Byram Hills edges Rye, sets up rematch with Lakeland
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- November
- 1
First, let me say that it seems like every time I go to Armonk to watch Byram Hills (even in the spring when I watched a boys lax game there) there’s a relentless wind. What, is there some kind of wind tunnel up there? Sheesh?
Anyway, I’ve been fortunate enough to watch some good soccer in my three seasons on the beat here at The Journal News and today was one of the most exciting games I’ve witnessed. The cold temperatures gave it that definite postseason feel and Matt Allen expressed to me how he thought it was one of the most even-played games he’s ever been a part of.
It took a header from Will Shaheen with a little over four minutes remaining to send the Bobcats to the thrilling 1-0 win, putting Byram Hills back in the Section 1 Class A title game and giving Hills a chance to defend its title.
Here’s something Allen read to his players before the game, talking about their 19th game of the season: “There are times in our lives that the world lets us show/the things of ourselves that now only we know/of course people say, ‘They’re so fast!’ They’re so strong!/But in thinking that’s us, they’re totally wrong/Sure the skill and the strength are keys to our fate/But they’re not the main things that make this team great/No, those on the outside can’t see why we win/Because they cannot see what we all have within.”
Not bad, huh? Can’t tell you what’s he’s scheduled to read before game 20 Saturday. This is a family blog after all. But it is pretty funny, I must admit.
Also, I’ll tell you what: Jared Small has the Garnets going in the right direction. Besides looking snazzy in his European-style suits in the sidelines, he’s brought a certain element to Rye that can’t be measured. You can tell the players feel they are going to win each game, no matter who they are playing. Rye losses just five seniors and one of them isn’t Juan Chang. He’s only a sophomore and is going to get better. Watch out him for over the next two years.
Ok, so who you guys going with in the Byram Hills-Lakeland game. Tell me who’s going to win and why?
Anyone who watched last year’s game between these two know how physical it was until Hayden Morris helped send the Bobcats into the state tournament, a run that ended with a loss to Section 5’s Aquinas in the state title game. I expect another close game Saturday.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, November 1st, 2007 at 6:57 pm by Rod Boone. 
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Just want to point out that Bronxville has not allowed a goal in two playoff games.
Lakeland will beat Byram Hills just because. Last year we lost a tough one, and this year we get even.
This just in: Just because is not a quality reason why a team will win a game. It will be an even game as Lakeland’s Malan is one of the toughest players in the section..Watch out for Byram defense that has only given up 11 goals all season and possess one of the best underrated goalies in the section. This game will come down to set pieces and Byram wins 2-0.
Agreed, the keeper for Byram is very good. He could put a drop kick in the opposing goal, it’s huge. But if the game is gonna come down to set pieces, I don’t see any way Byram will be able to match up to Lakeland. They spend the most time working on set pieces than any other team in the section.