B.B. boys’ varsity soccer team undefeated after big week 2

September 18, 2024 at 10:32 p.m.

Captain Nico Palacios strikes the ball at a Hastings defender in Blind Brook’s Friday, Sept. 13 home game which ended in a 2-0 victory for the Trojans. Palacios scored one of those two goals. (Joseph DeCarlo/Westmore News)

The Blind Brook boys’ varsity soccer team had high hopes coming into a heavy second week of the 2024 season. Following an easy 7-0 win over Putnam Valley on Friday, Sept. 6, the Trojans knew they were going to be facing bigger tests.

A weekend off plus a practice on Monday brought the Trojans to gameday on Tuesday, Sept. 10. The Trojans made the trip out to Scarsdale to face their B-team, expecting to make noise for their second win of the year. Remaining with their 4-3-3 formation featuring a center-defensive midfielder, the Trojans’ game plan remained the same as it did the previous week. A slow start from the Trojans for a majority of the first half ended when captain Nico Palacios broke the game open with a goal. It was senior Cooper Schloss who made the play to get it to Palacios, who was wide open on the right goalpost. Senior Noah Brookman made noise, scoring two goals and giving the Trojans a comfortable lead going into the endgame. Senior Cameron Scott iced the game with a goal after the Scarsdale keeper’s costly mistake. Blind Brook senior goalkeeper Luka Cuk had four saves, and the Trojans cruised to an easy 4-0 victory.

Back at it the very next day, the Trojans faced a tall task against the Harrison Huskies in their home opener. Harrison, a class AA team, is a skilled squad that plays in a much higher division than the Trojans, facing tough competition. However, the Trojans came into the game with confidence and, backed by their home crowd, had high expectations. The game remained even for the first 20 minutes, both sides having multiple key chances to capitalize, but it was the Huskies who struck first, taking the early lead. This early edge did not last long, as Brookman struck not once but twice in the 34th minute. Assisted by Dylan McRedmond and So Achiwa, Brookman’s two goals in 33 seconds completely turned the game around.

Junior Noah Becher continued the momentum in the 39th minute after finishing a beautiful cross from Palacios with his chest. The Trojans went into halftime with energy, and the home crowd was on its feet.

A minute and 11 seconds after halftime, Brookman fed Palacios who was able to finish it off and give the Trojans a 4-1 lead. However, the Huskies began building their way back, and despite a penalty save from Cuk in the 56th minute, the Huskies came all the way back. The Trojans, who at one point in the game had a 3-goal lead on the Class AA Huskies, found themselves in a tied game. The intense few minutes boiled down and the game ended in a 4-4 draw.

    Determined defender Zach Taerstein throws the ball into play in Blind Brook’s Friday, Sept. 13 home game against Hastings.
 By Joseph DeCarlo   

The Trojans, despite drawing against a skilled, high-level team, took this result as a loss. Despite blowing a 3-goal lead, multiple starting players had to exit the game with cramps. The next day, practice was used as a recovery day to get healthy in time for the Hastings Yellow Jackets to come to town on Friday, Sept. 13.

The Hastings team was a skilled squad featuring an impressive goalkeeper. Right off the kickoff, center-defensive midfielder Achiwa sent a long ball to Palacios, who was robbed of a goal by the left foot of the Jackets. The first half flew by, with multiple big chances but nothing coming from it. However, in the 55th minute, junior Jack Shaw placed a beautiful ball right over the Hastings defense to the feet of Palacios, who put it away for a 1-0 Blind Brook lead. Twenty minutes later, with only five minutes remaining in the game, Brookman stole the ball from the Hastings center back and took it to the net, beating the keeper and icing the game for a 2-0 Trojans win.

The Trojans celebrated the successful week that night, enjoying dinner and some FIFA tournaments. Their annual car wash took place the next day to raise money for Project Adam. Project Adam’s goal is to assist schools in developing emergency plans in the event of a cardiac arrest.

The festivities, however, did not last long. The Trojans are ready to get back to work, hosting Croton-Harmon on Thursday, Sept. 19. They travel to Briarcliff on Saturday, Sept. 21 for an 11 a.m. matchup. They then host Haldane on Monday, Sept. 23 at 4:30 p.m. before their long-awaited homecoming matchup on Friday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. against Valhalla.