Byram Hills celebrate after scoring against Tappan Zee during the first half at Byram Hills High School in Armonk on Oct. 29, 2015.

2016 Byram Hills Bobcats
Coach — Matty Allen
16th year as head coach

What was your final record last season and where did you finish in the playoffs? We finished 15-3-1 with an overtime semifinal loss to the well-coached Jon Jacobs led squad, the Tappan Zee Dutchman.

Who are your key returning players?
Jack Beer, Sr., Pre-Season All American Midfielder (Committed to Georgetown)
Matt Groll, Sr., Super Tall Goalie, (Being recruited by Rochester and other schools for basketball)
David Noel, Sr., Midfielder (Being recruited by Albany and Ithaca College)
Indra Neil Dan, Sr., Midfielder (Captain this season)
Max Levy, Sr., Forward
Michael Gelb, Sr., Midfielder (Committed to play at Rochester next year)
Ryan Noel, Jr., Midfielder

Who are the key players that you lost to graduation? 
Benjamin Weinstein, For
Zachary Beinhacker, Mid
Oliver Grossman, Mid
Ryan Starker, Def
Garrett Wolfe, Def

Did you gain or lose any players from the U.S. Academy system? Looks like we are getting back Tyler Harp from the Academy System. He is a sophomore midfielder who is returning from his club team. In addition, Yusef Hafez is an incoming ninth-grader who has decided to come to us from the Beechside Academy. Jack Beer and the Noel Brothers are also former academy players.

Who is the most skilled offensive player on your team? Jack Beer, great possession skills with a deft touch in the midfield. Strong with both feet and sees the field incredibly well. Chosen as captain by his teammates, Jack has emerged as a great all-around player and leader.

The best defender? Our goalie is 6’7″ and may have grown another inch as I am writing this. He is our rock in the net with great reflexes and a strong punt. Matt was selected as captain this year as well, so his leadership skills are vastly improving. He’s being recruited for basketball but could easily play at the college level in soccer as well.

The fastest? Max Levy is our fast player. Lightning quick first step and a strong defender. Going to try and use that speed up top this year as we move him to the front line to replace Ben Weinstein. Matty Groll would argue that he is the fastest so that might have to be a future 100-yard dash on the first day of tryouts. My pick is that Levy wins by 30 yards.

The biggest hustler? The biggest hustler this summer has been Chandler Glat. He is a junior winger who has worked extremely hard in the offseason and often can be found at the turf practicing on his own. During games from last year, it’s hard to find anyone who outworks senior midfielder, David Noel. He is up and down the field with great intensity.

What do you consider to be your team’s biggest challenges for the season? Our biggest challenge this season will be mental. Our late game toughness has to improve and we have to make better decisions in the final third of the field in crunch time. I think our guys are afraid to make mistakes at times and really need to become a bit stronger between the ears. The talent level is solid but that’s not what wins most games at this level. Against great opponents this year including Tappan Zee, Lakeland, Jericho, Hen Hud, PC and of course, our very tough league, we are going to have to raise our game and try and win the last 20 minutes of a tie games… that will be our challenge. Part of that involves becoming more in tune with or fitness, learning multiple positions on the field without questions being asked, trusting one another and relying on our leaders to become the spokesmen of our program.

What would you like your team identity or motto to be? Our motto will be revealed to the team later in the preseason… but I can say that we will continue to develop the ‘Byram Way’ within these players. We hope their identity is to continue to become upstanding, well-rounded and intellectually curious student-athletes who come together as a family. We hope they become as successful as the alumni that have come before them.

Up next: Dobbs Ferry

I’ll be posting these previews every day leading up to the start of the high school season in early September. Coaches, if you did not receive a capsule email and would like to participate, please fill out the questions below and send them to me at vmercoglia@lohud.com.

For the first time since the inception of the BCANY tournament, the Hudson Valley boys basketball failed to come away with a medal at the Johnson City Schools.

Basketball Coaches Association of New York logo.

Hudson Valley, a team that was younger and more inexperienced than teams of the past, went 2-3 in the tournament.

On Sunday, Hudson Valley defeated Mid Hudson 93-69. Jordan Means of Stepinac led the way for Hudson Valley scoring 23 points, while Byram Hills’ Matt Groll pulled down 10 rebounds.

They concluded pool play Saturday in a 97-92 loss to Adirondack. Kennedy’s Malachi deSousa scored 21 points. In other games on Saturday, the edged out Suffolk 68-66 and lost to Central 94-70.

Things didn’t get off on the right foot for Hudson Valley Friday as they lost to Rochester 86-58. Peekskill’s CJ Redd scored 11 in the game.

Twitter: @LoHud_Debbie

Tappan Zee football held on to beat Byram Hills 27-20 at Tappan Zee Oct. 9, 2015.

ARMONK — To the rest of Section 1, Byram Hills’ Doug Carpenter is one of several new head football coaches heading into the 2016 season.

But around the Byram campus, he’s known simply as “Carp.”

“Having (former coach Scott) Saunders leave was definitely a blow to the program, but I couldn’t think of a better person to replace him than Carp,” senior Sean Bruskewicz said. “Since Carp came here two years ago, he’s been the most brilliant football-minded coach I’ve ever had. He knows more about it than anyone here, and he’s made the transition really, really seamless. The stuff that we did as a program before, all he wants to do is make it better.”

Carpenter spent the previous two seasons on Saunders’ staff, last year as his offensive coordinator. He made his case for a promotion by guiding the Bobcats’ offense on a prolific campaign, with quarterback Lou Filippelli setting the Section 1 record with 2,595 passing yards, good for an average of 288.3 yards per game. His record was broken later in the season by Dean Rotger, who guided Lourdes to the Class A state final.

Despite all of the statistical success, Byram finished a disappointing 1-8. Now that Filippelli has graduated and Carpenter has ascended, it may be time to change the formula.

“Lou Filippelli was a special, special quarterback,” Carpenter said. “I may not coach another kid like him for the rest of my career, so to tell my quarterbacks that they have to come in and fill his shoes is unrealistic and impossible. But we have to create our own identity, and it’s going to start with running the football.”

Carpenter expects to lean on junior running back Danny Friedman and an experienced offensive line, which returns five players who started at various points in 2015. The Bobcats will be inexperienced at the skill positions, with senior Jay Jay Bancone and junior Jack Kenny battling to replace Filippelli.

Senior Matt Grotta also would have been in the competition for the quarterback spot, but he tore his ACL during lacrosse season.

“We were the line that blocked for Louie when he broke the Section 1 passing record, and we’re definitely ready to be a little more run-centric this year,” said Bruskewicz, a returning starter at center. “Obviously, you can’t have two of him, but we’re ready to take on the load and make sure this team goes far.”

Carpenter believes that a quick turnaround is possible because of his own experience in high school. He was a senior when Jimmy Clark took over at John Jay, and the Indians went from 2-6 to the section final in just one year.

“A lot of people say, ‘You can’t coach effort,’ but you can and we look for it,” Carpenter said. “Every day, we’re going to come in and highlight kids who are busting their humps on film. Rather than fantastic plays, who’s that guy running across the field? Whether they’re talented or not, if we have 11 guys who are on the same page and playing through the whistle, we’re going to have success.”

Since taking over for Saunders, who remains the head baseball coach at Byram, Carpenter has hosted many voluntary camps, weight lifts and film sessions in order to implement his intricate system.

His desire to improve and attract more athletes into the program seems to be rubbing off.

“Carp is probably the most enthusiastic coach I’ve ever had,” senior lineman Conor Ahern said. “He loves what he does and comes out every day with a passion, trying to get us to learn more. He had us come into his room in January to start going over film and talk about how we can get more guys in the program.”

Twitter: @vzmercogliano

Game action as Pelham is hosted by Byram Hills during their boys soccer quarterfinal Class A game at Byram Hoills High School in Armonk Oct. 26, 2015.

ARMONK – Few local soccer programs, if any, enter each new season with loftier expectations than Byram Hills.

The Bobcats have reached the semifinals in Class A for 10 straight years, an incredible feat by any standards. They were Section 1 champions and state semifinalists in 2014, and the prevailing thought was that a repeat was coming in 2015.

