Tarrytown Mustangs Continue Perfect Season, Next Face North Salem Juggernaut

The Tarrytown Mustangs under age 12 girls soccer team continued to win in October and have now improved to 7-0. Despite the challenges of moving up to club level soccer, the Mustangs have cruised through division 3 so far and have already clinched at least second place with two more games left to play. After winning their first three games the Mustangs traveled to Eastchester and defeated the Fusion 5-0. Britany Alban, Emma Clarke, Lily Rodriguez, and Talia Fante (2) scored goals with assists by Maya Weitzen (2), Britany Alban, Talia Fante, and Sophie Sylves-Berry. The Mustang defense led by Maddy Navin, Annie Dineen, Sadie Swenson and keepers Carolina Lopez and Catherine Grimes allowed no opportunities.

The girls next faced the then third place Briarcliff Burn coached by legendary Briarcliff varsity three time state championship winner and three time coach of the year Owen Scully of the Perfect Touch Academy. The game was well fought with the Mustangs getting caught in several off side traps throughout. Sam Livingston scored first for the Mustangs off an assist by Maya Weitzen. Briarcliff evened it up by half but the Mustangs were too strong in the second half. Talia Fante scored 3 goals, two off assists by Britany Alban and Maya Weitzen. Julia Costa scored as well with an assist by Talia Fante. The final score was 5-1.

The Mustangs had the Columbus Day weekend off but still had a friendly scrimmage with the 1-year-older first place division 3 Munay Ossining Foxes. The girls started out with a lead but faded late losing 5-2 to the older girls. The next week the girls faced the new third place Rockland Storm led by Aaron Anderson-Winchell the assistant coach of the Manhattan College Jaspers. The Mustangs played well and gave Rockland their second loss of the year in a tough 1-0 game. Talia Fante scored off an assist by Julia Costa. The Mustang defense led by Maddy Navin, Annie Dineen, Sadie Swenson, and keepers Catherine Grimes and Carolina Lopez earned their 4th shutout of the year. Emma Clarke kept strong pressure as forward and Sophie Sylves-Berry, Samantha Livingston, and Caroline Grimes kept pressure from their wing position.

On Sunday Oct 26th the Mustangs faced an overmatched Westside Red Bulls team. The Tarrytown girls easily won 3-0 with the first goal scored by Britany Alban off an assist by Julia Costa. Talia Fante scored the next two with both assists from Maya Weitzen. The Mustangs had more scoring opportunities but were unable to finish. Isabella Chambers was energetic at forward and was always near the ball. Julia Costa had many near miss opportunities while Lily Rodriguez played fast and aggressive despite being burdened with a broken arm in a cast. The defense of Maddy Navin, Annie Dineen, Sadie Swenson with Catherine Grimes and Julia Costa at keeper again earned a shutout, their 5th of the year.

The Mustangs have now clinched at least second place and lead the division in defense with only 2 goals allowed. The Mustang offense is second in the league with 25 goals scored. Talia Fante leads scorers on the team with 12 goals and Maya Weitzen leads with 6 assists. The girls will need their best offensive and defensive performances to date when they face the Undefeated North Salem Sparks on Sunday November 2nd. The Sparks are also 7-0 with 27 goals scored and 3 allowed. They haven’t lost a league game since October of 2013. Coach John Sutherland will have to face another top coach in Fabian Videla who also serves as the women’s varsity coach of Fox Lane High School. If the Mustangs win they will clinch the championship for division 3 and likely be moved up to the elite second division after only their first season in the league. They then finish the season a week later against rival Mt Pleasant on November 12th.