The Rye Girls Soccer team won the New York State championship on Sunday, November 16, as they knocked off Aquinas 4-0. With the victory, the Garnets have won to the point of winning no more, and cap off an undefeated season.
Prior to clinching their second state title in the last two years, Rye downed Schalmont in the semifinals 5-0. The two wins combined mark Rye’s 16th and 17th consecutive, and their 13th and 14th shutouts of the season. They end the year an unfathomable 21-0-3.
Semifinals vs Schalmont (5-0 Win)
Chaotic weather threw a wrench in the semifinals against Schalmont on Saturday, November 15, as the game halted three separate times for lightning and the entirety of the 80 minutes played featured torrential downpour. Despite the conditions, Rye still put up five goals and stayed strong for the clean sheet on the back end.
“Despite the chaos, Rye stayed composed and took control early,” Head Coach Rich Savage said on Sunday after both victories. “The defensive unit of Clare Nemsick, Julia Carballo, and Ella Fleckton was outstanding, shutting down Schalmont and preventing any real scoring opportunities.”
Midfielder Charlotte Keenan opened the scoring off an assist from freshman standout Harkin Brown to get Rye started. Senior captain Sam Yeh doubled the lead, again assisted by Brown, to double the lead. The freshman added a goal of her own to cap off a very wet but productive first half of play.
A strong senior connection produced the fourth goal, with Alessia MacKinnon finishing a pass from Claire Curran. Rye’s final goal was scored by Hannah Jachman, assisted by Jill DeSanto. The Garnets poured it on the Section 2 champions as the clouds poured it on everyone.
Rye had little time to celebrate, rushing back to their hotel at about 10:00pm, according Savage, to start preparation for Sunday’s championship against Rochester-based Aquinas.
Championship vs Aquinas (4-0 Win)
Rye kept their momentum from Saturday going on Sunday, November 16, scoring four times and allowing none in one final clean sheet, 4-0. While the weather did not relent, the Garnets did not crumble under the adversity, rising to the occasion in their biggest game of the season.
“Sunday brought a new set of challenges, as blizzard-like conditions rolled in for the championship match against Aquinas,” Savage told MyRye.com. “But the snow couldn’t slow down the Garnets. As conditions intensified, so did Rye’s focus.”
The legendary weekend of Harkin Brown continued with the first goal of the game in the 18th minute – the eventual game-winner. After halftime, Sam Yeh scored her second goal of the weekend, before Brown added another to put the game well out of reach. Hannah Jachman scored the final goal to put the cherry on top. Jill DeSanto had two assists on the night as four different Garnets recorded multiple points.
Concluding Thoughts
Rye completed both the Section 1 and State Tournament runs without conceding a single goal. They went 8-0 in a perfect postseason, as their stout defense teamed up with an offense that clearly came a long way from their early season scuffle (three 0-0 draws). “Goalkeeper Tessa Labovitz was rock-solid, backed by the dominant defensive trio of Nemsick, Carballo, and Fleckton,” Savage said of his back line regarding the postseason run. “The Garnets walk away as NYS Class A State Champions—resilient, united, and unforgettable.”
2025 marks Rye’s third straight trip to the State Final Four, with two state titles to show for it – 2023 and now 2025. The only postseason loss in that span loss served as fuel for Rye’s offseason dedication, according to Savage, which ultimately culminated in a perfect, undefeated season: 21-0-3.
The state championship trophy sits atop the “pyramid of success” for the Garnets, which also includes a league title, a sectional title, a regional title, and a tournament title in Niskayuna. Other than that, some of their most impressive wins on the season were on Senior Night against Ursuline and a 3-1 win over top-ranked Albertus Magnus on October 4. Along with that, legendary head coach Rich Savage was inducted into the New York State Hall of Fame on September 6. All in all, the 2025 Rye Girls Soccer Team will stick out in the history books for a long, long time.
The New York State championship team roster is listed below:
0 Tessa Labowitz (Sr. GK)
1 Mae Haesslein (Fr. GK)
2 Blake Sasse (Jr. GK)
3 Phoebe Lee (Sr. M)
4 Eleanor Pandl (Jr. D)
5 Jessica Mehrara (Sr. D)
6 Fiona Marino (Jr. M)
7 Caroline Tighe (Jr. D)
8 Julia Carballo (Jr. D)
10 Hannah Jachman (Sr. M)
11 Shira Rand (Jr. M)
13 Alessia MacKinnon (Sr. F)
14 Paula Etinger (So. M)
15 Parker Calhoun (Sr. M)
16 Jill DeSanto (Jr. F)
17 Emily Walsh (So. M)
18 Ryann O’Donnell (So. M)
19 Lucy Carey (So. D)
20 Charlotte Keenan (So. M)
21 Claire Curran (Sr. D/M)
22 Ella Fleckton (Fr. D)
23 Clare Nemsick (Sr. D)
24 Emma Stark (So. D)
26 Samantha Yeh (Sr. M)
“Everyone contributed on and off the field,” Savage concluded.
“Shira Rand – workhorse of the team;
Incredible captains – Sam Yeh, Parker Calhoun, Clare Nemsick, Tessa Labovitz;
Hannah Jachman – versatile player;
Charlotte Keenan – poise and composure;
Harkin Brown – explosive speed and dangerous threat;
Ryann O’Donnell and Eleanor Pandl – speed and creativity
Ella Fleckton, Julia Carballo and Clare Nemsick – solid back line that did not concede on goal for 14 games…
“Most importantly – the bench – all non starters and their energy they provided for the team. All parents for their constant support – meals for the team, going to the Laundrymat to dry clothes. A total team effort.”
