Sleepy Hollow Football Club Finishes Spring Season and Second Year

Our local travel club made up of the top AYSO soccer players finished its second year and the spring season last Sunday. The club had an eventful spring season expanding by 2 teams and winning two division championships. Last fall the club saw seven teams win championships and get promoted to higher divisions. Two of those teams, the under age 9 girls (u9) Blaze and the under age 11 (u11) boys Legends managed to win their new divisions as well. The Legends and the u13 girls Mustangs will also be representing our club and the northeast at the AYSO National games in July. The club also implemented new age guidelines and many teams had to be reshuffled for the upcoming 2016-2017 season. We say good-bye to the oldest girls team the Horseman coached by Tom Schumacher and Paul Morgan who have been together for 6 years as their players focus on starting High School. We will also be adding new teams in fall bringing the club to 16 teams. Below are the recaps of the last weeks of action provided by the all-volunteer coaches.

The under age 9 (u9) Blaze tied the Rye Rockstars 0-0 in a game that was far more exciting than the score indicates. Earlier this season the Rockstars thumped the Blaze 5-1 to give the team its first loss in its history. The Blaze followed that loss with three consecutive wins versus tough competition. This rematch provided the opportunity to see if the Blaze could compete with the best team it has faced. The zero goals scored tell that it was a defensive battle. Both Blaze goal keepers: Siiri Lipping and Michayla Benuscak had many saves that they followed with kicks past midfield. Lipping and Benuscak also played stellar defense - and were joined in that effort by Gabby Disney and Elsa Block. Calling out the names of four girls should not take away from the team effort needed for this tie. The Blaze girls collectively closed Rockstar offensive chances, played aggressive soccer and had near misses on Blaze scoring chances. The coaches were very proud of how the team played. This tie set up a chance for championship the following Sunday and the Blaze delivered.

The Tarrytown girls defeated the Chappaqua United Blue 1-0 to finish the Spring season in first place with an overall record of 6-1-1. The conditions for the game were not ideal. In addition to high temperatures and no shade, the tall grass at Peabody Field slowed the ball down. As a result, the game was a slog. Potential breakaways for either team were stymied by girls hustling back on defense. For the Blaze, Siiri Lipping and Gabby Disney were at the center of that effort. The Blaze were finally able to break through late in the 1st Half when Juliana Marvin and Gemma Fante pushed the ball through the defense for a shot on goal. Although the shot was blocked, Zoey Murphy was well positioned for the rebound. She placed her shot above the overwhelmed Chappaqua goalie. No one expected that would be the only goal of the game. At halftime Coach Sutherland asked Michayla Benuscak if she would be willing to play goalie for the 2nd Half. Benuscak agreed and the move proved to be essential when Chappaqua was awarded a penalty shot. Benuscak remained calm and made the key save of the game. This Blaze team has displayed a desire to improve their skills and compete. In seven games that were decided by one goal - the Blaze won all seven. The team boasts an overall record of 15-1-2 and score differential of 46 to 12. The team exceeded expectations this Spring after being promoted to a higher division. The girls have a lot to be proud of over its first place fall and spring seasons.

U9 Dutchmen- Coach David Hille and Pat Grimes finished their season against Yonkers and Riverdale. They will be keeping their younger boys born in 2007 and adding more players when they return in the fall.

U9 Firebolts- Coach Ricardo Gonzalez’s boys finished the season against the Rye Predators and the FC Transylvania Barca. They had a successful year winning their division in the fall. Ricardo will be taking his older boys born in 2006 and adding new players when he returns in the fall with the Firebolts.

U10 Warriors- Coach Colin Gallagher finished the season against FC Transylvania and the Manhattan Whitecaps. The warriors had a successful year winning their division in the fall and moving up to the 5th division. Coach Gallagher will be taking a break from volunteer coaching and coach Matt Weidner will be returning to coach the Warriors. He will be keeping the younger players born in 2006 and adding some new talent.

U10 Sentinels- Coaches Gary Fairley and Jeremy Zifchock finished their season against Larchmont and Ryebrook. The Sentinels played their last game as a team and the boys will be divided up next season between the Legends, Warriors, Firebolts, and Argentina.

U10 Magic- The u11 girls got off to a rough 0-6-1 start this Spring, but their confidence never wavered. The team showed dramatic improvement coming down the stretch battling division powerhouse Briarcliff to a 3-3 tie before heading into the final game of the season. Then, a Father’s Day gift. in 90+ degree heat on their home turf of Peabody field, the Magic defeated the Rye Brook Thunder by the score 4-1. Led by co-captains Nicolette Cioffi, Natalie Rypka and Anastasia Mazon, the girls fought to a 1-1 tie at halftime which featured a breakaway strike by the speedy Talia Lieberman. In the second half, the Magic were relentless on offense. Smart passing led to 3 more goals blasted by Natalie Rypka, Sasha Grose, and Emily Orellana. The goalie trio of Sasha Grose, Amy Torres and Christine Kern played exceptionally in the net and stymied the visiting team in the second half. The Magic also saw outstanding play from Katie Andruss, Sophia McLaurin, Caitlyn O'Hanlon and Emily Rypka. Coach Mac McLaurin, and Tom Andrus will be returning in the fall to coach the younger players on the Magic. Many of their older girls will be moving up to the Cyclones. They will be adding older players from the Blaze and the expertise of Coach Kevin Richardson to the staff.