Then came an overtime loss to Tappan Zee in last year’s sectional semifinals — a sudden and harsh reminder that expectations don’t always lead to results.

“With the season that we had before it, some of the guys almost felt like it was a given that we were going to make it that far,” senior goalkeeper Matt Groll said. “I think it’s proven to some of the guys returning, who watched (Tappan Zee) run off and celebrate on our field — it just proves to us that nothing is going to be given to us. That team that went to the state semifinals, it was nothing but hard work that got them there. I’ve seen a lot of that at practice this preseason.”

On paper, you could argue that this year’s Byram team should have an even brighter outlook.

It returns the only All-USA preseason selection from Section 1 in senior midfielder Jack Beer, who is committed to Georgetown. It also returns Groll, a three-year starter in goal who stands 6-foot-7, plus other key contributors such as Indra Neil Dan, Michael Bordash and the Noel brothers, David and Ryan. Add in super sophomore Tyler Harp, a former U.S. Academy player who should step in as an immediate starter, and the Bobcats have enviable talent.

Byram Hills goalie Matthew Groll makes a save in front of Alejandro Pizarro during the Byram Hills vs. Port Chester boys soccer game in Armonk, Sept. 4, 2015. Byram Hills beat Port Chester 1-0.

But talent doesn’t always lead to wins, and coach Matty Allen has stressed that this preseason.

“Our team really didn’t play well when the chips were down,” Allen said. “We talked about this year adopting more of a toughness. Grit was the word that we used over and over in our team meeting. Rather than letting the play come to us, we realize that we have to really be a little tougher and take it to our opponent.”

With what appears to be a loaded team in almost every facet of the game, Allen’s biggest concern is replacing graduated striker Ben Weinstein. He got hurt during the playoff loss to Tappan Zee, and the level of play fell off after that.

Beer chipped in with 12 goals and 10 assists last season, and is clearly Byram’s most dynamic player. But in order to take some of the pressure off of him, the Bobcats will move to a two-forward system, with seniors Max Levy and Michael Gelb getting the first cracks at the starting spots.

“There’s been some debate, whether I should play up top or in the middle, but I think my best spot is in the middle,” Beer said. “It gives you the best position to distribute and score. If you’re just up top, there’s not much room to dominate the game.”

Byram will face difficult challenges from the get-go, with its opener against Long Island’s Jericho on Saturday, followed by a rematch with Tappan Zee during the Westchester vs. Rockland Challenge on Monday.

It will be a telling few days for this proud program, but the Bobcats know they’ll ultimately be judged based on how they follow in the footsteps of the teams that have produced a decade of prominence.

“I always say, ‘The goal is to win our last game,’ ” Beer said. “It’s pretty simple, but the journey there is anything but simple. It’s going to take a lot of hard work, and I think we’re ready.”

Twitter:  @vzmercogliano

Valhalla defeated Albertus Magnus 3-2 in the Westchester vs Rockland boys soccer challenge at Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak Sept. 26, 2015.

The 2016 high school soccer season is still in its infancy, but Monday will be as significant of a day as you’ll find in early September.

The fourth annual Westchester vs. Rockland Challenge will be held at the World Class Soccer Complex in Orangeburg and all five games will impact the pecking order in Section 1. The top four teams in the Class A rankings will be competing — Pearl River, Byram Hills, Tappan Zee and Lakeland — and whichever team impresses the most will likely stake a claim to the No. 1 ranking. There are also two intriguing Class AA match-ups, as well as a Class B showdown between Valhalla and Albertus Magnus.

All told, Monday will mark the first noteworthy day of the new season. Let’s take a crack at some predictions…

A LOOK BACK: Results from the 2015 Westchester vs. Rockland Challenge

Albertus Magnus vs. Valhalla, 2 p.m. on Field 1: Last year’s meeting between these Class B contenders went down to the wire, with Albertus equalizing in the 72nd minute before Kaio DaSilva won it for Valhalla in the 78th. DaSilva and a host of others have graduated for the Vikings, but they got off to a nice start with a 2-0 win over Croton-Harmon in their season-opener on Friday. Ricky Thomas is a name to remember for a Valhalla team that wants to prove it’s still a threat. Prediction: Valhalla 2, Albertus Magnus 1

North Rockland vs. Scarsdale, 2 p.m. on Field 5: Scarsdale is coming off of a 15-win season and a trip to the Class AA semifinals, which makes it fair to label the Raiders as the favorite. But North Rockland is returning its core after a middling season in 2015 and believes its ready to take a step forward. The Red Raiders opened with a lopsided 4-1 win over Carmel on Friday and would love to make a statement against a well-respected Scarsdale squad. Prediction: North Rockland 1, Scarsdale 0

Byram Hills vs. Tappan Zee, 4 p.m. on Field 1: Are the Bobcats and the Dutchmen developing a bit of a rivalry? If they keep playing nail-biters like they did last year, that certainly could be the case. Byram held off TZ in overtime during last season’s Westchester vs. Rockland Challenge, but the Dutchmen got the last laugh in the playoffs with an overtime victory of their own in the Class A semis. That loss has haunted the Bobcats since, and with many returners from that team, they’ll be highly-motivated for this one. Prediction: Byram Hills 2, Tappan Zee 1

Mamaroneck vs. Suffern, 4 p.m. on Field 5: Some coaches are calling the Mounties a sleeper in Class AA this season because of their experience and team speed, which should make this an entertaining game to watch. The Tigers also boast a seasoned roster with a lot of returning talent, and they’ll be looking to show that the preseason hype is warranted. A quality win here would reinforce Mamaroneck’s status as one of the front-runners in Class AA. Prediction: Mamaroneck 3, Suffern 1

Lakeland vs. Pearl River, 6:30 p.m. on Field 5: This game will be the main event and features the match-up with the most history. The Hornets and the Pirates have established a tradition of playing each other annually, and about five years ago, it was Lakeland which owned the rivalry. In more recent history, it’s been Pearl River with the upper hand, including a 2-1 win during their championship season last year. The Hornets may have the deeper team in 2016, but the Pirates’ grind-it-out style of play always seems to give them trouble. This may be the toughest game to pick, and it’s definitely worth sticking around for. Prediction: Pearl River 3, Lakeland 2

Twitter: @vzmercogliano

John Jay scoreboard.

Valhalla 7, Hastings 0

Goals: V – Allison Portera 3, Melissa Giglio 2, Juliana Corradi, Shannon Brosnan.

Assists: V – Shannon Brosnan 3, Allison Portera, Raphaela DaSilva.

Saves: V – Cassie Thomas 3. H – Ani LeFevre 8, Ellie Humphreys 8.

Halftime: Valhalla 3, Hastings 0

Noteworthy: Brosnan opened the scoring five minutes in. Allison Portera netted her first goal on a penalty kick then added two more goals.

Mahopac 3, Byram Hills 2

Goals: Ma – Carly Steinberg 2, Samantha Colatruglio. BH – Sam Mayers, Kallie Hoffman.

Assists: Ma – Allis Martin 2. BH – Ali Brocato, Nicole Meyer.

Saves: Ma – N/A 7. BH – Emma Frushling 14.

Halftime: 1-1

Bronxville 4, Arlington B 2

Goals: Bx – Catherine Faville 2, Mason Warble, Alex Doukas. Arl- Kate Murphy, Shevaun Judon.

Assists: Bx – Isabella Sondey, Mason Warble, Alex Doukas. Arl- Devin Schmitt.

Saves: Bx – Maddie Coyne 2. Arl – Rebecca Campos 6, Lindsay Wood 3.

Halftime: 1-1

Beacon 5, Panas 1

Goals: B – Chloe Antalek 3, Eliza Ericson 1, Victoria Banks 1.  Pn – Jenna Rohan.

Assists: B – Gabrielle Lucas. Pn – Kaitlyn Roazzi.

Saves: B -Meagan Meeuwisse 5, Pn – Jade Pagel 10, Taylor Nolte 2.

Holy Child 2, Masters 1

Goals: HC – Sophia Kryza, Ryan Delane. M – Ingrid Hirt.

