When rivals Holy Child and Rye Country Day meet on the soccer field, both teams expect tough competition.

By Melanie Cane

When rivals Holy Child and Rye Country Day meet on the soccer field, both teams expect tough competition. At their October 10 matchup at Holy Child, one thing neither team expected was that the Gryphons top scorer and offensive/defensive dynamo junior Captain Kathleen Daly would get injured midway through the first half.

The game started out evenly, with both teams communicating and passing well. Although Holy Child had an edge in first half play, Rye Country Day scored first. Charlotte Boehning opened the scoring, assisted by Samantha Kost. After the Wildcats missed a few other scoring opportunities, Gryphons junior Captain Margaret Brady scored off a penalty. At the half, the game remained knotted at 1-1.

Both teams came into the second half energized and determined to win. Unfortunately for Holy Child, the Wildcats were able to capitalize on Daly’s absence, pressuring the Gryphons on both ends of the field, keeping Holy Child off balance, and mostly on the defensive.

The Gryphons held it together until Wildcat Sarah Brodwolf scored off a corner kick, assisted by Taylor Regan.

Rye Country Day kept up the pressure, and scored one more goal a few minutes later. Taylor Regan assisted again from a corner kick and Maggie Sharpe scored the third goal for Rye, making it a 3-1 win. Holy Child goalie Maggie Ahern had 15 saves.

Holy Child Coach Beau Morki was thrilled with how well his team played in the first half, but said, “Rye Country Day scored their last two goals off of our mistakes, clearing the ball from corner kicks in the second half. Our girls were ready; we just did not perform. Missing a quality player like Daly for an entire half hurt us.” The Gryphons are currently 6-4-2.

Rye Country Day Coach Alin Andrei thought his team played with “a high level of intensity, determination and a great attitude.” Rye is currently 7-2-1 with four games in the next two weeks, including league games against Riverdale and Fieldston.