Three Peekskill High School varsity teams will compete in postseason games this weekend: Varsity Boys Soccer, Varsity Football, and Varsity Girls Volleyball.
Boys Soccer
For the first time in more than 40 years, the Peekskill Varsity Boys Soccer team are in the semifinals of sectionals.
On Tuesday, Oct. 29, the Peekskill Varsity Boys Soccer team took on Roosevelt High School in the quarter-finals of the Section 1 Class AA Boys Soccer tournament. The Peekskill community came out in large numbers, packing the bleachers at Torpy Field to support the Red Devils.
In the first half, the Peekskill boys got an early lead, thanks to a goal from senior forward Randy Tapia, followed shortly by a goal from Umaru Conteh (his 24th goal of the season). But then Roosevelt’s Alex Tacuri scored a phenomenal long range goal into the top left corner of the net, catching Peekskill goalkeeper Angel Cabrera off guard.
This setback did not startle the Peekskill boys. The boys kept their composure and immediately gained a third goal through Tapia. Tapia’s two goals against Roosevelt brought his goal tally to eight for the season. Junior midfielder Maddox Lozada scored Peekskill fourth goal of the game and the first half ended, Peekskill 4-1 Roosevelt.
The second half was much calmer, with Peekskill’s Juan Ventura scoring the only goal of the half. The game ended in a 5-1 win for Peekskill.
“Helping my team make it to the semi-finals was a surreal feeling,” said Tapia when the Herald reached him.
Up next for the impressive Peekskill Varsity Boys Soccer team will be Fox Lane. While Peekskill faced Roosevelt, Fox Lane took on Horace Greeley in the quarter-finals. Fox Lane, who is ranked No. 6 in Class AA, were able to pull off an upset 2-1 victory over Horace Greeley, who are ranked No. 3. Fox Lane beat Yonkers, 3-0 in the first round of sectionals, on their road to the semi-finals.
The Fox Lane Foxes finished the regular season with a record of nine wins, four losses, and three draws. According to their Instagram page, this year’s record is the best the Fox Lane boys have had since the 2006-2007 season. For this reason, Fox Lane will be extra motivated to get a victory over Peekskill, but the Red Devils are not likely to be pushovers.
One Fox Lane player to keep an eye out for is Kenneth Mejia Lopez. The senior midfielder has scored a team-high 16 goals this season for Fox Lane, including two in postseason action. Mejia Lopez was a recipient of Lohud’s Player of the Week recognition this season.
Peekskill will rely heavily on their attackers, especially Umaru Conteh, Randy Tapia, and Chris Chalco, who have all shined this season. Players on the Peekskill Varsity Boys Soccer team will hope to get senior captain Daniel Farez Sierra the ball whenever possible, as the midfielder currently leads the team in assists with 10.
“We’re looking forward to versing Fox Lane in the semi-finals and advancing to the finals. All we ask of the Peekskill community is to keep believing in us and we will not disappoint,” said Tapia.
Peekskill will play Fox Lane for the semifinals of sectionals on Thursday, Oct. 31 at Torpy Field at 3 p.m. Viewers at home can watch the game on Local Live. If Peekskill is able to beat Fox Lane, they will play the winner of Tappan Zee vs Yorktown in the Section 1 Class AA final at Lakeland High School this weekend.
Football
After a mixed campaign, the Peekskill Varsity Football team is getting ready for their biggest game of this season. On Saturday, Nov. 2, Peekskill will travel to Orangeburg to face Tappan Zee in the semifinals of the Hudson Valley Football Tournament. Peekskill are the 2023 champions of the Hudson Valley Football Tournament and are hoping to make it to the finals once again.
In their season opener, Peekskill was beaten by Tappan Zee, 26-0. Tappan Zee had a great season this year, finishing the regular season with a record of seven wins and one loss.
While Tappan Zee may enter the match on Saturday as the favorites, the Peekskill boys are determined to get a positive result, says head coach Demetric Gardner.
“We were missing a few players in the first game. For this game, we’re anticipating to be at full strength and we’re preparing very well,” said Gardner.
“We have a lot of sophomores, who are following the leads of the older kids who won the championship last year. Everyone is trying to have a lot of positive energy going into this game,” he added.
Gardner revealed that following their loss against Horace Greely last Friday, he gave his players Saturday off but since then, they’ve been meeting everyday going over film and rehearsing plays in preparation for their big upcoming match. Gardner, who is a physical education teacher in the district, has been the head coach of Peekskills football program for the past three years.
This Saturday will be a big day for Coach Gardner. In the morning, he will perform his duties as head coach and in the afternoon, he will be honored by the Peekskill NAACP at their Freedom Fund Sneaker Ball. Gardner, alongside Peekskill boys basketball head coach Tyrone Searight, will be receiving the Unsung Hero’s Award.
“I’m packing my suit with me,” laughed Gardner. When asked how he felt about being an honoree, Gardner responded, “A lot of men and women that were a part of the organization years past were trailblazers and to even be in the same conversation as them, makes me feel very honored.”
Peekskill and Tappan Zee always put on a show whenever they play, so if you wish to attend, kickoff will be at 11 a.m, on Saturday, Nov. 2 at Tappan Zee High School. If Peekskill beats Tappan Zee, they will play either Horace Greeley or Walter Panas in the championship final next week.
Volleyball
The Peekskill Varsity Girls Volleyball team will play Clarkstown South in the first round of sectionals on Friday, Nov. 1 at Clarkstown South High School at 4:30 p.m. The Peekskill girls are ranked No. 15 in Class AA and Clarkstown South are ranked No. 2.
In preparation for this season-defining game, the Peekskill girls participated in the Francis Lewis Girls Volleyball tournament in Queens last week. If the girls plan on an upset victory over the Clarkstown South Vikings, they will need to bring their A-game into their clash on Friday.
Those who are unable to make the trip to Bardonia can still support the Peekskill girls by watching the game on Local Live.
