Boys soccer: Byram Hills wallops Keio

November

Sorry for the delay. I had things to do late into the night last night and didn’t get time to get into the details of my game. At this point most of you have probably read my game story. If not you can find it here.

The gist is that what was supposed to be a close game was anything but. There was a little suspense at halftime when Kazumasa Ikenaga’s spectacular twirling goal against six defenders cut the lead to 2-1. But Byram cashed in a corner kick less than three minutes into the second half and it was all over.

Honestly, I wouldn’t have gone to this game if I knew there’d be a four-goal margin. For most of the year I’ve been assigned to games at the discretion of my editors. Finally in the playoffs I convinced them to send me to Byram, anticipating that it would be a great game. Whoops. The Monday morning quarterback would send me to Rye-Eastchester, which went to PKs.

Bottom line is Byram looks great. I know they haven’t done well against Rye this year but you still have to like them playing at home. Keio, while a little run down, is still one of the more disciplined teams around. The fact that Greg Shaheen carved them up so bad says something about Shaheen and Byram.

The last thing I wanted to mention was something I could only mention in passing in my article. Yesterday was the last game for Ikenaga, an underappreciated player because of the school he played for. Playing against bigger schools every day, Ikenaga put up 53 goals and 13 assists (25 and 10 this year) over the last two seasons. He singlehandedly saved Keio in a playoff against Pearl River last year and against Beacon this year. The guy had a tremendous shot and is definitely one of the best players I’ve seen in my couple of years covering boys soccer.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 4th, 2009 at 6:25 pm by Jake Thomases. | Email This Post

19 Responses to “Boys soccer: Byram Hills wallops Keio”

guest 2 November 4th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Jake, How would you compare Ikenaga to Hiroki Kobayashi from scarsdale? The kid is only a junior and phenominal at the stricker position.
torfw November 5th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Jake,
What about that soccer team up in Somers. They won the playin game against Pelham. Went to Pearl River (#3) came home with a win. The traveled over to the hostile environment at Lakeland (#6) and are still playing. It isn’t that far from the Journal News office to Purchase for the 2:00 pm game today. Give the Somers boys some credit for their accomplishments.
Really November 5th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Torfw,
Are you really that ridiculous? You sound like a child screaming, “Look at me! Look at me!” Let them do the talking for themselves, and if they can match the occasion then I am sure that there will be plenty to write about them come the final.
SoccerFan November 5th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
North Salem up 2-0 at half vs Solomon Schecter
guest 2 November 5th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
Anyone in Arlington??? or at Edgemont??
lawyerron November 5th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
Anyone at Byram?
SoccerFan November 5th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Final at North Salem – NS 3 Solomon Schechter 0
Pelican Fan November 5th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Byram hills beat rye 1-0 in the semis
....... November 5th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Greeley 3 JJEF 1
SoccerFan November 5th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Blind Brook 2, Valhalla 0
lazzo November 5th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
greeley wins again
NSFAN November 5th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
really miss the soccer specific coverage from last year. Lohud has definately taken a step back.

Any idea when the boys / girls all league & section teams get announced ?
J.Purdy November 5th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Arlington 2-0. Very competitive first half with Scarsdale having several good chances. Arlington took over in second half and had many excellent chances with Scarsdale keeper coming up big on a few shots. The Arlington defense shut down Kobiashyi and Penfold.
fan November 5th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
2-0 Rye Neck over Bronxville
asoccerfan November 5th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
It’s disappointing to have the only local source of High School athletic information decide that only football is worthy of coverage.
We all really miss the soccer coverage. The Journal News is becoming a less viable way to get our local news.
nice job November 5th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Sucks for Scarsdale. But, I would’ve loved to have seen a rematch from last year Arlignton vs. New Roo.
Jerome November 5th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
Edgemont:

#1 Ranked in State

11 straight shutouts
+47 that’s right +47 goal differential
Only loss to AA Mamaroneck in first game of season
Tied AA New Rochelle
Beat AA White Plains
Too busy to watch them Jake?
grinder November 5th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
Jerome,

Edgemont is a one man team (orden) who plays in class B. Why would Jake waste his precious soccer coverage on that garbage.
guest 2 November 6th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Grinder,
How can a game played with 11 men be a one man game???

Orden is good but their also 10 other players on the field…including the Goalie who is also a big reason for the shutouts!!!

It is a condition of your use of the comment features associated with the blogs that you do not: Use the site to post or transmit any unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane or indecent information of any kind, including without limitation any transmissions constituting or encouraging conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any local, state, national or international law. You alone are responsible for the material you post or send. Refer to the Terms of Service.