Championship Cross Country The Bobcat boys' Cross Country team placed 2nd in the Class B Championship meet on November 5, 2010. Over the past six seasons, they have been champions three times and runners-up, three times.
Marc Violone finished 2nd in the race and advanced to the state championship meet scheduled for Saturday November 13th at Lakeside Park, in Pawling, which was the site for the class championship meet. Brendan Cutler placed 10th, running his best race of the cross country season and grabbed the final qualifying position for the state meet.
The Westchester County Championships were held on October 30 at Somers High School. On the 2.5 mile course, junior Mark Violone placed 3rd with a time of 13:18.3. The bobcat boys varsity team won the Class B title for the 6th straight year, finishing 4th amongst all schools.
Sophomore Lauren Perschetz placed 7th in 16:01.8. Both Mark and Lauren are selected to the "All County Team".
BOBCATS FALL SHORT IN SEMI-FINAL REMATCH vs. #1 IN NATION
For the third time this year, the Byram Hills girls soccer team faced off on Wednesday evening against Rye, a team that has been ranked #1 in the country for much of the season. The game was the semi-finals in the Class A Sectionals and another close game between long-time rivals and Section 1 powers. Similar to the first two times, the halftime score of the game was 0-0. Akin to the other two times, Rye was to score in the second half and hang on. The final score was 2-0 under the lights at the Rye stadium. Byram Hills season finishes 10-6-3 and Rye is at 17-0-0.
In the first half, BHHS had more scoring chances than Rye. On one breakaway by a Bobcat forward, the Rye goalie came out for the smother and did not get all of the ball as it squirted free and spun forward, rolling towards the unattended Rye goal. A defender ran over in time to clear the ball away before it could cross the line or a Bobcat could tap it in. Shortly afterwards, Byram Hills attacked from the left flank and crossed the ball deep to the other post where an onrushing forward shot a difficult volley while on a dead run and saw it swerve just wide of the lower right-hand post. Most of Rye's offensive pressure in the first half was coming from their tall fullback's long-distance throw-ins that usually can reach the penalty area whenever she was inside the 30-yard line. Goalie Rachel Boyle frequently came off her line to jump up and snatch the throws or headers off the throws while she was navigating the heavy traffic of fullbacks and forwards flying all about.
Very early in the second half, Rye's All American forward was dribbling at the top of the box when she seemed to fall down without noticeable interference by a defender. When the referee whistled a foul, the groans and chatter in the Byram Hills portion of the stands was quite heated. Rye's Lia Bellizzi popped up from the ground, and upon the resumption of the play whistle, shot a Beckham-like bent direct kick over Byram Hills' defensive wall towards the high left corner of the goal just under the crossbar. It was only about 1:30 into the second half. The Bobcats kept sprinting up field and threatening the Rye defenders time and time again. Courtney Marin, Claudia Hammerschmidt, Danielle Hoffman and Emma Benzie constantly were slashing into the vaunted Rye defense. For context, we believe Rye's first string defense during its entire season has only given up 3 goals. One Bobcat shot just went wide of Rye's goal as their goalie was caught flat-footed. Subsequently, a few minutes later on a corner kick from Kailey Burke, a header zipped by Rye's keeper only to hit the goal post and bounce out to a defender that cleared it. Another shot later on from in front was boomed just high over the goal. It is often a game of inches when two very good teams face off; this game the inches seemed to conspire against the Lady Bobcats more often than not. Later, on a Rye counter-attack, the ball crossed from the right side of the BHHS penalty area to the left side where Maddy Chabot of Rye rammed a shot home through a crowd into the net.
The Byram Hills defenders and midfielders, Kristen Hasselgren, Kailey Burke, Lauren Riggs, Kacy Fishman, Ilana Robbins, Dana Wilson, Molly Gordon and Morgan McCarthy sprinted and continued to defuse the Rye highly skilled attacks. The Bobcats pushed increasingly forward striving for the goal that could shift the game and momentum. But the end of a cool Autumn evening came to an end too soon and the referee whistled the game over. The Garnets move onto the Class A finals.
The Bobcats tallied another excellent season, the 4th in a row that had double-digit victories, the 4th consecutive one that had them go to the post-season play-offs as a higher seed, and another year of a proud, talented Bobcat soccer team achieving many successes. A regular season and deep play-off run that seniors and underclass team mates alike should and will eventually smile about. Whether they are headed off to college next or the younger team mates that can longingly look forward to next fall's challenges, including matching the legacy that the 2007 team, the 2008 squad, the 2009 group, and the 2010 team all accomplished at high levels. Many of this year's seniors were on all or most of those remarkable teams from 2007 to 2010. What a lengthy, winning high school soccer career they've had and will forever fondly recall. Kudos and a rousing standing ovation to the ladies!