Assists: HC – Gianna DeVita. M – Hannah Regele.

Saves: HC – Giulia DeVita 5. Riverdale – Madison Goldberg 8.

Halftime: 1-1

Noteworthy: Kryza opened the scoring on a free kick from 25 yards out. Delane scored winner off DeVita assist with 15 minutes remaining.

John Jay 9, Brewster 1

Goals: JJ – Ana Dorta 2, Caroline Touzeau, Audrey Bond, Avery David, Charlotte Wilmoth, Erin Walsh, Georgia Mraz, Kathleen Newman. Bw – N/A.

Assists: JJ – Caroline Touzeau, Erin Walsh 2, Isabella Weiner, Willa Tobin 2. Bw – N/A.

Saves: JJ – Allison Oestreicher 1. Bw – N/A.

Halftime: John Jay 6, Brewster 1

Noteworthy: First varsity goals for Bond, Wilmoth, Mraz, Newman and David.

Not reported

Cornwall 3, John Jay-EF 1

Tuckahoe 2,  Gorton 0

Ursuline 4, Fox Lane 0

Dobbs Ferry 4, Solomon Schechter 1

Sleepy Hollow at Port Chester

Rye at Yorktown

Byram Hills’ Jack Beer plays the ball during a game with Lakeland at Byram Hills Sept. 14, 2016. Byram Hills won 1-0 in overtime.

Playing without star midfielder Jack Beer for the first three games of the season, Byram Hills got off to a mediocre 1-1-1 start. The absence of the most dynamic playmaker in Section 1 was taking its toll, and the result was a Bobcats team which needed a boost in confidence.

Since Beer’s return from a minor knee injury, Byram has been reinvigorated. With the Georgetown-bound senior in the starting lineup, the Bobcats have gone 5-0, including three impressive wins last week. Beer played a key role in each of those wins, and he’s the latest #lohudsoccer Player of the Week.

In wins over Rye, Pelham and Port Chester — a trio which has played Byram extremely tough over the years — Beer registered five goals and three assists. He had a hat trick and an assist against Rye, followed by a goal and an assist in each of the next two games against Pelham and PC. The result was a combined score of 9-1 in the three games, with Beer taking part in all but one of the nine goals.

“He has a unique ability to create something out of nothing,” Byram Hills coach Matty Allen said. “His greatest asset is that he sees the field and distributes the ball as solid as he scores it. Since he’s been back, our team is playing with a renewed sense of confidence.”

Others who were considered this week included Rye Neck’s Luis Galeano, Pleasantville’s Jonathan Kyriakidis, White Plains’ Pedro Marshall, Spring Valley’s Alex Taylor, Clarkstown South’s Thomas Zodda, Albertus Magnus’ Berry Shupe, Tappan Zee’s Thomas Shalvey, Valhalla’s Lorenzo Luciano, Harrison’s Rintaro Ishiguro, Yorktown’s Joey Landicino, Hamilton’s Luis Rodriguez, Mamaroneck’s Alex Alma, Croton-Harmon’s Lorenzo Auslander, Suffern’s Myles Solan, Haldane’s Andre van Dommele and Lakeland’s Matias Prando.

Previous #lohudsoccer Players of the Week:

• Sept. 5-11: Bronxville’s Jeb Burnell
• Sept. 12-19: Yorktown’s Joey Landicino

NOTE TO COACHES: I’ll be taking nominations for the #lohudsoccer Player of the Week for the rest of the season. Please email me at vmercoglia@lohud.com every Sunday with stats for the player that you’d like us to consider. Any games from Monday-Sunday should be mentioned. 

Twitter:  @vzmercogliano

Soccer

I’m finally taking a few days off, but there are some ranked teams with work to do.

Pearl River and Bronxville are going head-to-head and we’ll get a chance to see how the Broncos respond to a significant challenge. Greeley is heading north to play John Jay-East Fishkill, which seems to be getting stronger. John Jay and Byram Hills have semifinal potential in Class A so keep an eye on that game, too.

You can always tag me @hoopsmbd with updates and I’ll share. The recaps will be up later on tonight.

September 26

(All games are 4:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.)

Haldane at Lourdes, noon

East Ramapo at Riverside, 4 p.m.

Saunders at Yonkers, 4:15 p.m.

Ketcham at Clarkstown North

New Rochelle at Mount Vernon

Westlake at Blind Brook

Keio at Yonkers Montessori

Port Chester at Peekskill

No. 9 John Jay at Byram Hills

Rye Neck at Hen Hud

No. 2 Greeley at No. 7 John Jay-East Fishkill

Lincoln at Tuckahoe

Solomon Schechter at Woodlands

No. 10 Bronxville at Pearl River

Gorton at Hamilton

Dobbs Ferry at Valhalla, 6:30 p.m.

Beacon at Lakeland, 7:15 p.m.

Lohud Boys Lacrosse Scoreboard

Pearl River 1, No. 10 Bronxville 0 OT

Goal: Kerry Tyler.

Saves. Bx – Maddie Coyne 8. Katherine Carstenson 4.

Noteworthy: Tyler scored with 1:29 to play in the second overtime.

Hen Hud 4, Rye Neck 0 

Goals: HH – Deanna Marriott 2, Tess Willinger 2.

Assists: HH – Deanna Marriott, Tess Willinger, Sarah Vargas, Brett Mager.

Saves: RN – Marisa Santoli 8. HH – Jaelynn Smith 3, Diana Guariglia 3

Halftime: Rye Neck 0. Hen Hud 4

Noteworthy:  It was the Sailor’s first shutout of the season.

Clarkstown North 0, Ketcham 0

Saves: CN – Jamie Polanksy 8. RCK – Jasmine Pesante 8.

Halftime: 0-0

Yonkers 6, Saunders 0

Goals: Y – Lina Montes 2, Kianna Blackwood, Ileana Santiago, Ailbhe Cafferky, Briana Cali.

Assists: Y – Hailie Tover, Kianna Blackwood.

Saves: Y – Destiny Inguanzo 4. S – N/A.

Halftime: Yonkers 2, Saunders 0

Byram Hills 1, No. 9 John Jay 0

Goals: BH – Ilyse Lipman

Saves: BH – Emma Fruhling 6. JJ – Elizabeth Jahn 6, Allsion Oestreicher 3.

Halftime: Byram Hills 1, John Jay 0

Noteworthy: Fruhling stopped a penalty kick in the first half and the Bobcats defense came up with a third consecutive shutout. Lipman scored the only goal on a penalty kick.

New Rochelle 7, Mount Vernon 0

Goals: NR – Dahlia Perez 2, Sabrina Salov, Ruby Hastie, Sophie Wolf, Eliana Zepeda, Chelsea Diaz.

Assists: Julia Zaccaria, Kelsey Freeman, Dahlia Perez, Julia Middlesworth.

Saves: NR – Mary Fay, Lexi Ostrager, Sarah Stolzenberg 0. MV: N/A.

Halftime score: New Rochelle 5, Mount Vernon 0

Hackley 1, Fieldston 1

Goals: Hk – Amanda Stern. F – Alex Apfel.

Assists: Hk – Julia Thomson. F – Saoirse Maher-Greene.

Saves: Hk – Lilianna Khosrowshahi 6. F – Stella Silverstein 20.

Halftime: Hackley 0, Fieldston 0

Noteworthy: Stern knotted the score in the 72nd minute.

King 2, Holy Child 1

Goals: K – Lilly Fox 2. HC – Jax Pace.

Assists: K – Hannah Hodges, E. Sciolla. HC – Katie Zampolin

Saves: HC – Giulia DeVita 9.

Halftime: Holy Child 1, King 0

Valhalla 7, Dobbs Ferry 1

Goals: V – Juliana Corradi 3, Sarah Adams, Shannon Brosnan, Allison Portera, Melissa Giglio. DF – Nell Klassen.

Assists: V – Juliana Corradi 2, Melissa Giglio, Emily Strupinsky, Sarah Adams.

Saves: V – Cassie Thomas 4, Sofia Mazza 1. DF – Erika Totoro 12.

