Rivals Byram Hills and Port Chester have already gone shoulder to shoulder twice this season in NYSPHSAA Section 1.
MaxPreps Photo by Jim Stout
One of the special aspects of varsity soccer is that, unlike football, rivals usually meet twice during the regular season.
That means a team that came up short the first time around will usually get a shot at redemption later in the season, often in an even more meaningful game either in terms of playoff seeding or a league title.
With that in mind, here's a look at some of
New York's better "Let's play two" rivalry games as the season approaches the midway point.
NSCAA/MaxPreps Soccer Players of the Week:Arlington vs. John Jay-East Fishkill: Arlington won the teams' first game on Tuesday, Sept. 16 as George Pogyo scored off a Dillon Ashong feed with 12 minutes to go in a 1-0 triumph at Arlington. The Dutchess County rivals meet again Sept. 30 at
John Jay-EF.Nanuet vs. Pearl River: The teams' annual football meeting bears a collegiate type name of "The Little Brown Jug." The soccer encounters are equally anticipated.
Nanuet enters the teams' first game, Monday, Sept. 22 at Nanuet, coming off a 1-0 overtime win over Spring Valley on a direct kick by Andrew Blutig. The second meeting is Oct. 14 at
Pearl River.Smithtown West vs. Half Hollow Hills West: Smithtown West won the first meeting between two of the top Class A teams both in Suffolk County and the entire state on Sept. 12 at
Hills West. Joe Inpostato and John Kazubowski each had a goal and an assist in the Bulls' 4-2 win. The teams meet again Oct. 6 at Smithtown West.
See all New York State soccer photo galleries.Williamsville East vs. Williamsville South: Lucas Principe netted the lone goal in host
Williamsville South's 1-0 win in Round 1. The second installment in the Battle of Williamsville will be Oct. 3 at
Williamsville East.
Lansing competed for a NYSPHSAAtitle last season in Middletown.
MaxPreps Photo by Jim Stout
Warwick vs. Washingtonville: These perennial Section 9 title contenders have had plenty of memorable games the last few years, with big implications.
Warwick was sectional runner-up last year.
Washingtonville won the section in 2013. In Round 1 last Thursday, Sept. 18, senior captain Nick Daigle had two goals and an assist as Warwick pulled away to beat Washingtonville, 3-0. Round 2 is Oct. 17 at Washingtonville in the next-to-last OCIAA Division II game for both teams.
Byram Hills vs. Port Chester: In a rarity at this point in the season, the teams have already completed their two regular-season games. The second meeting was Saturday, Sept. 20 at
Byram Hills' Homecoming, with
Port Chester completing a series sweep with a 2-0 win on goals by Luis Morales and Shevante Scott.
NYSPHSAA Soccer Playoff BracketsMassapequa vs. Syosset: Ryan Mescall's two-goal outing highlighted
Massapequa's 3-0 win over the Braves Sept. 18 at ‘Pequa. They meet again at
Syosset on Oct. 10.
Lansing vs. Trumansburg: Round 1 went to
Lansing 1-0 on Alex Purcell's goal of a corner kick late in the first half Sept. 16 at
Trumansburg. The Section 4 Interscholastic Athletic Division rivals go at it again Oct. 8 at Lansing.
Livonia vs. Hornell: The second game of the regular-season series will be under the lights on Friday, Sept. 26 at
Livonia, where Scotland native Ray Maxwell has led Livonia to an unbeaten start and No. 1 state ranking in Class B. The first Livonia-
Hornell meeting, played Sept. 16, was also a night game.
Fort Ann vs. Corinth: Fort Ann's defense of Garrett Bailey, Caleb Bush, Seth Godfrey and Jonah Gould have keyed a 5-0 start and was in full force in a shutout win over
Corinth at Fort Ann. Game 2 is Oct. 15 at Corinth.
Multimedia news and sports editor and producer Joe Lombardi is managing editor of the DailyVoice.com, as well as the primary author of the most recent edition of "Lacrosse for Dummies." Follow Joe on Twitter @Joe_Lombardi or e-mail jlombardi@dailyvoice.com
