Hendrick Hudson’s 2025 varsity flag football team carved its name in the history books on Saturday, May 24, claiming the Class C title with a hard-fought win over Ardsley at Lakeland High School.
Unlike their previous encounter on May 8 which ended in a 40-0 win for Hen Hud, the Sailors encountered a much more resilient Ardsley squad in the championship match.
Ardsley struck first with a 36-yard touchdown pass from Joie Levy to Ava Santavicca in the first half. But Hen Hud responded just before halftime, as quarterback Lucy Mager found Jonna Rivera for a 9-yard touchdown. A successful extra-point conversion gave the Sailors a 7-6 lead heading into the break.
In the second half, Mager connected with Kaitlyn Raguso for a 6-yard touchdown, extending Hen Hud’s lead to 13-6. Ardsley got back in the game a few minutes later, with Levy hitting Dylan Paley for an 11-yard touchdown – bringing the deficit to one. With the game hanging in the balance, Mager came up clutch on defense, intercepting Ardsley’s extra-point attempt. From there, the Sailors locked in and held firm to secure the victory. At the games finish, the scoreboard read: Hen Hud 13-12 Ardsley.
Mager delivered a standout performance, throwing for 136 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 47 yards. Raguso had four catches for 39 yards, while Rivera finished with three receptions for 69 yards.
After the game, Athletic Director Thomas Baker shared how proud he was of the flag football program.
“Winning the Section 1 Flag Football Championship was a proud moment for the Hendrick Hudson community,” Baker told the Herald in an email. “Seeing the student-athletes celebrate their championship with their coaches was truly rewarding. To think that these girls captured this title in year two of the program is amazing.”
“Throughout the entire process our students demonstrated tremendous leadership skills in formulating this program. I am so happy to be a part of it and even happier for all the girls.”
In an interview with the Hendrick Hudson School District, Lucy Mager reflected on the team’s season.
“We knew from the start that this is where we wanted to be,” she said. “The community and the family we came together, and I feel like we very much deserve this.”
The win was especially sweet for senior wide receiver Kaitlyn Raguso, who came just one game short of a sectional final appearance during basketball season. Now, after dedicating five years to varsity athletics, she will graduate as a sectional champion.
“All the hard work this season has paid off,” said Raguso to the Herald. “We can’t wait to see how much farther we can go.”
Hen Hud entered the postseason as the No. 1 seed after dominating the regular season with a 12-3 record. On their road to the final, the Sailors earned a first round bye and beat Westlake/Briarcliff in semifinals, 39-18.
With the Class C championship secured, Hen Hud now advances to the regional championship game on Saturday, May 31, at Tappan Zee High School. They will face the winner of Rhinebeck (Section 9) and Owego Free Academy (Section 4), who play on Wednesday, May 28. A win would send the Sailors to the New York State final four in Cortland in early June.
Watch a game recap by the Hendrick Hudson School District here.
