Boys Soccer
Days after Peekskill captain Melvin Criollo suffered a medical emergency during a home game against Haldane, Peekskill’s varsity boys soccer team returned to the field on Sept. 16 determined to honor their leader. Before kickoff, the players demonstrated their solidarity by wearing and posing with shirts bearing the words “Fuerza Melvin” – Spanish for “Strength Melvin.”
The tribute extended beyond Peekskill. According to The Highlands Current, Haldane also dedicated its match that same day – a home game against Valhalla – to Criollo.
On the field, however, Peekskill’s return didn’t go as planned. Hosting Suffern, the Red Devils fell 6–1 despite a first half goal from captain Maddox Lozada.
Two days later, on Sept. 18 at Ossining, Peekskill earned its first official win of the season in a dramatic 3–2 thriller. Erick Lojano opened the scoring about 15 minutes in, capitalizing on a short defensive pass and sliding a low shot past the keeper. Ossining equalized just before halftime, but early in the second half Lozada restored the lead with a header off a David Saavedra corner.
The highlight of the day came midway through the half when Ossining’s Chris Tenecela unleashed a stunning 30-yard strike, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
But Peekskill had the last word. Lozada pounced again late in the match, slotting home the winner after an Ossining defender’s missed clearance, with Edvin Marcos credited with the assist. In the last few seconds of the game, Ossining won a free kick and floated a dangerous ball into the box. Peekskill keeper Jonathan Farez, initially hesitated and collided with an Ossining player, giving away a penalty. He redeemed himself with a crucial save to preserve the win.
After impressive performances against Ossining and Suffern, Peekskill’s Maddox Lozada was nominated for Lohud’s Boys Soccer Player of the Week for Sept. 15-21. Polls are open til 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Vote for Lozada here.
The Red Devils’ momentum didn’t last. On Sept. 20, at Peekskill’s Hispanic Heritage Showcase, they fell to Mahopac 3–2 despite goals from David Saavedra and Eddy Farfan, while Farez recorded nine saves. Lozada and Farez were named All-Showcase team members after the game.
On Sept. 22, Peekskill drew 1–1 with Gorton at home. The match remained tense until 16 minutes into the second half, when co-captain Alejandro Montano put the Red Devils ahead, only for Gorton to equalize six minutes from time.
Now sitting at 1–3–2 on the season, Peekskill will look to regroup when they host Brewster on Friday, Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m.
Girls Soccer
The Peekskill girls varsity soccer team hasn’t dropped a game since its 5–0 loss to Hastings in early September.
On Sept.19, Peekskill traveled to Ramapo and came away with a 6–1 win. Ashlee Ordonez led the way with two goals and an assist, while sophomore forward Kimberly Alfaro added a goal and two assists.
The next day (Sept. 20), Peekskill hosted Alexander Hamilton as part of the district’s Hispanic Heritage Showcase. Valeria Otavalo opened the scoring just four minutes in with a strike from outside the box off a pass from Alfaro. Two minutes later, Shea Rekeda doubled the lead after senior captain Natalie Foster’s cross caused confusion in the box, allowing Rekeda to pounce and tap it home. Eleven minutes into the first half, Otavalo played in Alfaro, who finished to make it 3–0. Ordonez added her third goal in two days shortly after. Three minutes into the second half, Alfaro sealed the 5–0 win by weaving past defenders and slotting a low shot past Hamilton’s keeper.
Goalkeeper Victoria Jovel enjoyed a quiet afternoon, recording her second clean sheet of the season without facing a shot on target. For their performances, Otavalo, Alfaro and Foster were named to the All-Showcase Team.
On Sept. 22, the Red Devils went on the road again and cruised past Spring Valley, 8–1. Alfaro starred once more with a hat trick, bringing her season tally to 10 goals. Jozelyn Zhinin scored twice and assisted another, while Otavalo also bagged two goals – including a free kick – and set up one of Alfaro’s strikes. Both Otavalo and Zhinin now trail Alfaro with six goals apiece.
A scheduled game against Poughkeepsie on Sept. 17 was canceled but is expected to be rescheduled.
Peekskill (6–1) will host Spring Valley again on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 4:30 p.m., followed by a home matchup with Putnam Valley on Friday, Sept. 26, at 4:30 p.m. The Red Devils will also host Woodlands on Monday, Sept. 29, at 4:30 p.m.
Football
On Sept. 19, the Peekskill Red Devils secured their second win of the season, defeating Croton, 27–2, on the road.
For Peekskill, Joseph “Jojo” Walker led the way with 66 total yards – 39 receiving and 27 rushing – and scored a touchdown while also grabbing two interceptions. Darius Smyth added 22 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Andrew Sharrock contributed 17 receiving yards, 11 rushing yards, and a score of his own. Craig Jacobs added 37 rushing yards and another touchdown. George Vasquez converted three extra points, and AJ See had two fumble recoveries.
Thanks to his standout performance, Walker was nominated for Lohud’s Football Player of the Week for Sept. 18–20. Fans can vote for him in the online poll through Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 3 p.m.
Peekskill (2–1) will look to continue its momentum when it hosts Albertus Magnus on Saturday, Sept. 27, at 6 p.m.
Girls Volleyball
It was a challenging week for the Peekskill varsity girls volleyball team, which faced three tough opponents in a row.
On Sept. 16, the Red Devils traveled to Mahopac High School, falling 3–0 (25-9, 25-20, 25-15) as passing and hitting errors proved costly. Two days later, on Sept. 18, Peekskill hosted Carmel and showed flashes of improvement despite another 3–0 loss (25-18, 25-17, 25-19).
Friday’s (Sept. 19) home match against Yorktown was a tougher outing, with the visiting Huskers sweeping 25-11, 25-7, 25-6 – to beat Peekskill 3-0. The Red Devils then regrouped for a weekend tournament at Walter Panas High School on Sept. 20, where they played with renewed energy and narrowly dropped a playoff set to Hen Hud, 26-22.
Peekskill now stands at 3–5 on the season. The Red Devils will look to bounce back when they host Yonkers on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m., followed by a home match against Spring Valley on Monday, Sept. 29, at 5:45 p.m.
Cross Country
Peekskill’s Oscar Curillo finished tenth in the varsity boys’ 5,000-meter run with a time of 18:57.40 at a preseason league meet held at Croton Point Park on Sept. 16.
Next, Peekskill will compete in the 2nd Annual Arlington “Admiral Harrier” Cross Country Invitational on Sept. 27 at the Hudson Valley Sportsdome Complex.
Girls Swimming
Peekskill girls swim defeated Port Chester 93-68 on Sept. 16. Katherine Alvarez led with three first-place finishes, while Miranda Berger cut 18 seconds off her 500 freestyle time. The team also recorded 12 season-best performances.
Peekskill (2-0) hosts Brewster on Thursday, Sept. 25 at 4:30 p.m. for senior night.
College Watch
Mens Soccer – Division III: On Sept. 10, SUNY Delhi’s Umaru Conteh (Class of 2024) netted the game-winning goal in the 66th minute, lifting the men’s soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Morrisville State. His clutch performance earned him “Bronco of the Week” for Sept. 10-16.
