Sleepy Hollow Football Club - Game recaps from June 10

As the spring season of the Westchester Youth Soccer League nears its close, the SHFC boys and girls teams took to the fields.

SHFC is proud of all of its teams, regardless of outcome, though of particular note this week was the triumph of the Blaze in the Westchester World Cup against heavy favorites.

Thanks to the hard work of players and volunteer coaches, teams continue from one year to the next with a common goal of fostering cohesive team spirit and excelling in competitive play. Such is the case for the SHFC River Titans, who for the past 10 years have steadily improved in their age group and supported one another along the way. Having played their last game this season, the boys will graduate to High School level play and we wish them all the best.

Here are recaps of all SHFC boys and girls soccer team play:

2009 Boys Red Lions coached by Brad Scheller hosted the Rye Raiders. The score is not available.

2009 Girls Red Fury coached by Katie McMahon played what was probably their best game yet on Sunday winning 3-1 against the Rye Leopards. Rachel Richardson had two beautiful goals and another goal by Meghan McMahon. Tremendous goal keeping by Erin Arnegger and Maiyumi Marcus-Kanesaka and great defensive play from Grace McGovern and Sofia Cruz. Red Fury's last game is on Sunday at 5pm in against Larchmont.

2008 Girls Red Comets coached by Joe Block fought and won a tightly contested game 1-0 against the Edgemont Fireballs improving to 6-3 in division 3 play. Julia Ryan and Libby Block had outstanding performances at goal in keeping their opponents scoreless. They were helped by a strong defense effort anchored by their defensive centers, Jhoselyn Pugo in the first half and Abbie Church in the second half. On offense, the Red Comets broke through midway through the first half when Samantha Mendietta delivered a strong cross to Corina Armster who drove home the first and only goal of the game.

2008 Boys Fusion traveled to the Don Bosco Hawks Hurricanes. Fusion lost in a shutout to this team in Week 1 of this spring season. This time around, Fusion kept the pace moving and maintained their energy, focus and spirits throughout the game, despite trailing 4-0 at halftime.

Justin Paute scored Fusion’s only goal. From almost midfield, he punted the ball into the upper center part of the goal. Don Bosco’s otherwise outstanding goalie was unable to reach it and Fusion was happy to get on the board with a final score of 5-1.

We congratulate Don Bosco on their undefeated spring season which will net them the division championship. Fusion is now 5-3-1 with a home match against the Riverdale Thunder left to close out the season.

2008 Boys River Sharks coached by Ed Greenberg travelled to the Chappaqua Lions. The score is not available.

2007 Girls Blaze

The Rivertowns United Blaze Team was shorthanded. Mid fielder Penny McVey, a stout two-way player was in North Carolina for a family wedding (not her own, she is after all only 10) but the team played on to the finals of the U11 Westchester World Cup, a tournament that started last year.

Their opponents were the Red Dragons, a strong club team that recruits from all over Westchester and was undefeated during both the tournament as well as their regular soccer season.

Starting play promptly at 8:00 on a Saturday morning, while parents and relatives shared hot coffee and donuts on one side line, coaches John Sutherland, Chris Junge and Annette O'Hanlon prepped the young girls team for the toughest soccer test they had faced together so far.

The Dragons came out firing shot after shot, but team goalie Emily Aridas was up to the test with several diving saves, deflecting would-be goals. The mighty Blaze broke through for the first goal of the game at the 12 minute mark of the first half when fourth grader Gemma Fante, dribbled passed the first Dragons defender, passed to Julissa Segarra on the right side-line who evaded her defender to send a centering pass to forward Zoey Kowalczuk just in front of the Dragons goaltender. Zoey deftly passed to the left to mid fielder Ellie Fox who had rushed the field and put the ball into the net, just passed a diving Dragons defender. Blaze parents cheered the 3 passes on a single play. Aren't all parents proud when their children share?

Not used to being down in a game, for the rest of the first half the Dragons attacked relentlessly and the play turned more physical. Several penalties were called on both teams, but all players avoided getting a Yellow Card. Into the game as a mid-fielder, the Blaze's second fourth-grader Cassie Junge coupled with Blaze defender Julianna Marvin and played some Biblical defense at midfield - though shalt not pass. Working together, the pair kept the Dragons from getting good shots on goal.

Up 1 - 0 at half time, the teams emerged from the sideline ready to claim the large gold cup that had been put on display at a table by tournament officials. The score did not change for most of the second half as the Blaze kept pressure on the Dragons goalie. In particular, mid fielder Kayla McGuigan had several strong kicks on goal that just missed the net. Finally, with about 8 minutes left, goalie Emily Aridas scooped up a shot on goal, sent an accurate throw to Lizzie Molina on the left side line, who was able to evade two onrushing Dragon defenders and then passed to teammate Gabby Anhelys. Gabby, normally the Blaze's star defender, kicked the ball just above the fingertips of the Dragon's leaping goalie from about 30 yards away. If Gabby ever leaves the Blaze it will likely be for the NY Giants football team.