Boys Soccer Advance in Quarter-Finals OT Thriller 1-0
80 minutes of soccer between Byram Hills and Port Chester was not enough time for either team to score and determine who moves onto the semi-finals in the Class A Sectionals. Not until nearly 93 minutes of play, and well into the golden goal period of overtime, did a Bobcats throw-in bring about the game's end. With 2:15 remaining in overtime, deep near the Port Chester goal, Bobcat Charlie Murphy stepped well off the field onto the surrounding track to get better leverage and longer run for a throw-in that positioned the ball just right. It took not one, but two headers in front of the goal, as the first header went from the season's top scorer, Greg Shaheen, then over to Alex Gottlieb, who headed the ball into the net for a thrilling OT win. Bobcats 1 goal and Portchester 0 goal. The shutout was recorded by Gil Rosenstein with seven saves for a lengthy, clean sheet. Next game for the #1 seed Bobcats is Friday 2:00 pm at Byram Hills high school versus #12 seed, Our Lady of Lourdes, whom pulled off a big upset of #4 seed Rye Boys soccer.
Byram Hills' X-Country courses have become among the favorites of high school runners. Photos and results below are from 10/9/10 BHHS Cross Country Invitational Meet.
BOBCAT REPORTS We welcome unofficial observations and game photos from players, coaches and parents. Send emails to: sports@allaboutarmonk.com. Images in jpeg please.
We intend to report about good sportsmanship with the utmost respect to all of our athletes and spectators. AllAboutArmonk.com reserves the right to determine if the submitted photos and reports are published.
HOMECOMING 2010
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Homecoming The Bobcat football team pounded Beacon for a 34-16 win. Photos Suzy Brown.
Click BHHS Principal Chris Borsari to read his Homecoming comment
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jacquelyn Taylor
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10/7/10 Bobcat Tennis
9/1/10 Junior Varsity A soccer starts the season with a 4 - 0 victory in a scrimmage against Yorktown.
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9/23/10 Bobcats Field Hockey team were defeated by Fox Lane 5 - 0. Photos Courtesy of Suzy Brown.
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Nov. 12, 2010 Goshen defeats Byram Hills 1 - 0 in sudden death overtime at the regional quarterfinals in Middletown, NY. Photos courtesy of Suzy Dritz Brown.
A REMARKABLE FIVE YEAR SPAN FOR BOYS SOCCER
Nov. 15, 2010
In the fall of 2006, the Boys Soccer team were State Finalists. They compiled a marvelous record of 22 wins, 2 losses, and 0 ties (a 92% win/ tie percentage). The Boys scored 94 goals and allowed merely 15 goals against.
In the fall of 2007, the Boys Soccer team were State Champions, a first for a BHHS team. They put up a nearly perfect 23 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie (a 96% percentage). The Bobcats scored 84 goals and a modest 14 goals against.
In the fall of 2008, the Boys Soccer team were Sectional Finalists. They had a superb record of 18 wins, 1 loss, and 1 tie (a 95% percentage). The Boys scored 70 goals and a measly 7 goals against all season.
In the fall of 2009, the Boys Soccer team were State Semi-Finalists. They possessed a sterling record of 18 wins, 3 losses, and 1 tie (an 86% percentage). The Bobcats scored 64 goals and a minimal 12 goals against.
In the fall of 2010, the Boys Soccer team were Regional Finalists. They achieved a wonderful record of 16 wins, 3 losses, and 2 ties (an 86% percentage). The Bobcats scored 46 goals and a modest 15 goals against.
The math is truly impressive: 97 wins, 10 losses, and 5 ties over the four-year run. A 91% win/ tie percentage. Additionally, the BHHS Bobcats scored 358 goals and allowed 63 goals against during 112 games for an average score of Byram Hills scoring 3.2 goals and allowing 0.6 goals against. Their average record across the remarkable five-year span is 19-2-1. Quite an impressive run of accomplishments and tribute to hard work and top-flight talent of Coach Allen’s five teams from 2006 through 2010!
BOBCATS SOCCER SEASON ENDS
Nov. 13, 2010 On a cold and windy Friday night in Middletown, NY, the boys' soccer season came to an end. Byram Hills lost to Goshen in the State Regional Quarterfinals with under 7:00 minutes left in the second overtime. The Gladiators defeated Byram 1-0.
The Bobcats can hang their hat on another season as Section 1, Class A Title Champions, with an impressive 16-3-2 record. Although the state quarterfinals didn't add another notch to the win column, the boys had a stellar season and made us proud spectators of every game.
