until Pleasantville finally pulled away late in the second half to beat Briarcliff 5-3 in yesterday’s Class B matchup at Briarcliff High School.

Things were tied up at 3-3 with 8:41 left in regulation after a Briarcliff goal was scored by senior mid-fielder Yaron Rubin. Pleasantville then immediately answered in less than a minute when junior midfielder Jeremy Schneider put in his second goal of the game which proved to be the game winner.

“We definitely did a better job in the second half getting more shots on goal and scoring,” Schneider said. “It feels good to be able to help my team in getting the win today.”

Briarcliff couldn’t muster up another successful scoring try in the final seven minutes of play, as Pleasantville stepped up its defensive intensity and even tacked on an insurance goal at the two minute mark when Aidan Heintzman put in his second goal of the game on an assist from teammate Mateo Valdivieso (two assists).

“We knew we could play the ball up the sidelines on them so we really stuck to that, especially in the second half,” said Heintzman. “Even when the score was tied late, we felt we had a chance and we kept pushing out there.”

Things were all tied up 0-0 at the half and the Bears seemed to be controlling the tempo and the ball. In the second half, Briarcliff held the lead twice but did miss on some key opportunities, and defensively they just couldn’t’ slow down Pleasantville’s offensive attack.

“We were switching the field really well (with our passing) but our defense as a team was not very strong today,” Rubin said. “We didn’t finish the chances we had in the first and they came out and played better than us in the second.”

Briarcliff goalie ended with seven saves while Panthers goalie Paul Stapleton made nine saves.

The Bears next host Ossining at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The Panthers travel to Solomon Schechter on Thursday for a 4:30 p.m. matchup.