Sports Recap

Sports Recap

Photo Credit: Simon Toffell

by James Stewart, Sports Beat Manager

Football: The Glen Rock Panthers have once again jumped out to a great start to the season with a record of 4-2. After Week One, 36-0 debacle against Rutherford, the Panthers straightened the ship with a dominant 42-6 win over Lodi, and a marquee 14-10 victory over rival Pompton Lakes. The roller coaster start to the year continued into the first day of October as the Panthers trailed the Bears of Hawthorne High School by a score of 9-3 at halftime, yet the game ended with the Bears victorious by a score of 37-3. Following their second loss of the season, the Panthers once again went back to the drawing board and dominated the next two games, outscoring New Milford and Manchester by a combined score of 79-6. The Panthers concluded the regular season Friday  Oct. 28, at Lyndhurst High School. If the Panthers qualify for the state playoffs, their first playoff game will be Friday, Nov. 5, with both the location and their opponent to be announced (brackets released on both nj.com and gridironnewjersey.com).

 

Girls Soccer: The most successful team in fall sports so far has been the varsity girls soccer team. Out to an amazing 13-3-1 start to the year, the girls sit in second place in the NJIC Colonial Division. Young talent has been a key component of the Panthers success this season as freshman Nicole Crane leads the team in points with 31 (10 goals and 11 assists), and sophomore Ryan Doyle leads the team with 11 goals. The Panthers only defeats have come to state powerhouse Immaculate Heart Academy (IHA), Pascack Valley, and rival Hawthorne who boasts a record of 13-2. In their second meeting of the season, Hawthorne entered the game 13-0, yet the Panthers prevailed, and handed Hawthorne their first loss of the season. Along with the outstanding offense, the Panthers have relied on their experienced defense to help lead the way. Senior captains Jillian Luftman, and Sophia Pappalardo have been the anchors of the defense this season, as Pappalardo produced an eye popping 12 shutouts in goal over the Panthers first 16 games. The Panthers finish up the regular season this week, with two more games, both on Thursday (vs. Pascack Valley) and Friday (at Garfield). Lastly, the girls are set to open their state tournament run at home as the No. 2 seed Tuesday, Nov. 2 vs. No. 15 seed Midland Park.

 

Boys Soccer: At 10-8-1 the boys soccer team has been experiencing a roller coaster ride of their own this season. Despite falling short of reaching the Bergen County Tournament, the boys have run through the Bergen County Cup as the No. 3 seed. The Panthers have defeated Ridgefield Park, Old Tappan, and Rutherford on their way to a championship game matchup at Glen Rock High School on Saturday, Oct. 30 vs. Pascack Valley. While the Panthers will fall short of a league title as they currently sit in 4th place in the NJIC, their hopes for a state championship live on. The Panthers qualified for the state tournament as the No. 4 seed and will take on No. 13 seed Lenape Valley at Glen Rock High School on Monday, Nov. 1. The Panthers will continue to lean on their all around star, junior captain, Owen Neubart. Neubart leads the team in goals with a whopping 19, and has 14 assists to his name as well. The defense has been led by senior captain, Kenneth Vergel de-Dios, and first year goalie, sophomore, Zachary Sturiale who has 77 saves over his 17 games in net. Prior to their state tournament matchup with Lenape Valley and their Bergen County Cup championship vs. Pascack Valley, the Panthers wrapped up the regular season against Garfield on Oct. 29.

 

Volleyball: The Panthers volleyball team has continued the winning ways of all fall sports teams in the school, with an impressive record of their own at 14-3. The Panthers finished the regular season in sole possession of second place in the NJIC Colonial division, behind league champions Rutherford, who took the season series against the Panthers 2-0. Senior captain, Hope Lagemann, has centered the Panthers from both an offensive and defensive standpoint as she leads the team with 134 kills, 49 aces, and 21 blocks. Lagemann’s fellow captain, senior Faith Mascari, has also played a big role for the Panthers, leading the team in digs with 126. The Panthers finished their regular season with a matchup against Garfield at Garfield High School on Oct. 27. Mascari, and Lagemann will lead the team into the state tournament, as the No. 3 seed, and will play their opening game at Glen Rock on Monday, Nov. 1 against No. 11 seed Bergen Charter.