Undefeated Lady Tigers march to finals

The postseason. It’s a time when the stakes are raised significantly, pressure-packed matchups are the norm and champions are ultimately crowned. But apparently the David A. Stein Riverdale/Kingsbridge Academy (M.S./H.S. 141, RKA) Lady Tigers soccer program didn’t get the memo — at least the part that pertains to pressure.

They were nothing short of a juggernaut during the regular season as they rolled to a flawless 14-0 record, which included 10 shutouts. Want more? How about the fact that RKA allowed just four goals in total all season and, better yet, own the leading scorer in the state in senior Samantha Rosette. You can see why there has been no let-up in the postseason so far.

After opening the playoffs on Saturday with a 10-0 blanking of the High School of American Studies — in which Rosette scored four times — the Lady Tigers continued their march toward a Public School Athletic League (PSAL) championship when they rolled over Robert Goddard High School, 5-0, in their second-round playoff game this past Monday at Heritage Field across the street from Yankee Stadium.   

After getting upset in last year’s quarterfinals, is there any doubt this is a team on a mission this season?

“Oh yeah, we are absolutely on a mission,” Rosette said. “If any team is going to do it it’s this one. We got this.”

In Monday’s victory over Goddard, RKA simply stuck to the script that now has them just three wins away from a championship — they scored early, kept the pressure on the offensive end and just let Rosette have her way on the field.

Rosette posted a hat trick in the win and got RKA on the board early with her first goal for a quick 1-0 lead. The Lady Tigers then got goals from Natalie Aracena and Sophie Pincus before Rosette added her second of the game and RKA led 4-0 at the half. Rosette added her third goal in the second half but it was merely window dressing as the victory had long since been secured. The Lady Tigers’ defense was again at its stingiest best.

“Defense is a huge part of the game,” Rosette said. “No matter how many goals we score if we can’t defend, we’re still not going to win.”