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Written by: Adam Katcher

Published: 12 October 2021

Created: 12 October 2021

Last Updated: 12 October 2021

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Scarsdale remedies poor first-half performance with five second-half goals to earn 5-1 victory over Clarkstown South on October 11th. Following a historically phenomenal start to the season – with whispers of becoming one of the top-ranked teams in the state swirling around – the Scarsdale Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team hit their biggest bump close to playoffs. After going 8-1-1 in the first 10 matches of the season, the Raiders now find themselves with nine wins, two draws, and two losses.

Following the 3-0 victory over Clarkstown North to give the Raiders their eighth win of the season, Scarsdale made the always-difficult journey to take on Mamaroneck at their stadium. A slightly slow first-half performance from the visitors saw the hosts take a 2-0 lead.

The second half, however, was a completely different story. A rejuvenated Scarsdale found themselves level in the early stages of the second period of play thanks to goals from underclassmen Lorenzo Galeano and Henry Mcallister. Scarsdale dominated the rest of the match, but they could not find a third goal. In double overtime, the hosts took the victory with a goal against the run of play, leaving the Raiders empty-handed and with their second defeat of the season.

Two days later, on October 7th, the Raiders hosted New Rochelle, a team Scarsdale beat 3-1 a couple of weeks prior. Despite a strong performance when it came to maintaining possession and limiting the opposition’s goal-scoring threat, the Raiders could not find the back of the net. Big chances went awry, both overtimes were played, and the two sides had to share the spoils. The draw against the rivals was significantly better than a loss would have been, but the high expectations Scarsdale has for themselves this season made the result feel disappointing.

At 8-2-2, a healthy seeding for playoffs is still more than just tenable, but prospects of finishing as the number one or two seed – and thus guaranteeing home-field advantage until the section final (played at a neutral venue) – have almost vanished. Still, a high seeding is optimal for many reasons (avoiding teams who fared well during the regular season until later rounds, home-field advantage during the earlier rounds, etc.). A slip-up could not be afforded in the Raider’s following match, an away match at Clarkstown South.

Scarsdale’s first-half performance in that October 11th match against Clarkstown South was calamitous, abject, poor – and any other negative word that comes to mind. There is no sugar coating that the Raiders were playing way below the level they should have been considering their talent. Even though a couple of key players were missing (including Eli Gelblum, who had to serve his one-match suspension for picking up three yellow cards – none of which were malicious, and rather just unfortunate collisions - over the course of the season), there was no excusing the horrific performance which saw Clarkstown South heading into the break up 1-0. Had it not been for a smart save by co-captain Rowan Haffner early on in the match, the deficit would have been larger.

When Scarsdale lost to Arlington, the defeat was harsh: Scarsdale were not necessarily “outplayed.” They were not “outplayed” in the grand scheme of the match in the defeat to Mamaroneck. But, in the first half against Clarkstown South, Scarsdale was outplayed. Brutally honest words at halftime were said, complacency was washed away, and a tactical adjustment was made. After the second 40 minutes of the match, the Raiders left as victors by a score of 5-1, more than just learning their lesson from the first half. Co-captain Kian Batliwalla scored a hat trick in the process of making Scarsdale 9-2-2.

And so, in the final week of the regular season – the final campaign for the team’s 15 seniors – a grandstand finale to this year’s SHS Boys’ soccer journey is in the cards. With playoffs around the corner (and a regular-season rematch against Mamaroneck scheduled for October 15th), all eyes will remain intently on this Raider’s team to see how far they will go.

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Written by: Adam Katcher

Published: 05 October 2021

Created: 05 October 2021

Last Updated: 05 October 2021

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Senior goalkeeper Rowan Haffner makes a stellar fingertip save to preserve 2-0 lead against Carmel.With the end of the regular season less than two weeks away, seeding for playoffs is on everyone’s mind. Getting the number one or two seed can have priceless effects, as doing so gives a team home-field advantage throughout the playoffs (with the section final played at a neutral venue). The 12th man of a home crowd could prove to make the difference between progression to the next round and the end of some senior’s soccer careers. The magnitude of every playoff match cannot be ignored.

The idea that any match can be the last is not in mind just yet. Claiming the number one or two seed, building a head of steam ahead of playoffs, grabbing the sweet taste of victory on any given day, and climbing up the state rankings are the more imminent thoughts. This Scarsdale soccer team has had its best start under Marcos Monteagudo and Co. since his arrival in 2019, and it is no coincidence the Raiders have found success this year and are perfectly set up for many strong seasons to come.

The team is now 8-1-1, but the one defeat could be the match of greatest magnitude. On September 21st, the team made the 50+ mile journey north to face off against Arlington. Despite performing strong on their travels, the Raiders left empty handed, receiving their first (and so far, only) loss of the season.

