Scarsdale Soccer Stuns Archrival Mamaroneck
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- Written by: Ray Cooper
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Raiders celebrate Tirabassi's goal.In a game that had broad playoff implications for both squads, the Scarsdale Raiders boy’s soccer team upset its rival Mamaroneck on Saturday October 19. Playing under the lights at its home field, the Raiders concluded its regular season with a spectacular performance against the highly touted Tigers. After battling for 80 minutes with Mamaroneck, Scarsdale pulled out a thrilling 1-0 victory.
The Tigers had recorded a 14-1 overall record going into the affair, along with a 5-0 record within the conference. A win would have sealed the number 1 playoff seed for Mamaroneck. Scarsdale’s record was 6-5-2 overall and an even 2-2-1 conference performance, and was fighting for the number 9 seed in the Conference playoffs.
The match marked the end of homecoming week at Scarsdale and was played in front of a fairly large crowd during a pleasant fall night. The teams had played at Mamaroneck on October 3, where the Tigers held on to an early 2 goal lead and escaped with a 2-1 victory.
The Raiders came out full of energy – as Head Coach Marcos Monteagudo said, “The boys came out ready and prepared.” After an early corner kick six minutes into the game, senior Patrick Artes had a nice early chance for a goal. The teams battled within the middle of the field for the next four minutes with fellow senior Estaban Rudloff controlling the ball for a fair amount of that time period. The Tigers had a tough time moving the ball early. Co-Captain Ben Rubin and Sophomore Luke Peltz helped keep the Tigers at bay.
With 11 minutes gone in the first half, Mamaroneck began an offensive of its own and controlled the ball for most of the next six minutes. Near the halfway mark of the first half, Middie Liam O’reilly took a shot that forward Matt Giraldo headed over the top of the Raider goal. Rubin then cleared the ball and the Raiders began its own possession for Scarsdale. The Raiders Alfred Mrijaj worked hard against the Tigers and Adrian Lim had a very nice dribble down the field. With nine minutes left in the half, the Tigers stole the ball and moved down the field but Peltz stopped the drive and the Raiders regained the ball. After a number of swapped possessions, the Raiders had their first great chance to score as a pass from co-captain Zachary Medvinsky to fellow senior John Dowd almost found the mark with just under five minutes to play in the half. The last three minutes of the half saw Mamaroneck almost score the first goal of the game. The first attempt saw Scarsdale Goalie Luca Schettino make a save and the rebound bounced harmlessly away from Mamaroneck. With a little over a minute to play, Mamaroneck shot a corner kick over the Scarsdale goal. The half ended in a scoreless deadlock and both teams went to their benches.
Raiders Boys Soccer team senior class and parents after ceremony.
During halftime, Scarsdale honored the Seniors on the team and their families with a ceremony near midfield. The following Seniors were noted:
Patrick Artes
Cameron Davis
John Dowd
Lukas Forsingdal
Calvin Lee
Aidan McKenna
Zachary Medvinsky
Benjamin Rubin
Esteban Rudloff
Joshua Strassberg
The second half saw the game open up – as both sides had multiple opportunities to score. With only a minute gone, the Tigers Joey Dos Santos took a shot that went over Scarsdale’s goal. The Raiders Adam Wasserman and Ben Rubin moved the ball down the field rapidly. With five minutes elapsed in the second half, The game took on a fair amount of physicality – as is common in contests between these two teams and noted by Roman Tirabassi: “anytime its Scarsdale/Mamaroneck it’s going to be a fight to the end.” Rubin was fouled quite hard by the Tigers Kevin Vasquez –who received a yellow card-- leading to a Scarsdale indirect free kick. The Raiders had the ball near the Tiger goal for the next three minutes and only a great save by Mamaroneck goalie Niclas Andersen avoided a Raider goal off of a Rubin throw in.
With slightly over ten minutes elapsed in the second half Medvinsky was creamed by the opponents, which led to a Scarsdale direct free kick. This time the Raiders converted as Tirabassi found an opportune time to notch his first goal of the season and booted a rebound past Andersen. With 11:30 gone in the half, the home crowd erupted in a roar as the Raiders found itself with a 1-0 lead.
Scarsdale's Roman Tirabassi scores the sole goal of the match.
The Tigers were far from done and attempted to penetrate the Raider defense. They continued to apply pressure and with 18 minutes left in the game almost converted a cross in front of the Scarsdale goal. This was followed by a direct free kick that missed the mark and led to a Tiger corner – which was cleared by Rubin. With 16:40 left a controversial call by a flustered referee led to another direct free kick – and Schettino made another save. The referee continued his frequent whistle blowing and gave Scarsdale’s Josh Strassberg a yellow card. The ensuing Tiger direct kick represented Mamaroneck’s best chance to score all evening and was just wide of the Raider goal. Scarsdale was left clinging to its lead with 15 minutes left in the game.