Halftime: Valhalla 6, Dobbs Ferry 0.

Noteworthy: Juliana Corradi earned a hat trick in her final Homecoming game and Melissa Giglio scored the third goal of the match on a penalty kick.

Beacon 1, Lakeland 0

Goals: Be – Victoria Banks.

Saves: Lk – Katelyn Heinrich 4, Stephanie Shalhoub 5. Be – Meagan Meeuwisse 12.

Halftime: Beacon 1, Lakeland 0

Noteworthy: Banks scored with 11:51 to go in the first half.

Westlake 3,  Blind Brook 0

Goals: Ws – Amber Lulanaj 2, Mariana Leone.

Assists: Ws – Keira Donnelly, Mia Malandruccolo.

Saves: Ws – Grace O’Brien 3, Susan Pinchiaroli 1. BB –  Lily Kamin 8.

Scores

Yonkers Montessori 1, Keio 0, forfeit

Lincoln 3, Tuckahoe 2 OT

Greeley 1, John Jay-East Fishkill 0

Not Reported

Haldane at Lourdes

East Ramapo at Riverside

Port Chester at Peekskill

Solomon Schechter at Woodlands

Gorton at Hamilton

Somers High School

Nanuet 5, Pearl River 2

Goals: PR – Sarah Donovan, Caroline McGowan. Nt -Emily Davren 2, Amanda Blutig, Lauren Curry, Ciara Saxton.

Assists: Nt – Amanda Blutig, Ciara Saxton.

Saves: PR – Katherine Carstenson 6. Nt – Megan Bourgeois 7.

Halftime: 1-1

Suffern 4,Clarkstown North 0

Goals: Sf – Kyra Greenbaum 2, Allie Goldstein, Jayne Goldman.

Assists: Sf – Allie Goldstein , Liz Ellsworth, Kailey Brenner, Emma Verhaegan.

Saves: N/A

Halftime: Suffern 4, Clarkstown North 0

Hen Hud 1 at Sleepy Hollow 1 OT

Goals: HH – Deanna Marriott. SH – N/A.

Assists: HH – Chloe Stewart. SH – N/A.

Saves: HH – Jaelynn Smith 14. SH – N/A.

Halftime: 1-1

Noteworthy:  Smith made four saves in OT.

Saunders 2, Lincoln 1

Goals: S – Anahy Lopez Velazquez, Denyce Ruiz. L – Emily Reyes.

Assists: None

Saves: S – Caroline Regan 5, Veronica Sevivas 3. L – Aniya Hernandez 16.

Halftime: Saunders 2, Lincoln 0

Game Story: North Rockland holds off Yorktown 

Croton 3, Westlake 0

Goals: C – Katie Dorn, Joana Marcus, Grace Reyer.

Assists: C- Grace Reyer, Charlotte Thornton, Katie Dorn.

Saves: C- Meaghan Walsh 5. W – Grace O’Brien 5, Susan Pinchiaroli 3.

Halftime: Croton 1, Westlake 0

Pleasantville 2, Dobbs Ferry 0

Goals: P – Anna Malfa 2.

Assists: P – Caitlin O’Neill.

Saves: P – Kristie Guttridge 3.  DF – Erika Totoro 17.

Halftime: Pleasantville 1, Dobbs Ferry 0

Tappan Zee 2, Nyack 0

Goals: TZ – Amanda Bermel, Tara Harris.

Assists:  TZ – Tara Harris.

Saves: TZ – Emma Chalusian 4. Nk – Gabrielle Belfessa 7.

Halftime: Tappan Zee 1, Nyack 0

Mercogliano: Short soccer schedule a health risk​

Clarkstown South 3, East Ramapo 1

Goals: CS – Kelly McTigue 2, Grace Harnisch. ER -Francesca Pingos-Zumba.

Assists: CS -Morgan Spuler, Izzy Rebadeau, Abby Montera.

Saves: CS- Elianna  Murphy 2, Menninger. ER – Victorino 25.

Halftime: Clarkstown South 2, East Ramapo 0.

Pelham 3, Ardsley 0

Goals: Pl – Maeve Parmelee, Alison Emery, Grayce Cooper.

Assists: Pl – Alison Emery, Audrey Lee.

Saves: Pl – Izzy Anderson 10. A – Molly Segal 12

Bronxville 3, Edgemont 0

Goals: Bx – Rachel Peacock, Catherine Faville, Alex Doukas.

Assists: Bx – Rachael Peacock, Alex Doukas, Maeve Sullivan.

Saves: Bx – Maddie Coyne 2. E – Amelia Hall 4.

Halftime: 0-0

Irvington 6, Woodlands 0

Goals: I – Olivia Valdes, Zoe Maxwell 2, Melanie Geller, Sofia Garcia, Valeria Acosta.

Assists: I – Zoe Maxwell 2, Allie Pollack, Maxine Bell, Jamie Aronson.

Saves: I – Rebekah Rosman 3. Wd – Miriam Rosas 6

Halftime: Irvington 6, Woodlands 0

Somers 7, Walter Panas 0

Goals: S – Ali Kalayjian 2, Ciara Ostrander, Katrina Kurtz, Melina Couzis, Jenna Menta, Danielle Cucchiarella.

Assists: S – Ciara Ostrander 3, Stephanie Righetti 2, Jessica Rodriguez, Melina Couzis.

Saves: S – Lauren Chiriboga 1, Lauren Jockimo 0. WP –  Jade Pagel 6.

Halftime: Somers 5, Walter Panas 0

Hastings 1. Rye Neck 0

Goals: Hs – Julia Spencer.

Assists: Hs – Jainui Hu.

Saves: Hs – Ani LeFevre 19. RN Marisa Santoli 7.

Halftime: Hastings 1, Rye Neck 0

Rye 2, Eastchester 0

Goals: R – Molly Broderick, Sara Degraw.

Saves: R – Hannah Friedrich 5. E – Brianna Williams 11.

Halftime: Rye 1, Eastchester 0

Noteworthy: Both goals came on penalty kicks.

Harrison 3, Byram Hills 1

Goals: H – Caitlin Alcoba, Erin Nelson, Darya Khodakhaha. BH – Kallie Hoffman.

Assists: H – Julia Dirusso 2, Erin Nelson. BH – Ali Brocato.

Saves: H – Kate Ryan 7. BH – Fruhling 9.

Halftime: Harrison 2, Byram Hills 1

Ossining 1, Fox Lane 1 OT

Goals: FL – Emily DeBitetto. O – Lola Stanisic.

Assists: FL – Michelle Paoticelli.

Saves: FL – Juliana Abramovich 7. FL – Melanie Solomon 28.

Halftime Fox Lane 1, Ossining 0

Lakeland 3, Brewster 0

Goals: Lk – Sarah MacDonald, Emily Weinborg, Ashley Acevedo.

Assists: Lk – Katelyn Bloss, Sarah MacDonald.

Saves: Lk – Stephanie Shalhoub 2, Bw – N/A 15.

Halftime: Lakeland 2, Brewster 0

Other scores

Greeley 2, Port Chester 0

Scarsdale 7, Mount Vernon 0

Mahopac 2, Ketcham 0

Arlington B 2, Briarcliff 0

Beacon 4, Peekskill 0

North Rockland 2, Yorktown 1

Mamaroneck 2, White Plains 1 OT

North Salem 5, Pawling 0

Arlington 4, Carmel 1

Not reported

John Jay-EF at Monroe-Woodbury

Haldane at Putnam Valley

Riverside at Scarsdale B

Kennedy at Maria Regina

St. Luke’s at Masters

Suffern at Clarkstown North

Soccer

Here we go again.

The season is no longer a marathon, it’s a sprint and the majority of the Section 1 teams are back in stride following a really short break. We’ve got Alex back on the sideline today. He’ll be watching John Jay and Lakeland and you can follow him at @SlimbradyAlex for scoring updates. You can always tag me in scoring updates @hoopsmbd and I’ll pass them along.

September 29

(All games are 4:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.)

Clarkstown North at Clarkstown South, 3 p.m.

Fox Lane at Greeley, 4:15 p.m.

