Raiders Varsity Girls Soccer Team Capture League Title, Girls Volleyball Team Triumphs Over Mamaroneck

The Scarsdale Varsity A Girls Soccer team has won their second consecutive league title, completing the regular season with a record of 10-5-1 and a league record of 9-1. The team competed against especially tough competition this year, which included not only strong traditional rivals New Rochelle, Mamaroneck and Ursuline, but also talented, physical teams from Rockland County and northern Westchester such as North Rockland, Clarkstown South, Yorktown and Suffern. The Raiders head to the section playoffs beginning this weekend.

The team has been led throughout the season by four senior captains, Kate Donovan (MF), Lucy Glickman (M), Erica Shapse (D) and Hayley Rozencwaig (M). Head Coach Mindy Genovese and Assistant Coach Kiera Fox have been working the girls six days per week since late August to maximize their performance and experience on and off the field. The team has engaged in off the field activities that have helped build camaraderie and a sense of purpose among the players.

In what was the highlight of the season so far, the Raiders clinched their league championship on Saturday evening, October 15, in a thrilling 1-0 win over arch-rival New Rochelle, avenging their sole league loss from earlier in the season. The game was played before a raucous crowd of about 300 people under the lights at Scarsdale High School, which included a contingent of fans of the Hugenots. It was Senior Day and in a pre-game ceremony enthusiastically emceed by Brian Rozencwaig, the team honored the seniors who were playing their last league game of the season and their parents for their commitment and contribution to Scarsdale soccer over the years. It is a tradition that all the team seniors start the game. The seniors who were honored were Donovan, Glickman, Juliette Meyers, Sophia Mohlulis, Shannon Regan, Rozencwaig, Shapse and Jenna Stewart. The game also included a fund raising effort, in which contributions were donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The only goal of the game came at 36:30 of the first half when Donovan, off a gorgeous pass from freshman phenom Olivia Bryant, scored on a rush down the right side with a perfect shot from 15 yards out. The Scarsdale fans in attendance roared when the goal was scored, undoubtedly recognizing that goals were likely to be at a premium. The game, as expected, was mostly a defensive battle with Scarsdale's four across defense continually stymying the Hugenot's attack. Sophomore center back Allison Stafford was all over the field, repeatedly thwarting the Hugenot's mid-fielders and forwards and starting Raiders' offensive rushes, with strong support from right back Mohlulis and junior center back Sam Mancini. Sophomore goalie Christina Coco preserved the shutout with a couple of difficult saves.

Looking ahead, the Raiders will host the first of what will hopefully be multiple playoff games on Saturday, October 22. The time of the game has not yet been determined. In the team's 16 games during the regular season, they allowed a total of 16 goals, which is an average of one goal per game, and only six goals in their ten league games. These consistently low scoring games enable the Raiders to be in each game, which is a cause for optimism heading into the playoffs notwithstanding the formidable competition they will face. The challenge will be finishing on scoring opportunities and taking advantage of their opponents' mistakes. Scarsdale10583 will report on the team's playoff performance in next week's edition.

Raiders Girls Volleyball Team Scores Impressive Win Against Mamaroneck



The Raiders Girls Volleyball Team win against Mamaroneck on Tuesday 10/18 was a perfect demonstration of their improvement in teamwork and skills. Starting off the season with two early losses, the team stayed motivated with the goal to make it far into the playoffs. With their Mamaroneck game being one of the final ones of the regular season, it was important for the team to maintain their reputation as a formidable opponent. In this win, Scarsdale swept the game 3-0 sets. In the first set, the Raiders showed their dominance, keeping a constant lead. The second set tested the players' endurance and skills under pressure when Mamaroneck tied it after a 6 point lead by Scarsdale. Ultimately the Raiders won this set 25-23. They used this momentum from the 2nd set win to close out the third set 25-16. With playoffs right around the corner, a sweep by the Raiders is just the thing they need to catapult them towards the post season.

(Volleyball text by Emmeline Berridge. Photos by Jon Thaler. See more here:)