The energy of Homecoming 2025 set the tone, with spirited games, cheering fans, and standout moments on the field, including a thrilling Girls Volleyball win and Varsity Football’s dominant victory over Horace Mann.

The season was highlighted by Girls Soccer’s appearance in the NYSAIS Championship game for the first time since 2017, Girls Volleyball’s standout campaign and second-place finish in the Ivy League, and Cross Country setting new program records, including record-breaking performances by the Boys team.

With thrilling victories, record-setting performances, and unforgettable playoff moments, Dalton Athletics celebrated a fall season full of pride and achievement.

Girls Soccer delivered another incredible season, highlighted by multiple overtime wins and a memorable playoff run. After capturing back-to-back Ivy League titles in the past two years, Dalton finished the regular season with a 9–5 overall record and a third-place league finish. Entering the NYSAIS postseason as the #3 seed, the Tigers rolled through the early rounds with a 7–0 win over the French American School of New York and a 2–0 quarterfinal victory over Horace Mann. In the semifinals, Dalton avenged two earlier losses to #2 Hackley with a dominant 4–1 performance. After conceding an early goal, the Tigers responded with four unanswered to secure their first NYSAIS Championship appearance since 2017. Facing top-seeded Poly Prep in the final, Dalton battled hard in a competitive 3–1 match, capping a remarkable season and unforgettable playoff run.

Girls Volleyball also enjoyed one of its strongest seasons in recent years, finishing second in the Ivy League with an outstanding 15–2 regular-season record. The team opened the year by capturing the season-opening Invitational Tournament with wins over Brearley and Dwight and delivered one of the fall’s signature moments with a thrilling 3–2 Homecoming victory over Trinity in front of a packed crowd. With only two regular-season losses — both to eventual state champion Poly Prep — Dalton entered the postseason as the #2 seed, earning a bye before facing Trinity once again in the quarterfinals. Despite a hard-fought effort in their third meeting of the season, Dalton’s postseason run came to an end, concluding an impressive campaign marked by consistency, energy, and teamwork.

Cross Country turned in a record-setting season on both the Boys and Girls sides. At the Manhattan Invitational — the largest cross-country meet on the East Coast — the Boys team finished 61st overall out of 191 schools and set a new Dalton record for fastest five-runner average. Senior Holden MacDougall led the way with the second-fastest time ever by a Dalton runner (13:19). At the Ivy League Championships, the Boys team placed three runners in the top 10, including MacDougall (13:21.20), senior Gabe Ponichter (13:57.10), and junior Christopher Schaaf (13:58.00). On the Girls side, freshman Malaika Toreki also earned a top-10 finish (16:49.70). The Boys capped their outstanding season with a program-best 3rd-place finish at the NYSAIS Championships, led once again by MacDougall, who placed 4th overall and set a new school 5K record (16:38.8), qualifying for the New York State Federation Meet.

Football, Boys Soccer, and Girls Tennis each had competitive seasons with standout performances along the way. Football battled through a challenging schedule and delivered a thrilling 19–0 Homecoming win over Horace Mann on Randall’s Island — a highlight of the fall for the entire Dalton community. Boys Soccer, led by a young core, showed steady progress and resilience in every match, gaining valuable experience for the future. Girls Tennis rebounded from a tough start with a strong run in the Ivy Tournament. Dalton fell just short against #2 Trinity in the opening round before defeating Riverdale with a decisive 3–1 victory in the second-round matchup.

As the fall season concludes, the Dalton teams now turn their focus to the winter. Stay tuned to the Dalton Athletics website for schedules, scores, and team updates — and continue to cheer on our athletes all year long.