With an abrupt schedule change due to Thursday’s foul weather forecast, Rye and Tappan Zee’s girls soccer teams pivoted away from their history, chemistry, and language classes to play a section semifinal game at 11 a.m.
Whether the teams played at the regularly scheduled time, or at midnight with headlamps, the result would likely have been the same. Rye pounced on Tappan Zee early, barely giving the Flying Dutchmen room to breathe in a 4-0 road win.
Sophomore midfielder Hannah Jachman struck first for Rye five minutes into the game. From that point forward, the Garnets’ speed, ball skills, passing, and team depth were on full display. Swarming defensive pressure combined with some extremely difficult weather conditions resulted in mostly brief possessions and little Tappan Zee offensive rhythm.
With the welcome return of standout Rye junior Charlotte Keenan, who sat out Rye’s first two postseason wins, the Garnets tightened the screws. Jachman scored a second goal in the 25th minute, and four minutes later, senior Clare Nemsick scored to give Rye a 3-0 halftime lead.
Freshman sensation Harkin Brown added a beautiful goal from distance to make it 4-0 early in the second half. Tappan Zee could not recover, and Rye moves on to play for a third straight section championship.
The No. 3 seed – and undefeated – Garnets will meet No. 1 seed – and also undefeated – Pleasantville at 11 a.m. Sunday at Nyack. Speculation regarding this matchup began about five weeks ago, as both top-tier teams barreled toward the postseason without dropping a game all year.
