Lakeland 3, Hen Hud 0
Wednesday, Sept. 2, Lakeland High School
Lakeland began its campaign with a 3-0 victory against Hendrick Hudson, paced by Luke Gomes (1G, 1A), Nick Ahmataj (1G), Dan Flannery (1G), Chris Paljusevic (1A), and Aiden Plouffe (1 save).
“It was a good game,” Gomes said. We were able to start the season off strong because we came in focused and prepared. We have been practicing hard and everyone is doing their part. Our defense played well today and we kept moving the ball. We will learn from our mistakes and continue to get better.”
Lakeland 3, Yorktown 2
Saturday, Sept. 5, Yorktown High School
Two goals on penalty kicks by Ahmataj propelled Lakeland to a 3-2 victory against crosstown rival Yorktown, after the Huskers scored the first goal of the game 59 seconds into it by Nate Worden unassisted, when he found the upper-left corner of the goal.
“We just pushed through, we are that kind of team,” said Ahmataj, a sophomore who plays center-attacking mid. “It felt great to score those goals and win this game. It wasn’t easy.”
Lakeland’s Ryan Harmon, off an assist from Gomes, tied the game at 1-1 when his shot landed in the bottom-right corner of the net almost six minutes later. Ahmataj put Lakeland up 2-1 on his first penalty kick which went into the bottom-right portion of the goal with 26:55 to go before halftime.
“I just knew I had to score this to put us up,” Ahmataj said.
Ahmataj’s second penalty kick with 21:35 remaining in the game extended Lakeland’s lead to 3-1.
“I knew we had to score because a one-goal lead isn’t enough,” Ahmataj said. “I have all my friends here and my coach (Tim Hourahan) is like score this and go celebrate. That’s all I had in mind.”
Yorktown’s Lucas Flores scored the final goal of the game, assisted by freshman Travis Walsh.
Performing in goal were Plouffe (7 saves) and Yorktown’s Joe Popovic (4 saves).
Mahopac 3, Yorktown 0
Thursday, Sept. 3, Yorktown High School
Popovic made 4 saves in the Huskers’ 3-0 opening-day loss to Mahopac.
Valley Central 21, Yorktown 14 (OT)
Friday, Sept. 4, Valley Central High School
Yorktown’s Tyler Caricati (8 carries, 43 yards, 5 receptions, 53 yards, 2 tackles, 1 for loss) tied the game late in the fourth quarter but Section 9’s Valley Central prevailed 21-14 in overtime on opening night.
Noah Beitler got Yorktown on the board with a 49-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter, giving the Huskers a 6-0 halftime lead.
Trailing 14-6 in the fourth quarter, Yorktown cut the hosts’ advantage to six when Caricati tackled a Vikings’ running back in the endzone for a safety. A roughly 40-yard punt return on the next play by Aidan Concannon (4 tackles, 7-yard reception) put the ball at the Valley Central 22-yard line.
Three plays later, Caricati went 11 yards up the middle for the touchdown on the grass field to tie the game at 14-14.
“The play developed as the cut-back hole opened and I ran it in,” Caricati said. “If it’s one thing I have learned in my 10 years playing football it’s go hard until the clock runs out. It’s anyone’s game until the end. We fell short and didn’t pull it off this game, but I think it was a good reminder that it’s not over until it’s over. Don’t drop your head, dig deep.”
Valley Central won the game with a 25-yard touchdown pass on its first play in overtime, with Yorktown failing to score afterward in the extra session.
Eamon Coney (18/28, 200 passing yards, 22 rushing yards), Jaron Sligh (8 carries, 43 yards, 4 receptions, 42 yards, 3 tackles), Frank Ofrias (4 receptions, 32 yards), Ryan Fastiggi (7 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack), and Brayden Guss (7 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack) also did damage for the Huskers in Montgomery.
Yorktown will next host crosstown rival Lakeland at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10 on First Responders Night/Dan O’Connor Game.
“This was game zero for us and now we know what we have to work on,” Caricati said. “I have no doubt we will come back tougher and stronger and plug the holes we need to fill.”
Lakeland 9, Putnam Valley 0
Wednesday, Sept. 2, Putnam Valley High School
Gianna Santini (2G, 3A), Allie Waters (2G, 2A), Riley Waters (1G, 1A), Aditi Parambath (1G), Meaghan Heyde (1G), Gabby Goldstein (1G), Brielle Fertucci (1G), and Ali Castro (4 saves) ignited Lakeland to a 9-0 triumph in its initial contest of the season.