Scarsdale then took possession of the ball and Medvinsky nearly scored with a long shot that hit the post with just over ten minutes to play. The Tigers continued their assault and with 7:30 left forward Marco Kecman stole a Scarsdale pass, drove down the field, and put a beautiful cross past the Raiders goal – but no one was there for the Tigers to convert the kick.
The tension was palpable in the final minutes. With 4:30 left, Mamaroneck Kecman had a nice drive down the field – but the Raiders Mrijaj made a fabulous and clean tackle on him. With 2:30 left, Medvinsky cleared a Tiger corner – but the ball went to a Tiger player down the field. Mamaroneck, playing with urgency, had its final chance to knot the score. With 1:30 left they narrowly missed a shot to the left of the Scarsdale net. The Raiders then kept possession and cleared the ball – sealing the upset and a huge Raider win.
The timing of the win was excellent and should clearly boost the Raider confidence as the playoffs begin Thursday. Medvinsky remarked: “this felt like a playoff game,” and Monteagudo said: “this propels us and we feel good about ourselves…anytime you can beat a team of their caliber it’s great.” Tirabassi added: “this gives us momentum and shows we can compete with any team in the section.”
Photos by Pam Rubin and Ray Cooper.
Team captains Calvin Lee, Ben Rubin and Zach Medvinsky
Scarsdale 2, New Rochelle, 3 in Tight Soccer Match on October 11
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- Written by: Anna Cho
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Sophomore Cian Battiwalla playing against adversaries from New Rochelle. The Raiders Boys Varsity Soccer team lost 2-3 in a very tight match on Friday October 11 against New Rochelle High School. Scarsdale was tied 2-2, until a score was kicked by New Rochelle during overtime. Going into the game, the players though about “which players were good and which ones to mark, and their tendencies so we can work around what we know about them,” said junior Cooper Cohen since Scarsdale played New Rochelle earlier in the season. Unfortunately, the boys struggled to, “score and to put them away which allowed New Rochelle to stay in the game,” said senior Captain Zach Medvinsky.
Senior Captain Zach Medvinsky kicking against New RochelleThroughout the ups and downs of the game the boys made sure to support one another. All of the players, “try and motivate each other on the field and during halftime. By working hard on the field, we help the other players around us play better,” explained Cohn. Despite this loss, these athletes have had a pretty good season, defeating Mount Vernon 4-0 the next day. Medvinsky believes, “We can beat anyone in the section.” The entire team has been building towards playoffs, and are ready to take on big rival, Mamaroneck, on Saturday October 19. Don’t miss their next game this Saturday against Mamaroneck at 6:00 pm at Scarsdale High School.
Patrick Artes, Cian Battiwalla, Cooper Cohen, Cameron Davis, John Dowd, Lukas Forsingdal, Eli Gledblum, Katcher Adam, Calvin Lee (Captain), Adrian Lim, Aidan McKenna, Zachary Medvinsky (Captain), Luke Peltz, Jack Porter, Benjamin Rubin (Captain), Estaban Rudolff, Luca Schettino, Joshua Stressberg, Rafael Tassari, Roamn Tirabassi, Adam Wasserman, and Michael Waxman
Junior Adam Wasserman playing against New Rochelle.
Photos and text by Anna Cho.
Spooky!
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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Scarsdale residents are at the height of their creativity this month, with enchanting Halloween decorations in their front yards. We've spotted skeletons, ghosts, witches, spider webs and of course pumpkins. Here are just a few of the scenes from the 'Dale. If you see any notable displays, take photos and email them to scarsdalecomments@gmail.com and we'll add them to our gallery.
Happy Halloween!
Photos by Midori Im and Joanne Wallenstein
Think Snow!
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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With temperatures starting to drop and snow already falling around the country, it’s time to start getting psyched for the winter season. While western resorts and New England ski areas offer great vacations, Scarsdale residents also have plenty of local options for daily and weekend getaways on the slopes. In fact New York has more ski areas than any other state in the country! With almost 60 years in business just up the road in Armonk, the folks at Hickory & Tweed ski shop has had plenty of time to sample our local mountains over the years. We rounded up several of our favorites, suitable for all types of skiing abilities, for both individuals and families alike.
Thunder Ridge – the closest mountain for most of us here in Westchester (located in Patterson, NY). Thunder Ridge isn’t the largest ski area around but touts loyal and dedicated skiers and boarders. A great place to simply get the kids out on the hill for their first couple seasons, learning the fundamentals (while not having to travel too far).
