The Pearl River girls cross country team's streak of section championships came to an end a year ago, but the Pirates did not take long to start a new one.
Pearl River won the girls team title in Class B at the Section 1 Cross Country Championships Friday at Bowdoin Park, the Pirates 34th team title in 35 years, though it was close.
Pearl River needed a tiebreaker to beat out John Jay-Cross River. The Pirates placed four runners among the top 10 finishers and five among the top 13, including a team-best second-place finish by senior Kelly Hayes in 19:27.35. Tappan Zee senior Erin Jaskot finished first overall in 18:53.13.
In the boys meet, it was Tappan Zee taking the team title and Pearl River winning an individual championship in Class B. Brian Cook won the race in 16:15.71, but the Dutchmen had Luke Gavigan second and Liam Burke third to help them beat out the Pirates for the team title for the second consecutive season. It was the 25th consecutive season Pearl River finished in the top two in the section. The Pirates have won 16 section championships in that span.
Read more about the meet and full results here.
Cook and teammate Mike Mahoney will join the girls team in competing at the NYSPHSAA New York State Championships Saturday at Queensbury High School in Queensbury New York. The Class B boys race is scheduled for 10:15 a.m., with the Class B girls at 11:55 a.m.
Pearl River Boys Soccer Falls in Finals
The Pearl River boys soccer team didn't open the season with the expectations of some previous Pirates teams, but managed to put recent early playoff disappointments behind them to make a run to the Section 1 Class A championship game against Pelham Friday at Arlington.
The Pirates built off strong senior leadership and a veteran defense, but they could not overcome one early breakdown in a 1-0 loss to Pelham. Aidan Miller scored for the Pelicans less than 10 minutes in and his team made it hold up. Pelham's coach and players spoke admiringly of Pearl River's tenacity. Pearl River Head Coach Damon O'Keefe wasn't ready to say much through the disappointment of seeing this group's run come to an end.
"These guys are the best," O'Keefe said. "I love these guys. They are an awesome group to work with."
Four-Time State Champs End Pearl River Field Hockey Season
The Pearl River field hockey program took major steps forward in 2013, winning its first league championship and setting team standards for victories in a season and highest playoff seed. The Pirates started slowly, with two losses and a tie in their first three games, then ripped off a 13-game unbeaten streak that finally came to an end with a 9-0 loss at four-time defending state champion Lakeland Friday.
The Pirates' rise may just be beginning. The team's top defender, Deirdra O'Malley, is part of a solid senior class, but the Pirates relied heavily on a junior class that included top scorer Courtney Ocasal and goalie Annie McBride this season. Pearl River will return most of key players, especially on offense, for another run in 2014.
Fast Turnaround
There is not much of a break for the student athletes who play fall and winter sports. The first day of winter sports practice in Section 1 is Nov. 12.
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