Gorton at Saunders, 4:15 p.m.

Nyack at Pearl River, 4:15 p.m.

Brewster at Somers, 4:15 p.m.

Pelham at Eastchester, 4:15 p.m.

Lourdes at Sleepy Hollow, 4:15 p.m.

Scarsdale B at Lincoln, 4:15 p.m.

Carmel at John Jay-East Fishkill, 4:15 p.m.

White Plains at Mount Vernon

Scarsdale at New Rochelle

East Ramapo at North Rockland

Riverside at Panas

Rye at Byram Hills

Valhalla at Croton

Keio at Edgemont

Irvington at Hastings

Solomon Schechter at Hamilton

North Salem at Haldane

Pawling at Putnam Valley

Blind Brook at Edgemont

Pleasantville at Westlake

Ursuline at Mamaroneck, 5 p.m.

Port Chester at Yorktown, 6 p.m.

John Jay at Lakeland, 6:15 p.m.

Ardsley at Harrison, 6:30 p.m.

Albertus Magnus at Tappan Zee, 7 p.m.

Rye Neck at Bronxville, 7 p.m.

Soccer

Time is running short and we have a number of teams squeezing in games.

All four of the Section 1 contests are good matchups. Keep an eye on Rye, which hasn’t lost a game in three weeks. It will be interesting to see if Yorktown can Somers a run.

I’m off today, but will have the phone handy so tag me @hoopsmbd with any scores and I’ll pass them along.

POWER RANKINGS: Rye, Albertus Magnus join the top 10 list

October 10

Somers at Yorktown, 10 a.m.

Pearl River at North Rockland, 11 a.m.

Mamaroneck at Tappan Zee, 11 a.m.

Byram Hills at Rye, 1 p.m.

Goshen’s Eryk Piasecki tumbles over Valhalla goalkeeper Lorenzo Luciano as Luciano makes the save during the Section 1 vs. Section 9 boys soccer challenge at Mamaroneck High School Oct. 10, 2016. Goshen defeated Valhalla 1-0 in overtime.

MAMARONECK – The biggest hit at the third annual Section 1 vs. Section 9 boys soccer challenge was the food truck that Pow! Burger in New Rochelle sent over to Mamaroneck High School for the day.

The host Tigers were set to play in the final game against Warwick, and their players simply couldn’t resist. Coach Rich Becker was worried that some may have overindulged too close to game time, none more so than Sebi Santamaria.

The senior forward downed two cheeseburgers and then proceeded to score the first goal in Mamaroneck’s 2-0 win, disproving his coach’s theory that the second burger would slow him down.

“I guess 90 minutes was enough for me to digest the burgers,” Santamaria joked. “Maybe I’ll have to take a trip to New Ro before every game and go to Pow! Burger.”

COLUMN: Five soccer coaches form unique bond

Santamaria came off the bench and blasted a 25-yard screamer into the top left corner of the net in the 17th minute. Seeing a backup score such a high-difficulty goal only reinforced the enviable depth that the Tigers possess.

Mamaroneck improved to 12-1-1 on the same day it moved to No. 1 in the New York State Sportswriters Association rankings.

“We’re No. 1 in the state for a reason,” Santamaria said. “We have third-string players who can go out there and still do better than some of our opponents.”

Mamaroneck’s second goal came in the 47th minute, when Conor LeBlanc hooked up with Alex Alma on a corner kick. The two-goal lead was plenty for the Tigers, who did not allow a shot on goal.

Since a loss to Yorktown on Sept. 12, Mamaroneck has gone 9-0-1.

“After we lost against Yorktown, we went on a streak where we scored like 17 goals and let in zero,” Santamaria said. “We’ve definitely stepped it up as a team.”

Lakeland 2, Cornwall 0: Nick Foci scored twice, in the 63rd minute and again in the 77th, to help the Hornets defeat the sixth-ranked Class A team in New York State. Luka Rudovic and Matias Prando had the assists and Nick Estrella made four saves for his third straight shutout.

Byram Hills 2, Red Hook 0: Max Hammond scored the Bobcats’ first goal in the 53rd minute on an assist from Mike Bordash. Hammond added an assist in the 73rd minute on freshman Yusef Hafez’s first varsity goal. Sam Alvis (two saves) and David Fishman (two saves) combined for the shutout.

Goshen 1, Valhalla 0, OT: Less than four minutes into overtime, Liam Kelly scored the winning goal. Michael Glick made five saves for the shutout and Lorenzo Luciano made eight saves for the Vikings.

Spackenkill 1, Bronxville 0: Jake Kaufman scored the lone goal in the fourth minute. Quinn McGinnis made six saves for the shutout and Eddie Connors made four saves for the Broncos.

Valhalla’s Ethan Bartlett heads the ball away from Goshen’s Liam Degan during the Section 1 vs. Section 9 boys soccer challenge at Mamaroneck High School Oct. 10, 2016. Goshen defeated Valhalla in overtime 1-0.

More results from Monday…

Scarsdale 1, Yorktown 1, 2 OT: At Scarsdale, Enzo Sangiacomo scored for the Huskers on an assist from Joey Landicino and Michael Spiro equalized for the Raiders on a penalty kick.

Brewster 3, Sleepy Hollow 1: At Sleepy, Hugo Guerra had a hat trick and Marko Poljak had two assists. Cristian Sarris scored for the Horsemen.

Tappan Zee 4, Clarkstown North 0: At TZ, Jorge Umana had a hat trick, Thomas Shalvey had a goal and an assist and Daesob Lim had two assists.

Rye Neck 2, Keio 1: At Rye Neck, Reed Peterson and Pierre Klur scored for the Panthers and Tom Bermingham made nine saves. Chistao Tahara scored for the Unicorns.

Kennedy 2, Spellman 1: At Spellman, Nico Quartironi scored the winner after Luke Ferrari had the equalizer.

Nyack 2, Clarkstown South 0: At Nyack, Quinn Burch and Wismento Saint-Germain scored. Karl McGinnis made five saves for the shutout.

Pearl River 5, North Rockland 0: At Pearl River, Denis Fleming had two goals and an assist, Kevin Doorley scored twice and Craig MacDonald had three assists.

New Rochelle 1, Port Chester 0: At New Ro, David Lopez scored on an assist from Omar Espinoza.

Riverside 2, Saunders 0: At Tibbetts Brook Park, Esad Mackic and Richard Gomez scored.

Twitter: @vzmercogliano

Goshen’s Liam Kelly scores the winning goal on Valhalla goalkeeper Lorenzo Luciano in overtime during the Section 1 vs. Section 9 boys soccer challenge at Mamaroneck High School Oct. 10, 2016. Goshen defeated Valhalla 1-0.

Valhalla soccer coach Sandro Prosperino coaches during a game against Goshen’during the Section 1 vs. Section 9 boys soccer challenge at Mamaroneck High School Oct. 10, 2016.

Ever have one of those group text message chats that never seems to end?

Mamaroneck boys soccer Rich Becker knows the feeling.

An ongoing chat between Becker and four other Section 1 coaches — Bronxville’s Donny Lucas, Byram Hills’ Matty Allen, Lakeland’s Tim Hourahan and Valhalla’s Sandro Prosperino — has become a constant sounding board, filled with soccer talk and a fair share of inside jokes.

“Our wives laugh at us,” Becker said. “It’s all day long with the texts. Whenever somebody has a game, we’ll talk about how things are going and things that are happening in each class.

“It’s been three or four years now that we’ve become really close, and it’s year-round that we’re talking.”

The five like-minded coaches realized that they shared a passion and saw value in what they could learn from each other. That mutual respect led to close friendships, which has morphed into a focus group of sorts in the aforementioned chat.

As they’ve brainstormed about everything from in-game strategy to how to mentor troubled teenagers, they’ve come up with ideas for how to grow their sport and expose their athletes.

COLUMN: Finding success at small schools

SEC. 1 VS. SEC. 9: Section 1 wins three of five at boys soccer challenge

COLUMN: Short soccer schedule a health risk

Together, they developed the Westchester vs. Rockland Challenge, which was held for the fifth year in a row earlier this season. And on Monday, another event that they masterminded — the Section 1 vs. Section 9 Challenge — was played for the third time, this year at Mamaroneck High.