Defeat always tastes bitter. Even in a respectable performance, a loss never feels good. But this loss held a heavier weight than the first defeat in previous seasons. Perhaps it was because Scarsdale striker Leo Khang scored his first varsity goal to cut Arlington’s 2-goal lead in half with a few minutes remaining, giving the Raiders late hope of stealing a draw. Perhaps it was due to traveling so far and missing class to then walk away with nothing. But, most likely, the taste of defeat was stronger than usual because of Scarsdale’s high expectations and tremendous talent. The loss resonated on the sidelines before the team boarded the bus when the feeling of defeat sunk in. In the regular season, picking up zero points from a match sucks but is, in the grand scheme of things, not too big of a deal. In the playoffs, however, one defeat means everything is over. The silent consensus among the players was, “let’s never have this feeling again this season.”

Following the one loss, the Raiders have been unstoppable. Two days after the Arlington match, the Raiders hosted Ketcham on their temporary Quaker Ridge home and brushed the visitors aside by a resounding 5-0 score-line. On September 25th, Scarsdale took another trip north to face off against Carmel, a team who had only known victory until that match. Goals from Trevor Cohn and Eli Gelblum in the first ten minutes of play were all that was needed to secure the 2-0 victory and end the opposition’s golden start to the season. Rowan Haffner also made a memorable diving finger-tip save, providing a reminder of how difficult it is to break down the Scarsdale defense, and that if Haffner’s fellow co-captains Luke Peltz and Kian Batliwalla, as well as the rest of the defensive unit, are unable to stop an opposition attack (and such occurrences are few and far between), then the final wall is also extremely sturdy and unwilling to crack.

Scarsdale ended Carmel's perfect start to the season on September 25th.

Then came a clash against John Jay East Fishkill, a team who sat near the top of both local and state rankings. On September 27th, at Quaker Ridge, the Raiders sent yet another message to the section, comfortably beating them 3-0, propelled by two phenomenal finishes from Khang.

Scarsdale beat New Rochelle on the opposition’s turf two days later after a shaky first half was erased and remedied by a stronger second half. Two days after that, Scarsdale brushed by Mount Vernon – a match in which all members of the talented Varsity squad received valuable minutes.

On October 2nd, the Raiders returned to Butler Field following their successful spell at Quaker Ridge. No readjusting to the surface was needed as three second-half goals gave Scarsdale a 3-0 victory over Clarkstown North. However, this match cannot be discussed without mentioning the 12th-man of a large, noisy student crowd. Quaker Ridge might provide a more unique field, but the Scarsdale High School turf allows for a prime atmosphere.

Five matches separate Scarsdale from the playoffs. They will do everything they can to secure the home field advantage. As is a common sentiment amongst the older players on the team, this is the best Scarsdale Varsity Boys’ Soccer Team in recent memory. There is no questioning they have the ability to go far. Nonetheless, the team knows that despite their historically strong start, the gas pedal needs to continue to be pressed with increasing ferocity.

Text and photo by Adam Katcher.

Reporter Adam Katcher is a senior and student athlete at Scarsdale High School.

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 29 September 2021

Created: 29 September 2021

Last Updated: 29 September 2021

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The following petition was presented to the Mayor and Board of Trustees by Elizabeth Bardt-Pellerin at their September 28, 2021 meeting. The petition had 138 signatures:

Dear Madame Mayor,
We, the residents living on or near Sprague Road in Edgewood, would like to bring to your attention the increased speeding and noise on Sprague Road.

Speeding conditions on Sprague Road, Scarsdale

As recently as June there was yet another accident at a Sprague Rd intersection; this time it was Sprague and Bell. Besides the many near accidents at various Sprague intersections in the past it is time once again to ask the Village to take additional steps to mitigate the increasingly dangerous situation of speeding vehicles on Sprague Rd. The demographics of this densely populated neighborhood have changed with an increasing number of homeowners with young children. Young families can be seen with children in strollers or on their bicycles on their way to Davis Park.
It is time to go beyond the formulaic responses and address the actual conditions of the locations.

Lack of Visibility

1. Sprague Rd is unusual as it has a significant downward west to east grade which contributes to the lack of visibility for drivers crossing Sprague from side roads.

2. Sprague Rd is also very narrow and the visibility is also impeded by any parked vehicle.

Increase in Traffic

3. Aside from the usual landscaping and maintenance trucks, there has been a significant increase of traffic due to delivery trucks serving local residents. These vehicles park on Sprague and block the view.

4. Sprague Rd is also dangerous due to the number of commercial and construction vehicles which use Sprague as a speedy shortcut from Eastchester to New Rochelle.

Dangerous for Children and Pedestrians

5. There are only 2 four way stop signs (Nelson and Clarence) on a road with 10 intersections. Locust Avenue in Eastchester on the other hand, has 9 four-way stops! No wonder we get all the traffic from Eastchester and New Rochelle in addition to traffic in our own dense area.

Some possible solutions

- 4-way stops at ALL 10 intersections to avoid ambiguity.
- trucks restricted to local delivery with adequate signage.

