For the first game, the Tigers were drawn against #6 seed Poly Prep, with a home game on Randall’s Island. A scoreless opening 25 minutes was broken when Danielle Black '17 managed to pressure a Poly defender into a turnover that she dribbled towards the goal. Rather than taking on the shot, however, she slid a perfect pass into the path of a streaking Kara Siegel '19, who calmly struck it into the side netting. The 1-0 lead held up through a tense, physical second half as Leyla Kamshad '19 earned the shutout in goal.

 

Friday saw Dalton matched against #2 seed and crosstown rival Trinity in the semifinals. An early start caught the Tigers unprepared and after 15 minutes, Trinity led 2-0. A foul about 30 yards out from the goal lead to a Rain Condie '18 free kick to the upper left corner to cut the deficit to 2-1. In the second half, Dalton dominated possession, earning multiple shots on goal before a long-range effort from Kara Siegel '19 sailed just over the reach of the Trinity keeper and under the crossbar for a 2-2 tie. After two 10-minute overtime halves and two 5 minute golden goal periods, the game had to be decided on penalty kicks. A save each by both Kamshad and the Trinity keeper led to sudden death penalty kicks. Captain Ella Tessier-Lavigne '16 made hers. Trinity made theirs. Captain Emily Cohen '16 made hers. And Trinity pushed their final kick wide of the post. Dalton had made it through to the finals.

 

Sunday night at 5:30 PM was a dark, but clear night up in Purchase NY at Manhattanville College: #3 Dalton facing #4 Hackley. Hackley had won 4-0 at home, while Dalton won 1-0 on Randall’s Island. After the double overtime penalty kick finish, the Tigers tiredness showed on every players face, but not in their game. After withstanding the physically bigger Hackley players initial pressure for the first 30 minutes, Dalton finally started to get some offensive push of their own. In the second half, Dalton had the majority of possession in midfield and a number of long-range chances. Hackley was kept at bay through the stellar effort of defenders Condie '18, Tessier-Lavigne 16, Kaye Dyja '16, Eloise Ackman '16 and captain Alexis Harris '16. A few chances came to Siegel '19, Black '17, Jocelyn Mayer '18, Emily Rhodes '18 and Gretchen Doyle '17, but Hackley was able to push them wide for corners. A first 10 minute overtime half began to show both team’s level of exhaustion, but it was the second half that saw Hackley manage a snap shot that nicked off the underside of the crossbar and in for a 1-0 Dalton defeat.

 

This final marks the furthest the Girls Soccer team has progressed in the NYSAIS tournament. It was an amazing run that the girls should all be very proud of their team.

Congratulations GVS 2015!


Story Submitted by Sandy Taylor, High School Science Teacher and Athletics Coach