Up 2 - 0, the players were weary from the fast pace and the hot humid weather the day posed. Up to the task was Meghan O'Hanlon who earned the team's coveted pink boxing glove, bestowed by Coach John to the player who knocks out the competition. Knocked to the ground by a bigger attacker, young O'Hanlon jumped back to her feet in time to deflect the Dragon's final shot on goal over the Blaze's net, thereby preserving the team's hard-fought 2 - 0 shutout win in the 2017-18 Westchester U11 Girls World Cup Tournament.

2007 Boys Dynamo coached by Howard Allen hosted the LMFC Yellow Gunners, winning 6-1. Currently at 6-2, they play two games next weekend to close out the season.

2007 Boys Dutchmen coached by Gary Fairley, Howard Allen and Alberto Blanco traveled to Yonkers to take on the second place Deportivo Yonkers Borussia Dortmund (1 point behind). Edwin Rojas started out the scoring 8 minutes in with a run down the right side and a rocket strike from 15 yards out into the top left corner. Yonkers evened the score a few minutes later with a strike of their own inside the box. Two minutes from half time Yonkers went up with a breakaway down the left side.

The Dutchman really settled in and dominated the second half. Nico Mayor scored the first of two on a breakaway ball tucked neatly into the bottom corner past the Yonkers keeper. He scored the second after his shot went off the post and touched a Yonkers player into the back of the net. Yonkers would not go away as they scored off a long ball over the top creating a breakaway which just eluded Marlon Pacheco to even the game at 3-3. With two minutes to go Nico Mayor passed the ball to Conner Slattery who thundered a strike from 23 yards out over the Yonkers keeper to push the score to 4-3. Yonkers did not give up and mounted two more attacks in the final minute but the stout defensive unit of Jasper Quattrone, Alex Lozada, Brandon Quituisaca and Carlos Almonte were not about to let this lead slip away. The final score was 4-3. The Dutchman wrapped up first place with this hard fought gutsy performance thanks in part to excellent goal keeping of Marlon Pacheco.

2006 Girls Storm coached by Kevin Richardson and Tom Andruss lost 3-1 at home to the Harrison Stars. Their record is 3-3-3 with a game left in the season against the Greenburgh United Cyclones.

2006 Boys Firebolts coached by Ricardo Gonzalez lost 2-1 to the Manhattan Whitecaps. The Firebolts sit atop their division with a 7-1-1 record.

2006 Boys Warriors coached by Matt Weidner lost 2-0 to Castleford Fury. They play the Mahopac Fury next week.

2005 Girls Cyclones coached by Mike Levine were scheduled to play the Manhattan Breakers on June 10, but the score is not available. Their overall record is 4-3-1, with one game left to play in the season against the Eastchester Thunderbolts.

U13B Boys Legends

Somers had a conflict for their game against U13B Legends and forfeited. The Legends instead had a training session focusing on their wet weather skills – see photo. The result leaves the Legends on the verge of clinching the Division 1 Championship.

2005 Boys Red Devils coached by Francisco Mendieta were awarded a forfeit against the Pelham Knights. Their record is 2-4-2 with one game left to play.

2003 Girls Strikers coached by Matt Evans lost 4-1 to the Rye Rockets, bringing their record to 4-5. They play the division leading Port Chester Stallions on June 17 to close out their season.

2004 Boys River Titans have been coached by Scott Burnett and Pepe Monteforte for a decade. Recent seasons saw the Titans battle from division five to their present position at division #2! Although the Titans began the season in last place four games in ... with a 9 team division. The Titans didn’t give up! Division 2 at U-14 is no joke. The Titans finished their division in third place. The Titans also played eight of their ten games down a player on the field!

Best wishes to the Titans, who graduate to High School Soccer next season. Go Titans!

2004 Boys Argentina coached by Luis Lewis travelled to the Harrison Eagles, losing 2-0. Argentina closed out their season at 6-2-1 for third place of their 10-team division.

JV Boys Los Gauchos coached by Luis Lewis travelled to the Pelham United. The score is not available.

The JV Mustangs travelled to Randalls Island and earned a tie against the second place West Side Red Bulls. The Mustangs found themselves down early after allowing two fast breaks through the heart of their defense. One scored and one missed wide. After the early lapse the girls settled down and maintained possession and had many opportunities to score. The Mustangs evened the score in the second half after earning a penalty kick for a forced hand ball. Britany Alban placed the ball to the left of the keeper for the score. West side got their own penalty kick for a foul in the box after keeper Maya Weitzen appeared to make a tackling save. The Red Bulls took the late lead off the ensuing penalty kick. The Mustangs then moved up defender Lily Rodriguez to forward trying to get a late score. This paid off as Lily intercepted a ball that led to a chain of events that resulted in Juliana Largess scoring off of a rebound shot with about a minute left to play. The tie leaves the Mustangs in third place with a chance for second place still on the line in their finally against Rye next week.

Varsity Girls Comets coached by Seán Brosnan tied at 2 with the West Side Red Bulls. They sit in second place of their division with a record of 5-2-2.

For updates or more information about SHFC, please visit http://www.sleepyhollowfc.com.