Rye field hockey closed out the regular season in the same place it started: on top.
The Garnets have won four straight games, and 10 of their last 11, to earn the No. 1 seed in next week’s section playoffs. With 4-0 wins against both Arlington and Scarsdale, the team is now 14-2, with eight shutout victories in coach Valerie Perkins’ first season leading the team.
Rye will get a bye straight to the section quarterfinals, and will host the winner of No. 8 Nanuet (8-7-1) and No. 9 Hendrick Hudson (7-7-2) on Tuesday.
“We know we’re going to face a lot of good teams in [the] playoffs and nothing is a guarantee, no matter if we already won against a team or lost against a team,” Perkins said.
This postseason will be the last for 11 Garnet seniors, who were recognized in a Senior Night win Saturday against Arlington. Senior Issy Mann scored twice with one assist against the Admirals, with Rye’s other goals coming from senior Jules Karmilowicz and junior Olivia Prata. Senior goaltender Chloe Holden had three saves for the shutout.
In Tuesday’s win against Scarsdale, senior forward Maggie Swanson scored twice, with seniors Beau Whaling and Sienna Myers adding goals. Senior middle Kendall Bahl and defender Kira Woolsey notched one assist each.
If Rye wins its playoff opener, it will host the section semifinals Oct. 30, playing for a spot in the section championship Nov. 1 at Lakeland.
“Each day is a fresh start,” Perkins said, “and we have to go out there and play every practice, every game, like it’s our last.”
