MAHOPAC, N.Y. — With three more wins last week—in which they scored an astounding 20 goals while allowing just three—the Mahopac varsity boys soccer team continued to put together one of its best seasons in memory and in program history.
Mahopac made easy work of Brewster (6-1 on Oct. 6) and Poughkeepsie (9-1 on Oct. 8) to open the week, then capped it off with a 5-1 league win Friday at Carmel over their crosstown rivals, improving to 11-1-1 overall and 7-1 in league play.
The Wolf Pac is on the verge of winning its first-ever league championship in its best season yet under sixth-year head coach Chris Mulholland.
The coach said he and his players have been enjoying the ride but know they haven’t accomplished anything yet.
“It’s our best season, and most winning season, by far, since I’ve been here,” Mulholland said. “We’re all feeling pretty great about it. And we’ve never had a Mahopac boys soccer team win a league title. All the guys are excited and motivated. We’re happy, but we’re not satisfied. We have our sights set on a section title.”
Last Friday at Carmel (4-6-1), Justin Chin got the Pac on the board, assisted by Jeremy Fuentes, just three minutes in on an early attack. Chin returned the favor seven minutes later, feeding Fuentes for a 2-0 lead.
Carmel got a goal off a scramble in front of the net with 15 minutes left in the half. Mahopac went up 3-1 on a Justin Beberman goal (from James Healy), and after a Carmel red card, a penalty kick from Nikolas Portanova padded the lead. Aidan Paris-Devane closed the scoring with a goal, converting a pass from Beberman. Connor Sterbens had six saves in net for Mahopac.
“We got a goal early in the second half, then managed the game well,” Mulholland said. “Carmel made everything difficult for us. We had to earn everything we got.
“Chin has been unbelievable all week and all season,” the coach added. “He plays in control in every game and is an important piece of our offense. Healy has also really been playing well and being a great leader. He cleans up a lot of mistakes for us.”
The prior Wednesday against Peekskill, Paris-Devane had a hat trick and one assist. Dylan Prasad had a goal and three assists; Chin and Portanova each had a goal and an assist; and Gabe Blachowicz, Chris Flanagan, and Jayden Rodriguez each scored once. Servando Gonzalez, Beberman, and Evan Paris-Devane each had assists. Sterbens stopped three shots on goal in the win.
Beberman and Fuentes each scored twice in the win over Brewster, with Healy adding a goal and an assist, and Aidan Paris-Devane adding a goal. Chin, Flanagan, and Fuentes each had assists, with Sterbens stopping three shots on goal.
“Aidan stepped up with five goals this past week and has been great all season,” Mulholland said of the senior captain. “He’s always up for the challenge. Dylan Prasad has been working really hard to be a contributor and in the right spots. And Gonzalez has really stepped into the center mid role and has done a great job helping us in transition.”
Mahopac was set to host Poughkeepsie Thursday (Oct. 16) at 5 p.m. on Senior Night, and the Pac travels to Brewster Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
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