The Rye Girls Soccer team opened its 2026 season with two impressive victories at the NYS Hall of Fame Tournament from September 4-5, first shutting out St. Mary’s 2-0 on Friday and then edging Shenendehowa 3-2 on Saturday. With the wins, the Garnets already have an impressive tournament championship on their resume and remain without a loss since the 2024 season.
Friday, September 4 – Rye 2, St. Mary’s 0
Rye opened the tournament and its season against St. Mary’s of Buffalo, the defending Catholic High School Athletic Association state champions. The Garnets wasted little time reminding fans why they are one of the top teams in the state regardless of class or league, scoring in the second minute. Harkin Brown finished a pass from Charlotte Keenan for the quick strike.
The Garnets doubled their lead when two other impactful returners from 2025, Shira Rand and Hannah Jachman, combined on a corner kick. Blake Sasse made five saves to make the 2-0 lead stand up for the whole 80 minutes.
“Defensively, Rye was outstanding,” head coach Rich Savage said after the season opener. “Julia Carballo provided excellent leadership in organizing the back line, while Eleanor Pandl turned in a strong performance defensively.”
Saturday, September 5 – Rye 3, Shenendehowa 2
Rye’s tournament-clinching win on Saturday against Shenendehowa was much harder to come by than their Friday affair. The Garnets saw 1-0 and 2-1 leads vanish, but Charlotte Keenan played hero with the game-winning goal in the final minute of regulation time.
“Shen’s speed and ability to move the ball created challenges early, but as the game progressed, the Garnets settled in,” Savage told MyRye.com. “[They] became more composed in possession and began controlling more of the play.”
Shira Rand opened the scoring for Rye after they weathered the early storm, and Keenan scored her first of the game to put the Garnets back in front 2-1 in the second half on a free kick. The Notre Dame commit then scored her third of the weekend with just 20 seconds to play, a dramatic game- and tournament-winner to lift Rye to the championship.
“Facing a defending state champion on Friday and a strong Class AAA opponent on Saturday provided Rye with two excellent early-season tests,” Savage said. “The Garnets showed their ability to win in different ways, producing a disciplined shutout in the opener and showing composure and resilience to earn a dramatic victory on Saturday.”
Rye (2-0) will look to build on its strong start when they travel to take on the defending Class AA state champion Albertus Magnus on Wednesday, September 9. The Garnets were the only public school to defeat the Falcons last season, so emotions will be high for a rematch between two very high-quality squads.