Nov. 9, 2010 At this time, there are no easy games; every opponent is a Sectionals Champ just like the Bobcats. Sometimes a game might turn on a lucky break, or as it was Tuesday evening, an unlucky break for the foe. Byram Hills won in the last seconds of regulation time. A cross into the Elmira Free Academy box resulted in a misguided header by an Elmira defender that went into their goal. For goalies and defenders there is nothing worse than an "own goal", especially in a tight contest in the post-season. Byram Hills won 1-0 nevertheless. Gil Rosenstein recorded another shutout for his already sterling season, greatly aided by his stout defense.
Last Saturday, the Bobcats in the brisk November evening at Purchase College were crowned the Class A Champs of Sectional 1. The Bobcats were the #1 seed and they topped #2 Somers by the score 3-2. Somers finished with a sterling 15-4-0 record, almost comparable to the Byram Hills more impressive 15-2-2 record after that game.
AllAboutArmonk.com will provide the most recent BHHS Bobcat sports team's weekly scores and upcoming schedules. Hence, you should feel free to frequently check in on your favorite team's progress, as well as perhaps discover other intriguing Bobcat team's successes and challenges as the season unfolds. If you notice we haven't posted a score yet, feel free to e-mail us the score and any details of the unintended oversight. Thank you. Go Bobcats!
CROSS COUNTRY, Varsity: 09/07, Tue.; Blind Brook, Valhalla, Westlake, Sleepy Hollow, B'cliff, P'ville, Harrison & Port Chester @ BHHS 09/11; Sat.; Rob Breen Invitational; Miles Applebaum finished 5th, Lauren Perschetz finished 2nd 09/21, Tue.; Alex. Hamilton, Harrison, Greeley, Port Chester, Rye Neck & Keio @ BHHS 09/25, Sat.; Gressler Invitational; Marc Violone won [team 2nd], Lauren Perschetz won 09/28, Tue.; Fox Lane, Rye, Ossining & Harrison @ BHHS 10/02, Sat.; Brewster Invitational; Marc Violone finished 6th [team 2nd], Lauren Perschetz finished 3rd [team 6th] 10/05, Tue.; BHHS beats Fox Lane, Sleepy Hollow, Ossining; 31-51-54-55 10/09, Sat.; BHHS wins The BHHS INVITATIONAL; BHHS-61 points, Rye Neck-94, et al. 10/12, Tue.; LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS @ BHHS 10/23, Sat.; SECTION 1- C&O Meet @ Pawling 10/30, Sat.; Westchester COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS @ Bowdoin Park 11/01, Mon.; FROSH-SOPH CHAMPIONSHIPS @ Clarkstown South 11/05, Fri.; CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS @ Pawling
Girls Varsity Soccer Team
November 1, 2010
LADY BOBCATS WIN 2nd THRILLING POST-SEASON GAME
Nov. 2, 2010 On a brisk Autumn afternoon, across the Hudson River, Byram Hills Girls varsity soccer won an exciting 2-0 match against a strong, higher seed. The opponent was #4 seeded Pearl River, whom prior to the game had an impressive 12-4-1 record. BHHS, seeded #5 in the Class A Sectionals, now has a 10-5-3 record. In this quarterfinal match at Pearl River's grass field, the score was 0-0 at halftime as both teams had chances, but neither converted as the game went back and forth.
In the second half, Danielle Hoffman, one of the Bobcats' leading scorers, was able to split two defenders and knock the ball into the net. The very sizable Armonk spectator contingent jumped to their feet with a loud roar. Play went to and fro as the one-goal edge stubbornly held on. Pearl River's non-stop running and long-ball attack often pressured the Byram Hills defense across the field. The back line of Kailey Burke, Ilana Robbins, and Kacy Fishman, fronted by the midfielders of Kristen Hasselgren, Lauren Riggs, Morgen McCarthy, Dana Wilson and Courtney Marin, were consistently challenged and just as frequently they turned back or deflected the Pearl River Pirates' offensive thrusts. Goalkeeper Rachel Boyle was often seen rushing off of her line to grab shots, snare crosses, and smother through passes in all portions of her penalty area.
While protecting its late 1-0 lead against the Pirates increasingly aggressive pushes upfield, Byram Hills was able to strike back deep into Pearl River's defense. In the last minute of play, booting a long, high shot from the left side, sophomore Emma Benzie was able to find the upper, far corner and bolster the lead to 2-0 with under 1 minute to go. Fending off the multiple final attacks by Pearl River, Byram Hills successfully held on to their two goal lead for the very satisfying win. Rachel Boyle had 7 saves in the second consecutive post-season Byram Hills shutout and 7th shutout overall for the team. Daniel Hoffman now has 9 goals and Emma Benzie 7 goals in regular and post-season play.
Next up are the Sectionals semi-finals this Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 3. Byram Hills will face #1 Rye, as they beat #9 Nyack 3 - 0.
