Panthers Fight to Double Overtime Draw Against Valhalla

By Mitch Silver

Two weeks after beating Valhalla 3-2 on the Vikings’ field, the Rye Neck’s Girls’ soccer team played host to the return match on Senior Day. Maelle Aubry, Olivia Auffarth, Sofia Capparelli, Abby Holtman, Diana Reyes, and Emma Young were honored with their parents in attendance. Then the team squared off against the visitors.

Although the Panthers dominated play for most of the match — the Vikings didn’t cross midfield with the ball for the first quarter-hour of the game — they couldn’t put a shot in the back of the net, even after playing two five-minute overtimes.

With 23 minutes showing on the clock in the first half, freshman Ayla Felenstein was roughly pulled down as she attacked Valhalla’s end with the ball. She stayed on the ground for ten minutes before being helped off the field.

After the game, Assistant Coach Cindy Mulligan said, “We had a couple of injuries today that made us rearrange what we were doing. Some people had to play new positions. Even so, we could have done a better, stronger job of taking our chances and putting them away.”

The game finished in a twilight that made it difficult to see the ball, let alone the lines on the field. Co-captain Sophia Capparelli had a strong game in goal, often sending her kicks out to midfield.

The Panthers travel to Pleasantville October 14 for a chance to avenge themselves on a team that defeated them 1-0 two weeks ago. Then they close out the regular season Saturday at 11 a.m. against arch-rival Blind Brook, a squad they handled in an earlier game by 3-0.