Both events are meant to test their teams against top competition, and both are used to raise money in the fight against cancer.

Mamaroneck High School soccer coach Rich Becker announces the teams during a game in the Section 1 vs. Section 9 boys soccer challenge at Mamaroneck High School Oct. 10, 2016.

“We’re all about Section 1 and we’re about our athletes, and we want to put them out there and showcase them as best we can,” Hourahan said. “On a beautiful day like today with four or five college coaches out here looking at our players, that’s what it’s all about.

“I talked to the kids about the game, and how everyone in the state is going to be curious about these five games. It’s not just this area, but the rest of New York State knows there’s a big event going on, so we’re able to put our kids out there in big moments.”

Too often, coaches are fueled by their competitive instincts and look at each other more as adversaries than as peers. Hourahan harkened back to when he first started coaching and lost to Allen in back-to-back Class A finals.

“In ’05, ’06 and ’07, when Byram was beating the heck out of us all of the time, it was a different relationship,” he said. “I was just getting into the game and I didn’t know much about (Allen). Then when I started learning about his style and what he did with his kids and what the big picture was, that’s when our friendship grew.”

The recognition that they shared the unique experiences of what comes with being a varsity head coach is what ultimately forged their bond.

“It’s someone to talk to who is going through the same problems,” Lucas said. “We learn from each other. For example, no one has better set pieces than Lakeland, so you’ll see some of us use (Hourahan’s) plays for ourselves. In the long run, we’re all family.”

It’s probably no coincidence that each coach’s respective team is enjoying a winning season, but more importantly, they’re setting an example of teamwork. It’s a value lesson not just for the student-athletes, but for coaches in every sport who could benefit from a similar collaboration.

And if they’re into texting, it can also lead to plenty of late-night laughs.

“It’s made me a much better coach,” Prosperino said. “There’s no question about that. There’s so many ideas that we share, and that’s one aspect of these relationships. But the other thing is having this support system in place, where after tough losses, just having a group of guys that are there and can help you sort through what’s going on in your head.

“It’s something that I would recommend for all coaches.”

Twitter: @vzmercogliano

North Rockland head coach Greg Borchers talks with his team during halftime of a Section 1 girls lacrosse game between North Rockland and Rye at North Rockland High School on Monday, April 18th, 2016. North Rockland won 10-5.

Tappan Zee 1,  Mamaroneck 0 OT

Goal: TZ – Nieve Healey.

Saves: TZ – Emma Chalusian 4, Kennedy Outlaw 3. Mk – Lily Epstein 9

Halftime: 0-0

Rye 1, Bryam Hills 0

Goal: R – Remi White.

Assists: R – Isabel Castro.

Saves: B – Emma Fruhling 9. R – Hannah Friedrich 7.

Halftime: 0-0

Noteworthy: Friedrich saved a 1-on-1 shot 13 minutes into the second half then White received a through pass from Castro at 62-minute mark to break the tie.

North Rockland  4, Pearl River 1

Goals: NR – Naya Rivera, Danielle Devaney, Kelly Brady, Hannah Beckerle, 

Assists: NR – Daniella Devaney, Phoebe Mullarky, Kelly Brady.Saves:  NR – Jenna Braunagel 5. PR – Kelly Buchan 8.

Halftime: North Rockland  2, Pearl River 0

Name: Jack Beer

Byram Hills soccer player Jack Beer is the Con Edison Athlete of the Week.

School: Byram Hills High School

Class: Senior

Sport: Boys soccer

Athletic accomplishments: Beer had 11 goals and seven assists as of Thursday. He’s the co-captain of the soccer team and the co-captain of his club team, NY Soccer Club. He scored three goals in a win against Pelham last week. He was a Journal News player of the week in September. Beer was a member of Team Snap, which is a high school all-star team. Last year he was named all-state by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. Beer was named League co-MVP, all-section and all-league by the N.Y. State Soccer Association. Beer’s gotten some international experience through NY Soccer Club, including being a member of the practice squad for the Argentina national team for Copa America. He’s played with the Netherlands squad at Heemskerk Club.

Academic accomplishments: Beer has a 3.867 GPA. He earned a full scholarship to play soccer at Division I Georgetown. He wants to study business. Beer scored a 30 on the ACTs. He’s targeting a Regents-level diploma. He’s a pianist and a stand-up bass player and mentors young kids in music. After school, Beer’s a peer tutor in math. He’s a member of the Great Activities Board, which is akin to the Student Senate. Beer is a member of the chess club. Outside of school, he’s a  member of NY Soccer club. In the summer, he helped the underclassmen train. Beer’s worked with the Dorot Westchester,  which is a social services organization designed to combat social isolation within the elderly community. He’s helped the boys soccer team at the Cottage School and helped at-risk teens teaching sports and recreation. Beer is a referee for local soccer clubs, raised money for Breast Cancer Awareness and helped the Byram Hills Sports Hall of Fame raise money for the new Sylvia Rogers Scholarship fund.

Getting to know Jack Beer

The Journal News: How’s your season going?

Jack Beer: It’s going well. I was injured for the first three games so I was happy to get back with the guys and get an assist in my first game back. I have 11 goals and seven assists; I think it’s been a good season so far.

TJN: What happened to you?

JB: I tore my quad and sprained my PCL so I was out for like three weeks.

TJN: Was it hard to watch your teammates when you wanted to be out there?

JB: It was brutal watching my teammates have fun without me but I knew my time would come.

TJN: When you were a little boy, what drew you to the sport of soccer?

JB: I was 5 when I started to play the sport, but I think it was the 2006 World Cup actually that drew a lot of interest from me watching it on TV. I think it was then when I started looking up to the people scoring all the goals. I thought that’s what I really want to do.

TJN: For someone who admired the World Cup scorers, how cool was it to get that international experience playing in these tournaments?

JB: It’s awesome going around the world living my dream, honestly. It gave me a new perspective on not only my soccer game but on the world in general — how everyone interacts with one another on and off the field. That was really cool.

TJN: When you were that 5-year-old first starting out in soccer, did you ever think you’d be at the point you’re at in the sport?

JB: I knew really I loved the game a lot but I didn’t know where it could take me. Even as a little boy, it’s crazy to think that I’d be playing at 13-14 years old with Chelsea’s Academy; it’s ridiculous. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to go on and play at Georgetown and be where I am today. It’s a dream come true, honestly. I think if you are serious about a dream, you have to start early and commit to it.

TJN: Why did you choose Georgetown?

JB: It’s a beautiful school and a great one too. I think Coach (Brian) Wiese made a big difference on me. He reached out to me. I wanted a school that showed a lot of interest in me personally. I think he did that.

TJN: Then there’s the student part of the student-athlete. Do you know what you want to major in?

JB: I like math a lot so I think business would be a good fit. So I applied to the business school. I’m pretty analytical, not only with math but with life in general. I think management would be a good major for me so I’m going to look into that.

TJN: Do you enjoy having an outlet like music as a way to decompress from the stress of the day-to-day life?

JB: I think it gives me an outlet away from soccer. I started playing piano when I was really young. I enjoyed listening to music in my free time, specifically piano, not pop music. I love listening to piano music. I took up the bass in middle school. I’ve been playing ever since and I love playing it.

TJN: What’s your favorite piece to play?

JB: We did “Star Wars” pretty recently and I really enjoyed that.

TJN: What’s your favorite community service work you’ve done?

JB: It’s a combination of mentoring in soccer and music. With music, I love helping kids and making them feel more comfortable and improve with whatever they’re doing, not only in music but in life. I always looked up to kids like that when I was younger and I’m glad I can be one of those mentors today. With soccer, I’ve given back as a referee at little kids’ games. We got to the Pleasantville Cottage School every year to play with those kids. I love playing with the Cottage School kids.

The Con Edison Athlete of the Week recognizes students in Westchester and Putnam schools who excel athletically. Academic achievements, leadership, citizenship, and school and community activities are also factors. The winner is selected each week by a panel of athletic directors and coaches who review ballots submitted by each athlete’s athletic director or coach.

