Momentum fuels Sleepy Hollow Football Club: Week 5 Highlights

As we reach mid-season, the Sleepy Hollow Football Club is fueled by momentum. This week the teams delivered for their Moms on this Mother’s Day weekend. We saw some great soccer, including several decisive victories. Read on for more Week 5 highlights.

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

The Varsity Girls Mustangs had a tough loss against first place Don Bosco 0-1 on Sunday. The Mustangs were missing several players and after borrowing two players, Shea Bertolacci and Emily Aridas, were able to field 11 players without subs. The Mustangs were also facing former teammate Ariana Vizcaino who was now on the visiting side. The Mustangs played hard and controlled most of possession. They earned 7 corner kicks and 3 direct kicks but converted on none. The visitors had several opportunities as well that the Mustang defense thwarted including a beautiful save by young 13-year-old Emily. The difference in the game was a breakaway – fueled by 50-yard goal-kick from Ariana – that the visiting forward controlled with a handball to her-self that the referee missed. This slight advantage allowed the breakaway goal and was the difference in the match. The Mustangs have another home game against the Westside Red Bulls this Sunday.

The Junior Varsity Boys Red Legends saw their repeat championship hopes take a hit at the hands of visiting Rye. The Red Legends were missing several key starters and quickly found themselves down 0-3 on set plays. The boys fought back with two quick scores from Aiden Smith and Piero Cabanillas making the half time deficit 2-3. Rye didn’t back down in the second half and used quick passing to attack the middle of the red legends defense. The Red Legends held the ball too long and couldn’t take advantage of Aiden’s speed and ended up losing the match 3-6. The boys are now tied for second playing one less game than first place Shrub Oak.

Anxious to avoid a second-straight loss, the Sleepy Hollow Football Club Blaze, coached by John Sutherland, traveled to Chappaqua to take on the Chappaqua Cheetahs in a 9am match on the pitch on Mother's Day.

The Cheetah's struck first when in the 11th minute of the match, when a long quick by a midfielder caught the Blaze unaware and a streaking Chappaqua player in a 1 - 1 was able to put the ball to the far post past a diving save attempt by Blaze goalie Emily Aridas. That would be the last goal of the day for Chappaqua as the Blaze's exceptional defense of Gabby "the Minister of Defense" Disney, Zoey Murphy, Julissa "V-8 Engine" Marvin and Daisy "Hustle" Star stayed in front of the Cheetah attackers and covered for each other, playing excellent help defense.

In the 20th minute of the match, a punt by Blaze goalie Emily Aridas bounced on the other side of the 50-yard line and the ensuing bounce to Blaze midfielder Lilly Wurster at the 40. Lilly's one-touch pass to forward Sami "Beast Mode" Marvin left just one Chappaqua defender between her and a goal. The Cheetah defender knocked the ball past the end line, giving the Blaze their first corner kick of the game. Blaze striker Gemma Fante's long arching kick landed perfectly on top of the right foot of Blaze forward Jhoselyn Pugo. The quick strike left nothing for the Chappaqua goalie to do other than turn her head to watch the ball go by, knotting the game at 1.

Ten minutes after half time, the defensive play of the day was made by Gabby Disney. When a Chappaqua striker was able to beat another Blaze defender down the sideline, Gabby came from the middle of the field and running at full blast knocked the ball off the Chappaqua player's foot just as she was about to take an uncontested shot. The Blaze's defense cleared the ensuing corner kick and normal field play resumed.

Blaze coaches allowed their charges to rotate from their traditional assignments. Lizzy Molina, who normally patrols midfield was able to play forward, and made several strong shots on goal. Daisy Star who normally excels at right back was put in both midfield and forward in the second half. Fellow defensemen Zoey Murphy was also allowed to play forward in the second half. Cassie “Instant Offense" Junge who is usually a Blaze striker played midfield and Meghan O'Hanlon, who is the most versatile player for Coach John Sutherland and can excel wherever she is placed, did exactly that in the second half, playing both midfield and forward.

The Blaze also welcomed newcomer Bianca Lopez-Parnetti to the team. Bianca showed good form throughout the match, and came off the bench to deliver several nice passes and defensive stops in the midfield. With the field awareness she displayed today, the Blaze fan base will be seeing and reading much more of Bianca in coming weeks.

Next week's WYSL U-14 Premier game for the Blaze will be a late Sunday afternoon game scheduled for 4:30 pm at Sleepy Hollow High School against the Munay Earthquakes.

SHFC Fusion (Boys 2008) travelled to the Pelham Strikers for a 9am Mother's Day game. Minutes into the game, a breakaway from Luke Tonaj led to a goal by Sean Mackiewicz who was well positioned at the goal mouth. While there would be additional attempts and offensive pressure brought by Sebastian Londono, Luca Simbana, Josh Ortiz, Luca Dominguez, Jayden Perez, and Aiden Lee, this was the half's only goal.

The second half saw more action, attempts and scoring. Perez would score two goals this half, and Londono and Eoghan Glynn each scored one to make a final score 5-0. Fusion brought a lot of offensive pressure and controlled much of the game's pace and possession with noteworthy game play and shots on goal from Kieran Degen, Edwin Dutan, Alessandro Soto, and Raul Socualaya. Dylan Largo and Shyam Manjanath came in as relievers, providing needed support on both offense and defense. Pierce Davis and Jonathan Figeroa played well in goal and each saw moments of pressure from Pelham. Solid defensive play from Bruno Flores, Lee, Simbana helped secure the shutout.

