Boys: Semifinal wrapup
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- October
- 31
What did we learn in the sectional semifinals?
– We learned that although it’s good to be on top, no one is invincible. Three of the four No. 1 seeds will get a chance at a championship. The fourth, Byram Hills, was stunned by Harrison in penalty kicks. Technically Byram Hills’ unbeaten streak against Section 1 is still alive, as this goes into the books as a tie. No one won or lost; Harrison merely “advanced.” Try telling that to the disappointed Bobcats who spent the year building an undefeated record and an aura of perfection. They had to watch Harrison celebrate their demise on their home field. – We learned that Class A was probably the deepest of all the classes. The number of teams in Class A that could rightly call themselves championship contenders was huge. Look at the two vying for it now, a No. 5 and a No. 7 seed. There were the top seeds in Byram, Lourdes, Pearl River, and Rye. Hen Hud made the semifinals. Throw Pelham in the mix too. That’s eight teams. – We learned that being hot can be more important than anything else. One of the mantras of hockey is that a hot goalie can carry a middling team on his back for several playoff series. One player in soccer doesn’t have quite that much influence, but a whole roster can get hot collectively, vaulting itself into championship status. The two prime examples are Scarsdale and Harrison. Both have a lot of talent, and it wouldn’t have been a stretch to call either one a contender before the playoffs. But both have reached that next level because they’re playing out of their minds at the right time. Scarsdale would have been a big underdog to Fishkill two weeks ago. The way the Raider defense is destroying people, though, you have to consider them no worse than a slight ‘dog now. Harrison just knocked off the two Class A favorites in succession, and is no worse than 50-50 to take the title. All because they played their best soccer at the right time. – We learned that Bronxville hasn’t been challenged yet. I was curious how the Broncos would fare against some of the bigger Class B schools, schools that played up during the regular season. Like Edgemont, which had its edges hardened in the excellent League 3-B. No problem for Bronxville, apparently. Class B was down this year, and so far the Broncos are taking full advantage. They might have been wary of Hastings, which was playing stellar D and had championship experience, but Albertus took care of that potential problem. At least we can assume Rye Neck won’t roll over. The Panthers were the only ones to beat Bronxville this year. – We learned that Valhalla is finally healthy. That’s good news for anyone at the Class C title game. For a while it looked like nobody was in North Salem’s league this year, and that the final game would be a romp. Valhalla was always short players and therefore couldn’t get its act together. Other than a few nicks, the Vikings are finally fully loaded. Let’s hope that makes for an entertaining game, whichever side wins.
This entry was posted
on Friday, October 31st, 2008 at 2:01 pm by Jake Thomases. 
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Can someone let me know the time and location of the Scarsdale JJEF game tomorrow? Is it at Arlington HS?
Thanks
It’s at Arlington HS at 4:30
THANK GOD the hills lost they were talking to much crap this year its about time some one shuts them up know we all know they cant back up wat they say all they do is run there mouths and dont prove anything on the field !!!!
Good LUCk scarsdale and harrison , bring westchester county a championship !!!!!!!!
Three Straight League Titles
Two Straight Sectional Titles
Back to Back State Finals Appearances
A State Title
Three Straight NSCAA Academic Team Scholarship Awards
Two Straight Players of the Year
Nine All-County Players
Five Division I Players Currently Playing
22-2, 23-1-1, 18-0-2—The Last Three Years (all losses to state champs)
Lucky #7—You are right, they have proven nothing on the field.
i dont care about all the other years did you not read what i wrote !!!!! i said THIS YEAR !!!!!! no one cares about all the other years because its all over its gone its history we all know what happened this year…... you couldn’t back up your crap talk that is all i know !!!!!
Lucky #7…i’m sorry but you really cannot just talk about this year regardless of what happened in previous years, because those previous years have a very large impact on the present year. ask any one who knows, it usually takes multiple years to develop a team strong enough to be competitive to win a sectional title, so the previous years are pertinent in that regard. also, on the individual level, high school soccer is a game of four years, so for you (if you are a player which I assume you are)and for all others, I’m sure that the previous years have not been forgotten so lightly as you might suggest.
Over the years, the high school teams that are consistently the best are the ones that have strong programs, not just teams. byram is such a school. they have been consistently one of the best programs in the section regardless of class, and that includes this current year. please do not let the shadow of their previous year cloud your viewpoint, reaching the sectional semifinals is not mean feat, especially in a class as strong as A was this year. also, in case you hadn’t forgotten, they did have an unbeaten record in the regular season, something that is very rarely achieved by teams. so again, please do not demean the great successes that the team has had in this past year.
I am very confident that they will continue this success and consistency in the years to come, and will remain one of the prominent soccer programs in the section and state
To Lucky 7 – The Hills did not talk crap, U did. Byram HIlls is a classy team and regardless of the fact the lost of the last PK, does not mean they are not unbeaten, because whether or not you want ot hear this, THEY ARE STILL UNBEATEN. Their season was great and they deserve all the accolades they get. Harrison played a great game and they also showed class, UNLIKE YOU !!! You could take a lesson here on jealousy and shut up !
lucky nujmber seven, what losing team are you on you big loser face?