Written by S. Quinn DeJoy and J. Murrer

Nov. 5, 2014: Training, hard work, and determination are paying off for the Bronco girls. After completing near-perfect regular seasons, the soccer, field hockey, and cross country teams have carried their winning ways into the post-season.

The cross country team qualified for states this past weekend with a first-place finish at the Class C Section 1 Championships at Bowdoin Park. It was the 18th consecutive sectional title for the Broncos and 28th win overall since 1981. Bronxville won with a score of 27 and was followed by Briarcliff (73) and Dobbs Ferry (103).

Five girls from five different grades scored for the Broncos: sophomore Kaitlin Ryan (1st), senior Delia Hayes (2nd), freshman Olivia Scotti (4th), junior Hilary Rizzo (8th), and eighth-grader Gigi Chrappa (13th). Rounding out the varsity team were Carlie Hoffer (14th) and Saige Sunier (22nd).

The Broncos will head to the New York State Championship this coming Saturday at SUNY Canton. Bronxville has won six straight state titles but will face stiff competition this year. Western New York's East Aurora High School has been given the number-one seed by the New York Sportswriters Association; Bronxville is ranked number two.

The girls' soccer team ousted number-two Briarcliff on Saturday to clinch the Class B sectional title despite the cold and windy weather. In the game held at Arlington High School, the Broncos started off against the wind and Briarcliff took full advantage. The Bears dominated in the first ten minutes with multiple shots on the goal, but keeper Charley Warble came up big with two saves early on.

With a little more than 18 minutes left in the first half, a Briarcliff foul on Caitlin Fryer gave the Broncos a free kick. Going against the wind from the left side of the field, co-captain Killian Donohue managed to find the top right corner of the net to give the Broncos a 1-0 lead.

"Once Killian scored her first goal, we took over the momentum of the game," said Coach Don Cupertino. The Broncos then went on to score two more goals, one by senior Lucy Kohlhoff and a second by Donohue. Kohlhoff scored despite suffering a broken wrist in the sectional semifinal game on Thursday.

"In the game against Albertus, I went up for the ball and fell on my wrist," said Kohlhoff. "I was kind of nervous I was going to fall on it again, but I just really tried to forget about it."

The Broncos will face the winner of Spackenkill/Seton Catholic in the regional finals on Sunday at 4:00 pm at Arlington High School, and if they win that game, they will head to the state championship on November 15 and 16 in Cortland.

Warble, a five-year varsity player and three-year starter, was an eighth-grader when the Bronco soccer team won the state championship. Warble and her teammates would love to get there again.

"It would be unreal if we got to states," said Warble. "I can't even imagine it. We are taking it game by game, but it is definitely on everyone's mind."

The field hockey team will advance to the sectional finals after defeating Valhalla 3-0 in the quarterfinal and Pleasantville 2-1 in the semifinal. In the home game against Valhalla on Saturday, Caroline DePaul scored two goals, Briana Alberghine scored one, and Ellie Walsh had two assists.

In the sectional semifinal game yesterday, the Broncos defeated the Panthers 2-1. The Broncos did not score until six minutes into the second half when on a penalty corner Alberghine scored off an assist from DePaul. One minute later Alberghine scored again on a penalty corner with an assist from Lily Grass. Pleasantville scored with six minutes left in the game but the Broncos defense was able to hold them to only one goal.

The Section 1 Class C finals will be held at Brewster High School on Thursday evening at 7:30 pm. The Broncos will go up against Pawling, the defending Class C Champions.

Go Broncos.

Pictured here (rotating): The varsity girls' soccer team wins the Class B sectional title (two photos by Kathie Donohue); the girls' cross country team wins the Class C Section 1 Championships (photo by Jane Ircha); the girls' field hockey team wins the sectional semifinal game (photo by J. Murrer).