As residents living on or near Sprague, we strongly urge the Village Board to consider implementing all measures necessary to restore the residential character of Sprague Rd.

We want our residential neighborhood back!

Respectfully yours,

The undersigned,
Elisabeth Bardt-Pellerin, 155 Madison Road
Dominique Pellerin, 155 Madison Road
Christine Cohen, 61 Sprague Road
Linda MacKenzie, 57 Sprague Road
Malcolm MacKenzie, 57 Sprague Road

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 20 September 2021

Created: 20 September 2021

Last Updated: 20 September 2021

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On September 14th, Volunteer Fire Company 3 presented Billy and his wife Robin Schultz with a donation of $1000 for Hunters CMT4B3 Research Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity, founded by the Schultz family to raise awareness of CMT and fund research to find treatments for CMT4B3 and related neuromuscular disorders.

Billy is a long time resident of Scarsdale and a 30 year veteran firefighter with Scarsdale Volunteer Fire Company 3. His son Brett also served as a volunteer firefighter and Brett’s four year-old son Hunter has been diagnosed with a degenerative neuromuscular disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Type 4B3 (CMT4B3). Donations will support research and a life-saving gene therapy for Hunter.

Contribute here

Their Story:

In May 2020 after a three year diagnostic odyssey, Hunter was diagnosed with an extremely debilitating neuromuscular disease: Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Type 4B3.The doctors said there was no cure and no treatments. They told the Schultz’s to go home, love Hunter and come back in a year to monitor the progression of this muscle wasting disease.

Untreated, Hunter’s muscles will progressively waste away and he will no longer be able to move his legs, arms or hands. He will painfully suffer full paralysis, limb deformities and possibly go blind.

Rather than sit back and watch Hunter slowly deteriorate, the family made a promise to Hunter that they would not give up on him, no matter what barriers stood in their way.

Hunter is your typical social 4 year old who loves playing in the backyard, swimming and playing with his matchbox cars. He wears orthotics to stabilize his walking and glasses for vision. When he was born he appeared to be a healthy little boy. Unfortunately like many genetic diseases, there were no signs that anything was initially wrong. Within a few months of his birth his parents noticed that Hunter was missing certain milestones in his development, late to roll over, crawl, and then walk. However, all of his doctors told them to “wait, he will catch up.” After three years of searching for answers, they were totally blindsided when the geneticist called with the devastating diagnosis of CMT4B3 and said to “brace ourselves for what we would read on the internet.”

The Schultz’s sat at the computer day and night reaching out to scientists worldwide. They immersed themselves in research to learn all they could about CMT4B3 and the rapidly evolving field of genetic therapeutics.
They learned that a coding error in one single gene, known as SBF1, was causing an important protein in Hunter’s body to become nonfunctional. They found that the scientific community was making astonishing discoveries to correct genetic mutations and announcing daily breakthroughs and new medical treatments. It was possible that using gene therapy they could stop the progression of the disease. It was also possible to repurpose an existing FDA approved drug as a treatment.

Within just a few months, they read hundreds of articles, spoke with doctors from around the world and held the first International CMT4B3 Research Symposium attended by over 25 renowned scientists. Over the course of one day, they created a research roadmap and a plan for a treatment. Now, they are racing against time and doing everything possible to find a cure.

The sad truth is that rare disease research is almost completely parent driven and parent funded. If they want to find a cure, they must find scientists and fund their research.

CMT affects approximately 3 million people worldwide and about 150,000 people in the U.S. It affects the same amount of people who have Multiple Sclerosis and 10x more than ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). CMT is the most prevalent Peripheral Nerve disease that no one has ever heard of! Symptoms of CMT usually start in the third or fourth decade of one's life, caused by the deterioration of the protective coating around the nerves. This is called neuropathy. Hunter had neuropathy at birth, which is why his type is classified as a severe-rare early onset form of CMT.

To find a cure, they founded Hunters CMT4B3 Research Foundation to bring hope to thousands of children suffering from early onset peripheral nerve diseases. In less than a year, they founded a non-profit, established a world-renowned Scientific Advisory Board, became a patient resource with the Peripheral Nerve Society, have two gene therapy projects underway, established a CMT4B3 biorepository and registry, are in the process of developing pre-clinical tools, including CMT4B3 mouse models and targeted cutting edge, expert driven research projects at renowned hospitals and universities worldwide.

They are grateful to all the doctors and scientists for giving them hope and thankful to friends, family, communities, neighbors, and complete strangers who are helping fund our research. Gene therapy and drug discovery costs anywhere from $5-$8 million dollars to develop. The CMT4B3 Research Foundation is composed of 100% volunteers with no salaries and no overhead costs. Operational costs are covered by the co-founders, therefore 100% of donations go towards research.

This is the only foundation driving research for patients and families who are fighting CMT4B3 and related neurological disorders. Click here to watch their story.

Please help them in any way you can!
Send your contributions to hunterstribe.org