"We prepare students to engage in the world that is and to help bring about a world that ought to be."
STATE CHAMPS!
Boys Varsity Soccer Captures NYSAIS Title
Friends Seminary defeated Long Island Lutheran by a score of 2-0 on November 6, 2016 at Manhattanville College to win the School’s first ever NYSAIS State Championship in soccer. The state title was the culmination of an incredible season in which the Boys won their fourth straight regular season conference title, as well as their third consecutive conference tournament championship.
Warren Salandy, who captured his 201st career victory as head coach, said that solid defending by Jason Pitagorsky, Lucas Pryor, Declan Smith and Simon Love kept Long Island at bay. Will Cohen, Eli Eshaghpour and Martin Wilkinson combined well in the midfield to neutralize their skillful players. In transition, the trio were able to creatively and skillfully knit passes together to control the possessional play.
The front three of Jay Hickey, Yeshe Jurgaitis and Rio Hope-Gund were dynamic and kept Long Island’s defense on their toes all game. Rio pounced on a defensive blunder, out ran his defenders and slotted home a well placed strike to open the scoring with about 10 minutes left to play in the first half.
A second half injury to Friends’ stalwart center back Lucas Pryor resulted in a tactical shift with Rio being shifted to the center back position. Lucas later reentered the game as a forward. With 13 minutes to go in the match, Lucas picked up the ball outside the 18 yard box, dribbled pass his defender and perfectly placed his strike in the lower corner of the net. Goalkeeper Kofi Hope-Gund was unthreatened for most of the game, but pulled off a spectacular save to preserve the shutout.
Friends Seminary actively promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism in all its programs and operations, including admissions, financial aid, hiring, and all facets of the educational experience. To form a community which strives to reflect the world’s diversity, we do not discriminate on the basis of race or color, religion, nationality, ethnicity, economic background, physical ability, sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. Friends Seminary is an equal opportunity employer.
Friends Seminary — the oldest continuously operated, coeducational school in NYC — serves college-bound day students in Kindergarten-Grade 12.