Now halfway through this spring season with a 4-1 record, Fusion have seen the each of their division's teams once and will now play each a second time. Coaches Ken Mackiewicz, Michael Glynn and Michael Degen will work the team hard this week in anticipation of Sunday's game at the Rye Reds, against whom they played a challenging game in the first week of this season.

On Mother’s Day, the 2010 Girls Red Bandits narrowly defeated the John Jay Purple by a score of 4-2 to continue their undefeated Spring 2021 season. Two early points by John Jay fired up the intimidating offensive line of Ada Chalfy, Katie Yalmokas, Sabrina Graham, Marianna Patsch and Mila Gallagher. Defensive players Marley Defilippis, Natalia Hargrave and Mackenzie Linhart kept constant pressure on the Purple offense, by blocking several John Jay players from shooting, and launching the ball back towards the John Jay goal multiple times. Ada Chalfy, with coordinated assists from Noa Levine and Mackenzie Linhart, made two consecutive goals to tie the score at 2-2. In goal, Eli Impastato showed fierce determination, against a relentless John Jay offense, holding the score at 2-2 to end the first half.

At the start of the second half, Melodie Molina sent the ball to Ada Chalfy for her third score of the game. Katie Yalmokas countered with the Bandit’s fourth goal to move the Bandits ahead of John Jay by two. Strong defensive playing by Marley Defillipis, Noa Levine, Natalia Hargrave, and Mila Gallagher continued to frustrate a persistent John Jay offense. Goalkeeper, Sabrina Graham, showed a commanding presence, leaving John Jay scoreless to end the game at 4-2 Bandits.

Halfway through the Spring 2021 season, the Bandits continue to show strong communication and camaraderie on and off the field, resulting in wins over Rye Brook, Scarsdale, New Rochelle, Mt. Pleasant and John Jay. Led by Coaches Mike Levine, Mike Glynn and Michelle Defilippis, the Bandits continue to prove their grit and tenacity. With four remaining games in the season, the Bandits hope to extend their winning streak on Sunday, May 16th against the Shrub Oak Blaze.

A Winning Streak! The Junior Legends showed up to Bedford Hills on the back of their first win of the season and wasted little time forcing the play on a game Bedford Fire squad. Goals from Ryck and Dennis Van Lent helped to build a 4-2 halftime lead and a second half tally from Nicholas Farbman helped to conclude matters for a comfortable 5-2 victory.

The Legends were strong on defense, constantly building from the back and lobbing volleys to their streaking wings as they flew down the touch lines bedeviling the Fire defense.

On the backend, goalkeeper Oliver Sillitoes continued to shut the door anytime the Fire found life, making several key saves, including a sprawling save of a penalty when the score was 4-2.

The Legends have seized momentum and look to make it three this weekend as they play at home against the Pelham Rage!

The Boys U10 All Reds had a Mother's Day date at the romantic turf in Yorktown. After splitting the two games with this Yorktown team in the Fall, the boys in red were looking to set the tone early and did just that with an early goal from Dennis Van Lent. The game was never in doubt as the All Reds dominated time of possession and had numerous scoring chances. Matthew Zhuzhingo got one goal for the All Reds and the other goal scorer's identity could not be confirmed by press time. Strong goaltending by Ryan McMahon and Elliot Scherich secured the 3-0 shutout. The All Reds travel to Rhode Island...er..uh...Mahopac next weekend as well as a long trip south to Irvington for a double header weekend of youth futbol.

On a beautiful Mother’s Day Sunday, the SHFC Gators took to their home field at WI to take on the Castleford Sky, the only team to get the best of the Gators during the fall campaign.

Despite the Gators applying constant pressure from the opening whistle, Castleford did jump out to an early 1-0 lead on a beautiful goal from outside the box. Unfazed by the early goal by Castleford, the Gators stormed back with an incredible five unanswered goals to take a 5-1 lead in the first half. Those goals were tallied by Sienna (4) and Olivia (1). In addition to great play on the offensive side, the Gator defense led by Gabbie G, Gabby V, Ellis and Melody were able to clamp down and keep the ball out of the Gator end for most of the half. Castleford struck back late in the first half to make it 5 to 2 at halftime.

Showing that they were last year’s league champs for a reason, Castleford answered with two goals in the second half to make this a very close and competitive 5-4 contest with about 10 minutes left. Shortly thereafter, Ella P struck back with a goal of her own to make it 6-4 and secure the win for the Gators, a wonderful gift to all the mothers on Mother’s Day!

The Gator’s travel to Scarsdale on Sunday 5/16 to take on the Scarsdale 2012 White.

This week the Red Devils faced off against the Pleasantville Galaxy for a tough match. The Devils came out strong on offense, with several great attempts at the net, paying off twice in the first half with beautiful goals from Rodrigo Figueroa and Ryan Mackiewicz. The boys demonstrated great teamwork, with several connecting passes from Marco Robilotto, Henry Kromelis, Declan Kennedy, and Sebastian Espinoza on defense passing up to the forwards. On offense, David Alban, Johan Rodriguez and JP Williamson communicated with each other and made several great plays getting the ball towards the net. Max Muinos and Dylan Feroe were steady in net and on defense, clearing the ball out of the Red Devils' end. The boys were down 4 to 2 at the half, and managed to score one additional goal in the second half from Johan Rodriguez, while the Galaxy put up another 2 goals. It was a disappointing loss after the Red Devils demonstrated their talent and heart in a great first half. A special shout-out to coach Antonio Muinos, who in addition to his coaching role also took on refereeing the game.