Blind Brook boys’ varsity soccer team makes statement in homecoming game

October 5, 2023 at 1:06 a.m.

Blind Brook boys’ soccer seniors pose before their homecoming game Saturday night, Sept. 30. From left: Hudson McRedmond, Michael Bergman Annunziata, Tomo Yamano, Joaco Otero, Martin Otero, Eli Zimmerman, Seth Low, Ethan Leland, Coach Eric Brand. (Courtesy photo of Luis Lewis)

The Blind Brook boys’ varsity soccer team had a long week, playing games on Tuesday, Sept. 26, Wednesday the 27th, and Thursday the 28th. They faced Pleasantville on Tuesday, realizing a 2-0 win through goals from juniors Dylan McRedmond and Nico Palacios. The following day they took a tough 2-0 loss at Westlake before coming back and winning Thursday by a 4-1 score at Tuckahoe with two goals from Palacios, one from senior Martin Otero and another from junior Danny Wilk. Despite the successful week, the Trojans kept their eyes on Saturday night, their homecoming showdown against Scarsdale-B.

     

The rain cleared up for the game to be played on Sept. 30 in front of a packed blackout crowd to match the new black and red homecoming jerseys debuted by the team. The traditional rose ceremony started at 6:30, recognizing seniors Ethan Leland, Eli Zimmerman, Michael Berman Annunziata, Hudson McRedmond, Seth Low and senior captains Martin Otero, Tomo Yamano and Joaco Otero. After warming up as the crowd filed into their seats on the cold September night, the Trojans kicked it off and the game was underway.

The first 10 minutes of the game went by pretty evenly, with both teams settling in. Thirteen minutes into the game Scarsdale struck first on a through ball that was played to the striker, who was able to chip it high enough into the net. However, just 23 seconds later, with 27 minutes and 9 seconds left in the first half, Blind Brook was gifted a penalty kick and senior captain Martin Otero took it and put it straight through to tie the game. Just a few minutes later, Scarsdale was given a penalty kick off a questionable handball called in the box. However, junior goalkeeper Luka Cuk did what he does best and made a heroic diving save on the right side of the net to keep the game tied at 1-1.

Sixty-eight seconds after Cuk’s penalty save, Martin Otero came up big with a bullet from a distance into the bottom right corner of the Scarsdale net to electrify the crowd and boost Blind Brook to a 2-1 lead. The Trojans started to gain momentum and continued to put pressure on the Scarsdale defense that seemed to struggle to keep up. With just two minutes and 24 seconds left in the first half, Zimmerman found the ball and put it straight through into the net on a volley giving the Trojans a 3-1 lead going into halftime.

It did not take long for the boys of Blind Brook to extend their lead. Six minutes into the second half, Zimmerman picked up his second goal with a beautiful header into the bottom right corner of the net, giving the Scarsdale goalie no chance at it. Five minutes later, with 29 minutes and 36 seconds left in the game, he finished the hat trick and made it a 5-1 lead. However, Blind Brook wasn’t done. With 23 minutes left, junior Noah Brookman put a rocket into the top right corner, continuing the domination.

Junior Gavin Zislis came into the game and instantly made an impact. Sophomore Jack Shaw was tripped and took a free kick with 15 minutes remaining and placed it right into the box. Zislis was able to put it away with his head making it a 6-goal game. At this point all the seniors were out of the contest, and four minutes later every senior went into the game at once to a standing ovation from the Blind Brook crowd. With a minute and 57 seconds left in the game, senior captain Joaco Otero chipped it into the net and finished the perfect homecoming game. The final horn sounded and signified the Blind Brook Trojans winning 8-1 in a complete statement against Scarsdale-B. The crowd rushed the field and celebrated the homecoming success.

The Blind Brook boys’ varsity soccer team had a 7-2 record going into this week when they traveled to Briarcliff on Tuesday, Oct. 3 and were back at it two days later hosting Valhalla on Thursday, Oct. 5. On Saturday, Oct. 7, they will host Haldane at 1 p.m. followed by away games against Pleasantville on Monday, Oct. 9 and against Rye Neck on Wednesday, Oct. 11, both at 4:30 p.m. The Trojans continue to keep their hot streak up with the playoffs slowly creeping towards them.