The 15th-seeded Garnets sent Spring Valley packing in their opening playoff game, 3-0, as Jon DiPalma, Tommy Gates, and Leo Gomes each tallied a goal while forcing goalkeeper Jonathan Marquez to make 12 saves.
The 15th-seeded Garnets sent Spring Valley packing in their opening playoff game, 3-0, as Jon DiPalma, Tommy Gates, and Leo Gomes each tallied a goal while forcing goalkeeper Jonathan Marquez to make 12 saves.
Coach Jared Small’s defense-minded squad could have used those extra goals four days later against 2nd seed Lakeland. They did a great job wrapping up the Indians’ John Denis, whose 31 goals led Section 1 in scoring this fall. But the extra attention allowed sophomore cousins Nick and Matias Foci to each score a goal for the 13-3-1 home team. Lakeland’s keeper Javier Gonzalez made seven saves, including a few spectacular ones early on to keep upset-minded Rye at bay.
— Mitch Silver