U11 Legends- The Legends boys wrapped up their undefeated, table topping season with a hard fought 3-3 draw away on a hot day, to Yonkers. Nikhil scored the first off a through ball from Kyan, Max rifled in the 2nd off another Kyan through ball, Julian volleyed in the 3rd off a cross from Justin. Yonkers was echnically strong and fought back 3 times to equalize. Next 2 weeks the boys will focus on their prep for Florida to the National Games on the week of July 4. The legends pulled off a remarkable feat winning division 6 in the fall and division 4 in the spring. Coaches Fergus O’Sullivan and Herbert Weltig will be returning in the fall to coach the younger legends and adding some new players from the Warriors and Sentinels. The older boys will be moving up to the Rivertitans and Argentina.

The U11 Cyclones- The Cyclone girls played their final three games, winning one and losing two. The Cyclones played the Manhattan Hurricane, a top tier team in their division twice. The Cyclones were competitive in the first, keeping it to a scoreless tie at the half. In the second half, the Hurricane scored 3 goals, but the Cyclones kept it competitive, scoring a goal, and hitting the cross bar on another. The final score was 1-3, but a great learning experiences. In the rematch Mahattan handled the Tarrytown girls 1-5.

In the third game the Cyclones played against the Rye Inferno and won 2-0, playing one of their better games of the season. Angie Santos and Isabelle Murphy each scored, both off passes from Thalia Tsilibes. The defense was very strong, with great goal keeping again from Lauren Koch and Ajsa Orban. The Cyclones had a great year finishing in the middle of the pack of the challenging division 3 after winning division 4 in the fall. Coach Mike Levine will be returning in the fall with the younger Cyclone girls and adding some of the older players from the Magic. Most of the older Cyclone girls will be moving up to the Strikers.

.

The U12 Rivertitans- The u12 boys had a challenging season. They were the top ranked Sleepy Hollow boys team promoted to division 3 after winning division 4 in the fall. They had a difficult finish against Riverdale 3-4 and East Ramapro 2-7. Coach Scott Burnett and Pepe Monteforte will have the boys returning in the fall with an infusion of players moving up from the Legends.

The U12 Strikers- The Strikers finished the season on a losing note with losses to Scarsdale 0-4 and the New York Fusion 1-2. The Strikers still finished in 5th place in division 4. Coach Matt Evans will have the team ready in the fall as they have elected to stay together and will adding some new players from the Cyclones.

The U12 Boys Argentina- The u12 boys clinched third place in division 7 with a 2-3 loss against New Rochelle and a 4-4 tie against White Plains. Coach Lewis got good results from this new squad and has been a welcome addition to the club.

The U13 Girls Mustangs- The Mustang girls clinched third place in elite division 2 with a 5-2 win over neighbor Chappaqua. The Mustangs trailed 0-1 and 1-2 but came back twice to put the Chappaqua Power away. Goals were scored by Juliana Largess, Maddy Navin, Lily Rodriguez (2), and Isablella Chambers. Britanly Alban, Maya Weitzen, Juliana Largess, and Lily Rodriguez each had an assist. The Mustangs will be playing in the AYSO National Games for the second time July 5th - July 10th in Florida. Coach Sutherland’s team has elected to stay together and move up to the u15 division next year.

The U13 boys Gauchos- The u13 boys finished their season with a win over Yorktown 2-0 and a loss to the undefeated first place White Plains Wolves 1-7. The Gauchos claimed 4th place in division 4 and will be back in the fall with some new additions to the roster. Most of their players were young for their age group and with the new age rules they will be playing teams closer to their age in the fall.

The u14 boys Tornados- The Tornados defeated the West Side Red Bulls 5-1 then lost to Harrison 1-3. The Tornados clinched 4th place in division 4. Coaches Gary Fairley and Herbert Weltig will be moving the boys up to JV soccer in the Fall. They will be adding some new players from the Rivertitans.

The U14 Girls Horsemen had a busy weekend to close out their 2015-16 WYSL season. On Saturday they travelled to North Salem to take on the North Salem Thunder. Despite having only eleven players, The Horsemen took a 1-0 lead courtesy of a beautiful pass from midfielder Jordan Lis that sent striker Nicole Kern in alone on the Thunder keeper. Kern, a converted outside fullback, calmly took two touches and finished past the stranded keeper. The Horsemen continued to dominate the play until the heat and the multiple substitutions by the Thunder caught up with them. They conceded a second-half goal then held strong and came away with a well-deserved tie.

Father’s Day saw the Horsemen finish their season on the steamy pitch at WI Lower. Playing their sister team from RUFC, The Horsemen dominated play from the opening whistle and were quickly rewarded by a scrappy goal from striker MacKenzie Horecky. The scoring was closed out by breakaway goals from midfielders Grace Luft-Morgan and Avery Schumacher.

Post-game celebrations included a Gatorade shower for their coach and hugs all around as The Horsemen have played their last match together for coaches Tom Schumacher and Paul Morgan. Well done ladies, you made us proud every single time you stepped on the pitch. Who are we? SLEEPY HOLLOW!