Red Bandits pull off soccer huge upset, beat White Lightning 4-2

South Riverdale Soccer League

Middle division

Koppell Realty Red Bandits, 4
Role Realty White Lightning, 2

The Red Bandits pulled off the biggest upset of the season, doubling up on the previously undefeated White Lightning by a score of 4-2 at Seton Park. On offense, the Red Bandits were led by a pair of goals from forward Justin Bottcher, as well as one goal each from forward Steve Ramos and midfielder Alessio Mosaed. A strong performance by goalie Benjamin Mislow helped keep the White Lightning to just two goals, which is their lowest scoring output to date this season. Down 3-0, Role Realty had a short-lived rally with two secondhalf goals by Jakey Auerbach and Colin Bhat, but the Bandits put the match out of reach with a late goal.

Younger division

Riverdale Pediatric Dentistry Red Devils, 2
Trebach Realty Green Hornets, 1

The Red Devils defeated the Green Hornets by a score of 2-1 to pick up their second consecutive victory. Alex Pistolesi scored both goals for the Devils, while Kenneth Rodriquez and Sean Kessner contributed to the offensive attack with assists. Josh Kenny, Matt King and Joshua McCarthy led the Devils’ defensive effort and goalie Healey Tureski made several big stops, including one on a late-game penalty kick that secured the win. Jonah Cohen scored the Green Hornets’ lone goal. Despite the loss, goalkeeper Fred Asher stopped a barrage of shots in net for the Hornets, including two diving saves at the end of the first half to keep the game close. Julian Trebach and Jonathan Ettricks also played well in the losing cause.

Jacob, Medinger and Finnegan Blue Warriors, 3
Advanced Dental Care Lasers, 2

Griffin O’Keefe scored the go-ahead goal late in the second half to lead the Blue Warriors past the Lasers by a score of 3-2 in a tightly contested game on Saturday afternoon. It was O’Keefe’s second goal of the day, while teammate Shaun Cranston added the other to round out the scoring. Keeper Kane Kavanagh-Baer helped preserve the victory with several key stops in the second half and a solid effort by defender Rory Naughton helped limit the Lasers’ scoring chances. Noam Pechter scored both of the Lasers’ goals in the game, with assists coming from Seamus Brown and Alexander Rosenthal. Ethan Havens made a few tough saves in goal and Elinor Poole-Dayan was strong on defense in the losing cause.

Riv. Girls Soccer League

Younger Division

Liebman’s Deli Lightning Limes, 3
Riverdale Pediatric Dentistry Silver Streaks, 0

The Lightning Limes remain undefeated after pushing their winning streak to six games with a 3-0 shutout over the Silver Streaks on Sunday afternoon. The contest was scoreless until late in the first half when Kyra Roberts found the back of the net to finally break the deadlock and give the Limes the only goal they would need on the day. The Limes stepped up the offensive pressure after the break, as Taylor Bookstaver contributed to both second-half goals by scoring one herself, before later kicking a ball off a Silver Streaks player and into the net for the other. Ciara Gaughan, Jade Greenfield and Averianna Worrell also stood out with strong efforts in the win, while goalkeepers Jessica Martin and Madeline Schmidt each played one half in net for the Limes and were both perfect in keeping their opponents off the score sheet.

Westchester Soccer League

Under-12 girls

Riverdale Pumas, 3
Edgemont Bobcats, 1

The Riverdale Pumas kept their undefeated streak intact for at least one more week by beating Edgemont 3-1 on Sunday afternoon. Facing a 1-0 deficit at halftime, Riverdale scored three unanswered goals after the break and dominated the second half. Forward Elsie Hammond tallied twice and also assisted on forward Rachelle Emanuel’s insurance goal, which she blasted into the back of the net late in the game. Midfielders Lacey Mc- Caw and Jewel Estrella both picked up assists, while goalkeeper Danielle Clark was solid in net and made a diving save late in the first half to prevent another Bobcat goal. Riverdale also received quality efforts from defenders Kristen Rosado, Gabrielle Yee, Janae Bryant, Leah Moore and Shaelynn Rios, as well as from midfielders Megan Almonte, Keerti Gopal, Jenna Baker, Jasmine Cohen and Sydney Rodriguez.

Under-11 Girls

Riverdale Bronx Bombers, 1
Chappaqua Bulldogs, 0

It was an up-and-down first half of the season for the Bronx Bombers, who won their first two games on the schedule before dropping the next two. However, Riverdale finally got back on the winning side, opening the second half of the season with a 1-0 shutout over Chappaqua on Sunday afternoon. Bombers goalie Lilly Ehrlich and the defensive line of Maayan Dadosh, Yanni Chisholm, Maya Greenfield and Saoirse Maher Greene combined to shut down the opposition. Maryrita Curcio, Ambia Elias, Nola Nelson and Maher Green led the relentless Riverdale offensive attack, which made more than a dozen shots on goal, but the game remained scoreless until the final minutes. Finally, Curcio sent a throw-in to Vida Maher Green who immediately crossed the ball to Nelson for a blast that bounced off the cross bar. Luckily, Audrey Cicerello was in the right spot to grab the rebound and placed the ball into the back of the net for the game winner.

This is part of the November 5, 2009 online edition of The Riverdale Press.

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