Over Homecoming Weekend, October 18, the 10-2 Wildcats played a scrimmage against the 11-3-2 Garnets.
By Melanie Cane
Over Homecoming Weekend, October 18, the 10-2 Wildcats played a scrimmage against the 11-3-2 Garnets. Not only did these two outstanding teams maintain a high level of intensity throughout, but the matchup provided good preparation for the post-season, which begins this week. Because it was a scrimmage, the girls played 29-minute halves, started with a side in, and ended with a five-player shoot out. (Scrimmage scores are not supposed to be published.)
Rye High marked their players very closely and with great speed, putting a lot of pressure on Rye Country Day. This pressure interfered with the Wildcats’ ability to pass, forced a lot of turnovers, and enabled the Garnets to dominate possession of the ball. The Garnets also played a two to three man back defense, which made it very difficult for the Wildcats to gain entry into the circle.
Ten minutes into the first half, Garnet Lotje Rogaar shot the ball from midfield and Ellie O’Callaghan tapped it in, scoring the only goal of the half.
In the second half, Garnet Fusine Govaert scored on a corner with 22:19 on the clock. The Garnets had a total of eight corners, but were only able to capitalize on that one.
Rye High took 22 shots over the course of the game, but they were unable to finish many well-placed assists. Wildcat goalie Emma Santucci, along with defender Sophie Beshar, did a phenomenal job protecting their goal. Santucci had six saves.
The Wildcats answered with a goal of their own six minutes later, when Cate Mollerus found the back of the net on a tap in, assisted by Charlotte Cooper. The Wildcats were unable to convert on any of their own seven corner penalties due to the phenomenal play of Garnet goalie Brenna Smith who had five saves.
In the shoot-out after the game three Wildcats scored as did four Garnets.
Rye Country Day Coach Georgette Summers was pleased with her team’s performance, especially that of Kathleen Curtin, Emma Santucci, Sophie Beshar, Charlotte Cooper, Emily Duarte, and Yana Lee, who had a “standout” day.
Duarte said the Wildcats were pleased to have the opportunity to play such a skilled team. “As a private school, it is great to play against bigger public schools in order to improve our level of play. I think that we were able to hold our own against them, and play up to their level.”
Rye High Coach Emily Fitzgerald remarked on the high level of play. “The Rye Country Day girls are very well coached, fast, athletic, and skilled. I was so pleased with the way my team played. We played smart possession hockey.”
Govaert added, “We were actually all outstanding. This was one of the few games where we kept fighting and playing our game as a team, even when we were leading 2-1.”
Two days after the scrimmage, Rye Country Day beat Riverdale 3-0. They will compete in the NYSAIS tournament, which begins October 29.
Rye High School lost 7-1 to Mamaroneck on October 20 and beat Pelham 9-0 the following day.
