Byram Hills avenges loss to John Jay in last year’s girls soccer playoff

John Jay celebrated early after Maye Viders (10) scored the first goal of the game. JIM MACLEAN PHOTOS

By JIM MACLEAN

It was the first game of the season for both teams as the John Jay girls varsity soccer team hosted Byram Hills on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and it was also a rematch of the last game of the season last fall for the Bobcats and the next to last game for the Wolves. John Jay defeated Byram Hills in the quarterfinals of the sectional tournament last fall, and both teams were fired up for a rematch in the season opener under the lights.

The fans got their money’s worth with plenty of highlights on both ends in a high-scoring game, but this time it was Byram Hills walking away with a smile as the Bobcats survived with a 5-4 win over the Wolves.

“They’re a strong team and we knocked them out in the playoffs last year, so that was a big game for them, you always remember that feeling,” John Jay coach Dave Nuttall said of Byram Hills. “Frustrating finish, some great goals by them, a very high scoring game and you don’t usually score four and lose, so we have some things to tidy up. We graduated a large class, so some girls need to fill those shoes, but we’ve got a good strong base to build on and we’ll keep working and we’ll get there.”

Sophya Papa controls a loose ball at midfield.

Early pressure

John Jay was celebrating early as the Wolves came out strong and put the pressure on the Byram Hills end of the field. The Wolves had a couple of golden opportunities in the opening minutes, just missing a goal and having a Byram defender clear one away off the goal line, but John Jay capitalized about six minutes into the game for a 1-0 lead. Maye Viders took a pass from Coco Inglis and scored at 34:06 to put the Wolves on top.

The lead didn’t last long as Byram Hills responded and started to control the action, scoring the equalizer eight minutes later and then taking a 2-1 lead with 8:39 left to play in the half. John Jay was able to tie it up with 1:03 left in the first half when Lila Baker drilled a long shot into the goal off an assist from Viders to make it 2-2 at halftime.

John Jay struck first in the second half as Alix Milich connected on another long shot for a goal to make it 3-2 at 31:57, but then the Bobcats reeled off three-straight goals to take a 5-3 lead, with Amelia Amenedo scoring what proved to be the game-winner with 8:49 left to play. The Wolves kept battling and cut the lead down to one when Abby Mattielo scored off a rebound after a long shot from Avery Rand at the 7:55 mark to make it 5-4.

Seven intense minutes

Lila Baker clears down the line for the Wolves.

The last seven minutes were intense action as John Jay tried to score the equalizer. Goalie Charlotte Omin came up with several big saves in the second half, including one on a long shot that she punched over the crossbar, to give the Wolves a chance. The Wolves had a corner kick and a long free kick and a rebound in the box in the final two minutes of play, but were not able to get it into the goal.

Despite the final outcome, Nuttall knows the Wolves have a talented roster capable of another big season with returning starters across the field. The Wolves are a young team with Omin and Julia Kowalczyk as the only two seniors in the starting lineup. Several young players are varsity veterans, including junior Mykel Papa on defense, who went down with leg cramps during the Byram Hills game. Viders is only a sophomore, but was one of the leading scorers last season for the Wolves.

“Mykel going down injured was a big loss during the game,” Nuttall said of Papa. “Maye was a massive part of our game, and Abby (Mattielo) played a fantastic game. We created a lot of chances and need to finish them. Charlotte (Omin) made some massive saves. Once she settled into the game and gained confidence she was very good. We have to take it one game at a time, a lot of stuff to work on.”

John Jay will be back in action for a pair of home games as the Wolves host Briarcliff on Monday, Sept. 14, and then host Hastings on Thursday before travelling to Lakeland on Friday, Sept. 18.

Abby Mattielo makes her move around a Byram Hills defender.