Through the first few weeks of the 2016 season, Mamaroneck has established itself as one of the top soccer teams in Section I, and the Tigers continued their winning ways on Sept. 20, handing league rival Scarsdale a one-sided 3-0 loss. As Mamaroneck continues to play through a tough league schedule, they will look to maintain their momentum in order to earn a top seed in the Class AA postseason tournament.
Although the Raiders controlled the action for much of the first half of Tuesday afternoon’s game at Scarsdale High School, it was the Tigers who made the most of their chances. With 25:47 left in the first half, Alex Alma fired a shot from the top of the box to put the game’s first point on the board, and Cole DiCicco snuck past the Scarsdale defense to give the Tigers a two-goal lead just a few minutes later. Reed Sakakeeny rounded out Mamaroneck’s scoring before the end of the first, burying a rebound in the net to make the score 3-0 before the teams reached the halfway point.
Mamaroneck’s defense, led by six stops from keeper Dante Rhodes, stayed perfect in the final 40 minutes to preserve the Tigers’ first league win of the season.
The victory puts the Tigers at 6-1 on the season, with their only loss coming on Sept. 12 against fellow Class AA powerhouse Yorktown. Mamaroneck rebounded from that loss nicely, however, outscoring its next three opponents—Port Chester, Horace Greeley and Scarsdale—by a combined 9-0 score.
With their first game against Scarsdale in the books, the Tigers will now embark upon a stretch that sees them play six straight league contests, beginning on Sept. 21, after press time, against Mount Vernon, which is coming off a 2-2 tie with New Rochelle, which Mamaroneck will play two days later. The Huguenots are 4-1-1 and eager to take on the rest of the league powers.
“When you look at our non-league schedule, that is created to get us ready for our league,” New Rochelle head coach Jarohan Garcia said. “Our league is competitive year in and year out, with teams that are always contenders for the section title.”
Mamaroneck coach Rich Becker could not be reached for comment.
