The Rye girls soccer team’s homecoming didn’t quite play out the way they imagined it.
After a 0-0 draw Tuesday, the Garnets (4-0-2) left their long-awaited home-opener feeling somewhat disappointed, while Pelham (3-0-2) must have been rather satisfied.
Rye, the No. 1-ranked team in New York’s Class A by New York Sports Writers, didn’t do much wrong in this game. But sometimes in soccer, the ball just won’t find the back of the net.
Against a much-improved Pelham team, with a sturdy defensive back line and an excellent goalie, Rye’s shots found posts and crossbars, but no net.
Senior captain Charlotte Keenan played the entire game, striving to create offensive opportunities for her teammates from her center midfielder position. No luck.
Sophomore striker Harkin Brown flashed speed, ball skills, and her usual remarkable field vision. Nada.
Senior Shira Rand made run after run down the left side of the field – always with the ball at her feet traveling at top speed – creating space for what felt like dozens of her signature crosses. Nope.
Despite the lack of scoring, Rye’s unbeaten streak now stands at 30 games. Rye, the defending section and state champions, hosts Ursuline on Friday, then plays Pelham again Sept. 28 on the road.
Player of the Match: Rye senior Jillian DeSanto
DeSanto is a tireless striker who’s one of the hardest-working players on the pitch in every game.
DeSanto’s work ethic and motor must be an inspiration to her teammates and to young players in Rye. She challenges for headers, never hesitates to receive or hand out contact, and plays with a tenacity and hunger that coaches dream about from the striker position. DeSanto is a joy to watch.