Debbie Schechter

Twitter: @LoHud_Debbie

Lohud Soccer

There are some interesting matchups today.

Good teams with high expectations like to be tested going into the playoffs, and that is critical for the contenders in Class AA and A this season. I’m back on the football sideline but there’s a pretty good chance I’ll spend the next two days covering soccer. You can tag me @hoopsmbd with updates and I’ll pass them along.

October 15

Tappan Zee at Nyack, 10 a.m.

Mount Vernon at White Plains, 11 a.m.

Mamaroneck at Ursuline, 11 a.m.

Yorktown at Port Chester, 11 a.m.

Hastings at Irvington, 11 a.m.

Oakwood Friends at Harvey, 11 a.m.

Masters at Greens Farms, 11 a.m.

Putnam Valley at Haldane, noon

Rye Country Day at Greenwich Academy, noon

Dobbs Ferry at Tuckahoe, 1 p.m.

Nanuet at Pearl River, 1:30 p.m.

Suffern at Mahopac, 1:30 p.m.

John Jay-EF at Carmel, 2 p.m.

Somers at Panas, 2 p.m.

North Salem at Pawling, 2 p.m.

Clarkstown South at Clarkstown North, 2:30 p.m.

Horace Greeley at Fox Lane, 3 p.m.

Sleepy Hollow at Hen Hud, 3 p.m.

Croton-Harmon at Valhalla, 3 p.m.

Pleasantville at Albertus Magnus, 3 p.m.

Eastchester at Rye, 5 p.m.

John Jay at Ossining, 5:30 p.m.

New Rochelle at Scarsdale, 6 p.m.

Byram Hills at Harrison, 6:30 p.m.

Ardsley at Pelham, 7 p.m.

Ryan Noel (9) of Byram Hills and Harrison’s Gabe Ferrierra (25) battle for control of the ball during boys soccer game at Byram Hills High School in Armonk Oct. 17, 2016. Byram Hills defeats Harrison 3-1.

ARMONK – Skill is more important than size.

That’s been a motto of sorts for junior Ryan Noel, who stands at just 5-foot-3 but has an undeniable presence on the soccer pitch for Byram Hills.

“That’s my attitude towards soccer,” he said. “I just try to be as technical as I can, and play as fast and simple as I can. Since I’m smaller, I know that I have to go harder into tackles, which is what I aim to do. It’s very effective.”

As he has been all season, Noel was one of the most active players for the Bobcats on Monday. He scored the third and final goal in a 3-1 win over Harrison, which gave Byram its 11th league title in 16 years under coach Matty Allen. The win finished off a 12-2-2 regular season and will likely result in a top-three seed in the Class A bracket.

In their previous meeting with the Huskies, who have had a strong season in their own right at 11-4-1, the Bobcats trailed at halftime before rallying for a 3-2 win. Ryan’s older brother David Noel scored twice in that one, but it looks like he could miss the playoffs with a knee injury.

Even without its second-leading scorer on Monday, Byram won in more convincing fashion, allowing Harrison just one shot on goal in the second half.

“This was an extremely important game for us,” Ryan Noel said. “I think our team has definitely improved since the last time that we played them. Losing my brother was obviously hard since he scored two in the last 10 minutes of the game last time, but it shows that we’re a very good squad with a lot of depth.”

Jack Beer (10) of Byram Hills keeps the ball away from Harrison’s Ryan Homem (5) during boys soccer game at Byram Hills High School in Armonk Oct. 17, 2016. Byram Hills defeats Harrison 3-1.

Player of the game: Jack Beer, Byram Hills— Noel had the final goal to clinch it, but it was Beer who initially put the Bobcats ahead. He placed his first goal into the top right corner of the net in the 20th minute and added a second on a penalty kick in the 38th.

“It’s awesome watching him play, and it’s really fun playing with him,” Noel said of Beer. “He’s just exceptional and really easy to play with. You know he’s always going to put one in the back of the net when you need one.”

Turning point: Harrison had a few chances in the opening 10 minutes, but from there, it was all Byram. By the time freshman Spencer Weinhoff found Beer for the first goal, the Bobcats were clearly in control.

Stat line: Byram Hills (12-2-2) — Beer scored twice and Noel had one goal. Weinhoff had an assist and Matt Groll made four saves. The Bobcats took 21 shots. Harrison (11-4-1) — Gabe Ferreira scored on an assist from Kevin Aguirre in the 78th minute. Noah Bender made nine saves and the Huskies took six shots.

Quotable: “This is definitely one of the deepest years for Class A that we’ve seen,” Beer said. “I just have to say that we’re ready for the challenge. We know that if we play our best and surpass the intensity of any team that we can come out victorious.”

Twitter:  @vzmercogliano

Indra Neil Dan (6) of Byram Hills and Harrison’s Sam Glaser (22) battle for control of the ball during boys soccer game at Byram Hills High School in Armonk Oct. 17, 2016. Byram Hills defeats Harrison 3-1.

Arlington beat Somers 2-1 in overtime at Somers Oct. 17, 2016.

Greeley 1, John Jay 0

Goal: HG – Olivia Bonadies.

Saves: HG – Ashley Rosenberg 2. JJ – Allison Oestreicher 15.

Halftime: Greeley 1, John Jay 0

North Rockland 2, Clarkstown South 1

Goal: NR – Naya Rivera, Daniella Devaney. CS – N/A.

Assists: NR – Maria Cabrera, Phoebe Mullarky. CS – N/A.

Saves:  NR – Jenna Braunegel 5. Clarkstown South N/A – 6.

Halftime: North Rockland 1, Clarkstown South  0

Byram Hills 1, Scarsdale 0

Goal: BH – Ali Brucato.

Assists: BH – Arielle Zaccaginino.

Saves: BH – Emma Fruhling 7. Sc – Christina Coco 6.

Halftime: Byram Hills 1, Scarsdale 0

GAME STORY: Somers feels the sting of a rare loss against Arlington

PHOTO GALLERY: Somers vs. Arlington

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: Somers vs. Arlington

Rye Country Day 2, Hackley 0

Goals: RCDS – Isa Stronski, Taylor Regan.

Assists: RCDS – Regan, Sarah Guest.

Saves: Hk – Lilianna Khosrowshahi 6. RCDS – Cilicia Payne 4.

Halftime: RCDS 1, Hackley 0

Eastchester 2, White Plains 0 

Goals: E- Emme DiPasquale, Julie Murtagh.

Assists: E- Julie Murtagh, Keri McGahren.

Saves: – E- Brianna Williams 4. WP – Danielle Okun 6.

Halftime: 0-0

Croton Harmon 3, Putnam Valley 1   

Goals: CH – Ava Robine, Katie Dorn 2. PV – Madelyn Deegan.

Assists: CH – Grace Reyer, Charlotte Thornton.

Saves: CH – Meaghan Walsh 9.  PV – Gillian Hanson 16.

Halftime: Croton 3, Putnam Valley 1

Somers 1, Arlington 2

Goals: S –  Jenna Menta. Ar – Michaela Fasolina, Molly Feighan.

Assists: S – Ciara Ostrander. Ar – Kendall Feighan.

Saves: S – Lauren Chiriboga 6, Lauren Jockimo 13. Ar – Becky Gold 21.

Halftime: 0-0

Noteworthy: It was Somers’ first-regular season loss since 2013 season.

Rye 2, Pearl River 1

Goals: R – Remi  White, Rachel Adelson. PR – Sarah Donovan.

Assists: R – Anna O’Keefe. PR – Cate Feerick.

Saves: R – Hannah Friedrich  6. PR – Katherine Carstenson 5.

Halftime: Rye 2, Pearl River 1

Noteworthy: Adelson scored the winner with 1:56 to go in the first half.

Albertus Magnus 5, Clarkstown North 2

Goals: AM – Danielle LaRochelle 3, Mazie Stiles 2. CN – Maggie Riordan, Sabrina Leoce.

Assists: AM – Juliana Hanigan, Val Monaco.