Windham Mountain – A favorite of Hickory & Tweed. Windham Sports in Windham, NY is one of the more robust race programs and best ski schools in the area. Along with multiple high-speed lifts, Windham has also beefed up its amenities and on-hill lodging over the recent years, making it a great option for a weekend trip.
Mountain Creek – The largest ski area, located in Vernon, New Jersey. While largely known for its vast terrain park filled with multiple jump and rail features for shredders of all abilities – Mountain Creek also offers lots of beginner terrain, along with night skiing and snow tubing.
Catamount – A classic local ski area with retro vibes in HIllsdale, NY. The area features trails that straddle the Berkshire and Taconic ranges. Catamount offers a good variety of terrain and boasts the steepest trail in the Berkshires, aptly named, Catapult. It is also home to an impressive junior race program that is home to many Westchester racers.
What will you need to hit the slopes? Here is what Hickory and Tweed suggests:
Equipment Checklist
Equipment
• Skis/Snowboards (with bindings!) – a ski shop will be able to help determine the proper ski type and length, based on your ability and the desired terrain that you intend to ski
• Poles (if applicable, based on age and/or skiing ability)
• Ski Boots/Snowboard boots – Proper fitting ski boots are the most important piece of equipment. Ill-fitting boots are both uncomfortable and will hinder your skiing performance and control.
• Helmet – there’s no messing around with head injuries
• Goggles – if you can’t see, you can’t ski. Proper goggles are key for sun-protection and visibility.
Skiwear
• Baselayers (top and bottom) – for warmth and moisture wicking. Avoid cotton materials, as they are not very breathable or waterproof.
• Ski socks - for warmth, moisture wicking and additional padding in toes/heel/shin. They can also help promote blood flow to keep your feet warm.
• Midlayers – vest or fleece top to provide proper insulation and warmth
• Ski jacket or shell – we recommend that the jacket should have Gore-tex or similar technology, for proper wind & water proofing.
• Ski pants - we recommend that the ski pants should have Gore-tex or similar technology, for proper wind & water proofing.
• Gloves/Mittens – again, look for gloves with Gore-tex or similar technology. Wet gloves or mittens are no fun and will eventually freeze throughout the day. Its not a bad idea to invest in two pairs if you are skiing consecutive days.
• Neck Gaiter – for added warmth and insulation above the collar of your ski jacket.
We hope you find this list helpful for planning your winter ski season. Questions about a specific area? Feel free to email Hickory and Tweed at the shop (mac@hickoryandtweed.com). Having been named Best Ski Shop in the Country by Ski Magazine, we have plenty of experience and would be happy to share it with our fellow Westchester residents. Start thinkin’ snow, Winter is on its way!
Let There Be Light: Village Board Clears the Way for Lights at Butler Field
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- Written by: Laura Halligan
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While the Village Board’s Tuesday meeting agenda listed a pending vote on the Butler Field lighting project, Mayor Marc Samwick foreshadowed the result by in his opening remarks, stating, “The Butler Field Lights proposal is very familiar to many, as the community has been engaged in thorough and thoughtful dialogue nearly a year… The school district has been responsive to community as evidenced by the adoption of the ninth version of its field use policy that was introduced at last night’s board of education meeting. After at least 26 meetings and a comprehensive and responsive process run by the school district, it is time to advance this project forward.”
He then stated that if approved, the project would provide residents with “1) more focused and environmentally friendly lights; 2) an amplified sound policy that resulted from the district’s outreach process; and 3) an enhanced sound system that will minimize amplified sound beyond the field and track area.”
After hearing numerous comments from both adults and student athletes in support of the proposal (two residents were less enthusiastic, citing concerns about noise) the trustees voted 6-0 to approve the light installation, with Trustee Justin Arest abstaining. The board also outlined several conditions that the school district must meet, which included:
• Maintaining a “Field Use Hotline” or other method for the public to communicate field-use concerns to the school district;
• Establishing a “Butler Field Advisory Committee” to review any proposed changes with regard to the use of the field lights, which will include two representatives from village government, including the superintendent of Scarsdale Parks, Recreation and Conservation and a sitting member of the BOT (or other representative selected by the mayor);
• Ensuring that any exceptions or amendments to the district’s field use regulations are approved by the superintendent, or his/her designee, on a limited basis, when extenuating circumstances require;
• Limiting the number of lighted school district sports events to no more than two over the maximum number outlined in the field use regulations;
• Purchasing/installing lights that are substantially similar to the quantity, type, make, and model depicted and presented to the Scarsdale Planning Board;
• Preparing and installing an enhanced landscaping plan to help screen illuminated areas around the track, field and associated infrastructure; and
• Installing a amplified sound system that is substantially similar to the type, make, and model depicted and presented to the Scarsdale Planning Board.
