North Salem soccer squads claim section titles in OT thrillers

NORTH SALEM, N.Y. - For North Salem’s soccer program, Nov. 1 will forever have a place in the history books.

The promise and hopes of an entire season rested on the Section Championship games, and each squad found themselves locked in intense battles only hours and miles apart.

And on that day, both Tiger teams delivered.

The girls would take center stage first, squaring off with top-ranked defending section champion Tuckahoe at Arlington High School.

North Salem outpaced their rival Tigers at every turn, but couldn’t find the back of the net. Tuckahoe would eventually penetrate the North Salem zone and drew first blood, but the Tigers would find the equalizer on a penalty kick from offensive powerhouse Sienna Paldin.

Knotted 1-1 at the end of regulation, it was time for high drama. End to end action had Tiger fans from both camps on the edge of their seats in anticipation of the golden goal.

With 1:49 left in overtime, Paldin would handle the heroics, beating the Tuckahoe keeper and propelling the Tigers to their first section title since 2023.

The Tigers will now receive a bye to the regional finals against either Section 2’s Stillwater or Section 9’s Sullivan West on Saturday, Nov. 7.

As the girls team hoisted the trophy in Arlington, their counterparts on the boys team were locked in their own battle of wills.

The #1 seeded Tigers squared off with The Leffell School at Mahopac High School, finding their way onto the board first with a goal from Juben Lazri off an assist from Liam Keegan. The Lions would answer with four minutes remaining in the half on a penalty kick.

Tied 1-1 in the second half, Isaac Rouse broke through the Lion defenders to put North Salem back out in front.

Once again, Leffell wouldn’t go quietly, finding the equalizer with four minutes left in regulation.

With fatigue setting in and the temperature dropping, the overtime period became a war of attrition and one extra period wasn’t enough to settle the matter.

In the second OT North Salem reminded everyone who they were, with Lazri scoring the game-winner with an assist from Rouse with 1:17 remaining.

The 3-2 win marked the fourth straight section crown for the Tigers, and punched their ticket to the regional finals against Riverhead on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 2:30 p.m. at Harborfields High School.