Saves: AM – Kaitlyn Kreider 7. CN – Jaime Polansky 11.

Halftime: North 1, Albertus 0

Harrison 2, Ardsley 1

Goals: H – Caitlin Alcoba 2. A – Rebecca Maric.

Assists: H – Shannon Nelson, Cara Traficante.

Saves: H – Kate Ryan 7. A – N/A 7.

Halftime: 0-0

Bronxville 5, Rye Neck 0

Goals: Bx- Rachel Peacock, Mason Warble, Lexi Raviol, Shannon Hendrick, Gabbie Amboss.

Assists: Bx – Rachel Peacock 2, Gabbie Amboss, Mason Warble, Nan Carpenter.

Saves: Bx – Maddie Coyne 0, Romy Tarantino 3. RN – Marisa Santoli 5.

Haltime: Bronxville 3, Rye Neck 0

Noteworthy: Amboss scored her first varsity goal.

Ossining 4, Hastings 0

Goals: O – Isabelle Tola, Maya Potillo, Jhada Francis, Juliana Abramovich.

Assists: O – Lola Stanisic, Jhada Francis, Gabriela Rama, Maya Potillo.

Saves: O – Juliana Abramovich 2. Hs – Ani LeFevre 35.

Halftime: Ossining 2, Hastings 0

Noteworthy: It was Abramovich’s fourth shutout. Francis scored her 48th varsity goal.

Edgemont 1, Dobbs Ferry 0

Goal: Ed – Bridget Stone.

Assists: Ed – Sydney Gaviser.

Saves: Ed – Hannah Agoglia 4. DF – N/A 8.

Halftime: Edgemont 1, Dobbs Ferry 0

New Rochelle 4, Valhalla 1

Goals: NR – Sabrina Salov, Sydney Jasper, Victoria Jasper, Eliana Zepeda. V – Corradi.

Assists: NR – Sophie Wolf 3, Sabrina Salov. V – Strupinsky.

Halftime: New Rochelle 2, Valhalla 0

Pleasantville 6, Blind Brook 0

Goals: Pv – Lyndsey Minerva 2, Sydney Levine, Anna Touitou, Analese Picart, Bianca Balducci.

Assists: Pv – Catherine Kauber, Lyndsey Minerva, Bianca Balducci, Erin Egan, Skylar Schneeweiss.

Saves: Pv – Ana Malfa 7. BB – Lily Kamin 8.

Halftime: Pleasantville 4, Blind Brook 0

Lakeland 2, Nyack 1

Goals: Nk – Lea Spatz, Lk – Kaitlyn Bloss 2.

Assists: Nk – Nancy Hamlin- Ryan. Lk – Gabby Libretti.

Saves: Lk – Kaitlyn Heinrick 4, Stephanie Shahloub 7. Nk – N/A 9.

Halftime: Nyack 1, Lakeland 0

Noteworthy: Bloss scored on a penalty kick with 1:46 left in the game.

Hen Hud 1, Panas 0

Goal: HH: Deanna Marriott.

Saves: Pn: Jade Pagel 15. HH: Jaelynn Smith 6.

Halftime: 0-0

Scores

Mahopac 1, Carmel 0 OT

Not reported

Gorton at Lincoln

Riverside at Saunders

Maria Regina at Westlake

Irvington at Sleepy Hollow

North Salem at Arlington B

Webutuck at Pawling

Scarsdale B at Briarcliff

Woodlands at Yonkers Montessori

Hen Hud at Panas

Somers opened the season with an 8-1 win at Eastchester.

Section 1 Girls Soccer Tournament

Semifinals

Tuesday

Class AA

No. 9 Mahopac 3, No. 1 Greeley 2 OT PK

GAME STORY: Mahopac advances to Class AA semifinals on penalty kicks

Up next: Suffern

No. 5 Suffern 2, No. 4 Clarkstown South 0

GAME STORY: Suffern tops Clarkstown South 2-0 in quarterfinals

Up next: Mahopac

No. 2 Arlington 4, No. 7 North Rockland 1

Goal: NRk – Kelly Brady. Arl – N/A.

Assists: NRk – Naya Rivera. Arl – N/A.

Saves:  NRk – Jenna Braunegel 9. Arl – N/A 2.

Halftime: North Rockland 1, Arlington 0

Noteworthy: The Admirals scored three goals in the first nine minutes of the second half.

Up next: Yorktown

No. 3 Yorktown 3, No. 11 Carmel 0

Goals: Yk – Ivana Pjetri 2, Alyssa Francese.

Assists: Ivana Pjetri, Emily Metz.

Saves: Yk – Nachman 14. C – Curtis 10.

Halftime: 0-0

Noteworthy: Pjetri has three goals and three assists in the last two matches.

Up next: Arlington

Class A

No. 1 Somers 6, No. 9 Tappan Zee 0

Goals: S – Katrina Kurtz 2, Ciara Ostrander 2, Jenna Menta, Ali Kalayjian.

Assists: S – Melina Couzis 5, Jenna Menta.

Saves: S – Lauren Chiriboga 6, Lauren Jockimo 4. TZ – Emma Chalusian 9, Kennedy Outlaw 1.

Halftime: Somers 6, Tappan Zee 0

Up next: John Jay

No. 5 John Jay 3, No. 13 Lakeland 1

Goals: JJ: Caroline Touzeau, Grace Vittoria, Willa Tobin. Lk – Gabby Libretti.

Assists: JJ: Touzeau. Lk – MacDonald.

Saves: Lk – Kaitlyn Heinrich 7, Stephanie Shahloub 2. JJ – Allison Oestreicher 11.

Halftime: John Jay 2, Lakeland 1

Up next: Somers

No. 15 Eastchester 2, No. 10 Byram Hills 1 OT PK

Goals: BH – Ali Brocato. Ea – Alex Rodriguez.

Assists: None.

Saves: BH – Emma Fruhling 8. Ea – Brianna Williams 11.

Halftime score: 1-1

Noteworthy: Willams saved three of the penalty kicks to extend the Eagles’ run of upsets.

No. 6 Pearl River 6, No. 19 Lourdes 0

Goals: PR – Tara Guilfoyle, Shaelynn Guilfoyle, Emily Andriello, Cate Feerick, Alexis Meredith, Sarah Donovan.

Assists: PR – Emily Andriello, Cate Feerick, Tara Guilfoyle, Aileen McBride, Alyssa Portington.

Saves: OLL – Gabby Campili 10. PR – Katherine Carstenson 1, Kelly Buchan 1.

Halftime: Pearl River 2, Lourdes 0

Up next: Byram Hills or Eastchester

Class B

No. 9 Briarcliff at No. 1 Bronxville, 1:30 p.m.

GAME STORY: Bronxville looks the part of a favorite against Briarcliff

Up next: Pleasantville

No. 4 Pleasantville 3, No. 5 Croton-Harmon 0

Goals: Pv – Rachel VanSise 3.

Assists: Pv – Lyndsey Minerva.

Saves:  Pv – Kristie Guttridge 6. CH – Meaghan Walsh 10

Halftime:  Pleasantville 2, Croton 0

Up next: Bronxville

No. 2 Irvington 6, No. 7 Edgemont 0

Goals:  I – Zoe Maxwell 2, Jessica Greene, Lindsay Halpin 2, Sofia Garcia.

Assists: I – Miranda Farman, Lindsay Halpin, Heather Hall, Melanie Geller, Allie Pollack, Mariana Maciel.

Saves: I – Rebekah Rosman 5, Hannah Agoglia 15.

Halftime: Irvington 5, Edgemont 0

Up next: Albertus Magnus

No. 3 Albertus Magnus 4, No. 6 Putnam Valley 1

Goals: AM – Mazie Stiles 2, Eva LoPresti, Lizzy Benedetto. PV – N/A.

Assists: AM – Danielle LaRochelle, Eva LoPresti, Mazie Stiles 2.

Saves: AM – Kaitlyn Kreider 3. PV – Gillian Hanson 4.

Halftime: Albertus 2, Putnam Valley 0

Up next: Irvington

Class C

No. 4 North Salem 6, No. 5 Hamilton 0

Up next: Haldane