The Rye Girls Soccer team mathematically clinched the league title with a 7-2 win over Byram Hills on Tuesday, October 14, staying unbeaten through fourteen games. The Garnets set a new season highs in goals allowed, but put up a seven spot to counterbalance that in their ninth consecutive victory.
“After a slow start, Rye picked up their level of play against league opponent Byram Hills,” Head Coach Rich Savage told MyRye.com after the game. “Rye came out strong in the second half, dominating play.”
Charlotte Keenan scored twice in the first half and again in the second to complete her first hat trick of the season. Four other players found the back of the net as the Garnets showed off the depth of their roster: Hannah Jachman, Harkin Brown, Shira Rand, and Clare Nemsick. Remarkably, all four single-goal scorers also recorded assists, joining Ella Fleckton in that column of the box score – only one of Rye’s seven goals was unassisted (Rand’s).
The Bobcats scored their first goal in the first half to cut their deficit to 2-1 at the time, and generated enough looks to let a tense energy linger. However, they were unable to crack the Rye defense again until the final minute of action, ceding five goals in that span.
The Garnets started freshman keeper Mae Haesslein, who made four saves to pick up her first varsity win. She helped the Garnets clinch first place in their league and home field throughout the Sectional tournament, although there has not been much doubt Savage and his club were trending in that direction for the last three weeks.
Rye (11-0-3) will look to be the first Garnets athletic team of the school year to win ten games in a row on Thursday, October 16, in their regular season finale. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:00pm at Nugent Stadium against Arlington. Watch it here.