“We were able to start the season so strong because we came into the game with a lot of energy and confidence,” Santini said. “We’ve been working hard in practice and really focused on building our chemistry and communication on the field. Everyone trusted each other, stayed composed, and played for one another, which helped us come out strong and finish with the win.”
Lakeland 9, Nyack 0
Saturday, Sept. 5, Nyack High School
Heyde (2G, 1A), Kendal Williams (3A), Parambath (1G, 1A), Goldstein (1G, 1A), Allie Waters (1G, 1A), Nikki Santini (1G), Riley Waters (1G), Gianna Santini (1G), and Rachel Kelly (1G) all did the job in the Hornets’ 9-0 win against Nyack.
Yorktown 4, Pleasantville 0
Wednesday, Sept. 2, Yorktown High School
Yorktown defeated Pleasantville 4-0 in its opener, with Anna Burns (2G), Emma Donnelly (2G), Maya Price (1A), Maddie Murray (1A), Ava Ryan (1A), Alana D’Andraia (1A), and Sam Conboy (6 saves) doing the honors for the Huskers.
“Today we were able to start off so strong due to the work we have put in in the past week during preseason,” Ryan said. “It was our team’s first time playing together this season so we were able to create new connections on the field as well as building onto existing connections from last season. I am so excited to keep competing and see what we can achieve this fall.”
Lakeland 3, Ossining 0
Wednesday, Sept. 2, Lakeland High School
Lakeland got its season going with a 3-0 (25-18, 25-13, 25-21) victory versus Ossining, led by Isaac Arias (8 kills), Van Bui (5 kills, 14 assists), Erdin Dedushaj (7 kills), Luke Numme (4 kills, 4 assists, 1 block), Joseph Kim (14 assists), and Logan Tolve (11 kills).
“Today was very special for not only my team but also my school because we were able to win our season opener at the Hive,” Bui said. “I believe that what separates a good team from a great team is the communication between the players, which we were able to accomplish today. With communication, my team was able to make great plays throughout the game. On top of that, my team was very successful due to the effort that each individual had put in during practices. Overall, I am very proud of my team for being able to come together and work as one so early in the season.”
Lakeland 3, Croton-Harmon 2
Friday, Sept. 4, Croton-Harmon High School
Lakeland nipped Croton-Harmon 3-2 (25-23, 18-25, 25-20, 17-25, 15-12), paced by Bui (26 assists, 6 kills, 2 aces), Arias (12 kills, 4 blocks), Tolve (9 kills, 1 block), Dedushaj (9 kills, 2 blocks) and Kim (10 assists).
Lakeland 3, John Jay-EF 0
Tuesday, Sept. 1, John Jay-EF High School
Kelly Mallon (14 kills, 7 digs); Sofia Cruz (12 assists, 4 aces); Amelia Mallon (10 assists); Ava Stabile (11 digs); Caelyn Faison (4 blocks); and Mia Aquart (6 kills) propelled Lakeland to a 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-22) opening-day win against John Jay-East Fishkill.
“We were able to start off with a win because of our hard work at practice,” Kelly Mallon said. “Every day we have been in the gym giving it our all and practicing like we play.”
Arlington 3, Lakeland 1
Thursday, Sept. 3, Lakeland High School
Lakeland fell to Arlington 3-1 (19-25, 25-22, 18-25, 19-25), led by Kelly Mallon (20 kills, 15 digs), Cruz (20 assists), Amelia Mallon (15 assists), Aquart (13 kills) and Stabile (18 digs).
Lakeland 3, Nyack 2
Thursday, Sept. 3, Nyack High School
Gianna Pace (2G, 1A) ignited Lakeland to a 3-2 opening-day triumph against Nyack.
“We have worked so hard during our preseason preparation and practices leading up to this game,” Pace said. “The team chemistry we have is so strong and because everyone gets along so well, that translates onto the field when we play. The bond between these girls is great and with all of us being friends off of the field, it adds another whole layer of chemistry when we step onto the field.”
Samantha Hudson (1G), Anna Flannery (1A), and Amelia Calisi (7 saves) also contributed to the win.
“During the game everyone put in their full effort so we could win and that was the main reason we started off so well,” Pace said. “But overall this team is a pleasure to be around and we put in the work every practice, that’s why we came out to such a great start.”
Mamaroneck 3, Lakeland 1
Saturday, Sept. 5, Lakeland High School
Pace (1G), Hannah Kiers (1A), and Calisi (8 saves) produced for Lakeland in its 3-1 loss to Mamaroneck.
Nyack 1, Yorktown 0
Saturday, Sept. 5, Yorktown High School
Yorktown’s Silvana Milizia recorded 6 saves in the Huskers’ 1-0 opening-day loss to Nyack.
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