The Official Tally
When addressing the resolution to approve the lighting project, the trustees did not have the opportunity to publicly debate the issue. Instead, each board member expressed his or her thoughts when casting their votes, rather than simply saying yea or nay.
Trustee Arest began by saying, “Who can’t get behind garnering an advanced sense of community and finding a way for more parents with demanding work schedules to have the flexibility to attend events? And, obviously, the lights would provide that, and I think that’s amazing.” He then read from the Planning Board’s recommendations on the project: “The record before the planning board was limited to the school board’s presentation and comments by neighbors. The information did not include studies of the impact that might be expected from a substantial change usage. Therefore, the Planning Board was unable to evaluate or recommend regulations… respecting use of the field and lights that would alter the current level of usage.”
Arest went on, “I think this is a land use issue… Why do we have land use boards? Why do we have the code that enforces our municipal zoning? …(Because) structure and processes… give us the best chance for an objective, fair outcome… I’m not sure why we didn’t listen to the Planning Board; I’m not sure why we didn’t meet to discuss next steps. And, I’m not really sure that this resolution… provides any protections beyond what the school board has already promised… Am I saying there shouldn’t be lights? No, of course not… What I’m saying is there a better way we could have done this… where everybody could win?”
He provided an idea about how the school district could move forward exactly as planned but need Planning Board approval for any changes that are less restrictive than the original regulations. He went on to say he appreciates the outreach efforts of the district as well as the generosity of Maroon and White and its donors. After, Arest stated his fondness of public-private partnerships and that we should always try to provide our children with the best tools. He concluded by saying, “I can’t vote against this, because I see the benefits of the lights to the community… but at the same time, there’s no way, in good conscience, I can vote for this resolution so I will abstain.”
Trustee Lena Crandall said, “Trustee Arest has a very thoughtful way of looking at most any situation, always on top of process – which is important to our democracy.” She continued, “I’ve given this a lot of thought because I do see the lights as a change that will materially affect the area around our community around the school… the games, the noise… will have an impact. Everyone sees that… and there will be unintended consequences.” After discussing the benefits of evening sports events and the need for a skilled landscape architect and suitable landscape plan, Crandall stated, “I’m putting a lot of faith in the Butler Field Advisory Committee… this will be a process where all of us will need to be flexible… with the intention of being good neighbors. With that, I vote yes.”
Trustee Jonathan Lewis said, “Trustee Arest deserves our respect for taking a courageous stand and explaining… his views on the subject. It’s not easy to lean against the wind… With regard to this process itself, I think it has been transparent, and balanced, and thorough, and respectful. The conversations have reflected good policy making, and good debate and analysis.” He continued, “Also I’d like to note that there are important things going on here that transcend the Butler Field lights. I think that there have been important new pathways of collaboration between the Village government and the Board of Education. The Butler Field Advisory Committee, in fact, creates a level of jointness between how the Village and the school district can work together… I (also) want to say how much I respect all my neighbors here who have come to express their views (and) how much I admire the spirit, conviction, and vigor of the viewpoints expressed by our youth… for those reasons, I feel comfortable voting yes.”
Trustee Jane Veron stated, “Over the course of many months, there has been extensive conversation, analysis, input, iteration, rethinking, iterating again, and, finally, tonight a resolution. The Board of Education, school administration, neighbors, Maroon and White, parents, students, Village staff, and the Village Planning board have all weighed in on this proposal. Together they refined the plans for lights, sound, screening, and scheduling. At this point, I believe it is time to move forward.” She went on, “I’m always sensitive to neighbors’ needs, and take very seriously our responsibility to serve all residents. I feel confident that the proposed guidelines, along with the dedicated contact number and newly commissioned Butler Field Advisory Committee… will provide ample opportunities for issues that might arise to be addressed, and I vote aye.”
Trustee Rochelle Waldman said, “After careful consideration of the many intricacies of the question at hand, I do believe that, with prudent and judicious management of the field lights, there will be significant benefits to the community. The opportunity for evening athletics will go a long way to promote school spirit and be yet another reason our school district is among the strongest in the nation.” She continued, “I do recognize the significant concerns of neighbors, but feel comfortable that, with state-of-the-art equipment and parameters limiting use, the field lights can be used with minimal intrusiveness to the surrounding community. I vote yes.”
In casting the last “yea” vote, Mayor Samwick said, “I want to reiterate the importance of the listening, and the interaction, and the collaboration that went into this. We make better decisions when we do that as a community. In this instance, we had at least 26 touch points with the community; we had nine versions of the use policy that were well thought-out, that were responsive… I’d like to thank everyone who supported the process… and I’d also like to vote aye.”
