Girls Soccer: Ossining Enjoys Oustanding First Half

If you want to be the best in a sport, a good way to do that is to play in a place where the natives consider it the top priority.

That is what the Ossining girls soccer team did this summer, taking its game overseas and it has paid off with a 7-2-1 start after a 1-0 win against visiting Westlake on Tuesday.

“We have been very fortunate in that we have had the same girls for the last two or three years, although we graduate a few of them this year, we can see this is clearly the best start we have had in about 25 years of Ossining High School girls soccer,” Ossining coach Phil Ishmael said. “The whole team decided this summer to go on tour to England and Italy and play together. The parents chose to do that, it wasn’t school organized or anything like that.”

Ishmael said that it has made a big difference for his players to experience playing in countries where soccer is considered a religion.

“It was huge because they came back and they realized the passion for the sport and how intense they play no matter what level and they also continued to enjoy the game as well,” Ishmael said. “They realized that the European countries are a lot more technical than us but also they realized that they are in very, very good shape as well. The combination of the two really helps.”

Besides the camaraderie the girls on the team have developed over the years and their experience in Europe, another reason for the success of the Pride is that they play soccer outside of the high-school season as well.

“They are playing non-stop, year-round, that has really helped,” Ishmael said.

Offensively, the Pride are led by three of their key players in freshman midfielder Gabby Hagerman, who Ishmael said is really quick, sophomore striker Lizette Boehling and junior striker Andrea Neski.

“They are very patient and they really work well together,” Ishmael said.

Helping the offense to generate scores according to Ishmael are its talented midfielders. Leading this group are junior Erin Hoyt and senior Carolina Paleaz.

“They play well together and are not afraid to attack,” Ishmael said.

Ossining’s defense is led by senior Krystine Alvear, who is solid on her end of the field. She and her teammates are backed up in goal by one of the more talented goalkeepers in the area, senior Mykaela Copeland.

“Mykaela has played very well,” Ishmael said. “She has five or six shutouts. She is very, very vocal.”

What is great for the supporters of the Pride is that not only are they doing well on the pitch this season, their chances for long-term success also look very bright.

Ishmael said that freshman defender Tess Halpern, freshman midfielder Abby Squirrell, sophomore midfielder Annie Scorcia and freshman goalie Jalay Knowles are four players to look out for in the future.

As for how far his team can go this year, Ishmael said the key for his squad is to not complicate things.

“We have to take it one step at a time and keep it simple,” Ishmael said. “We obviously want to try to win the league and advance in the sectionals.”

Ossining's next game is at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11 against visiting Nyack.