For much of Sunday’s Section 1 Class AA girls soccer championship, Harrison looked destined to come up short. But a spirited second-half resurgence gave the Huskies new life and nearly delivered the sectional title they had been chasing all season.
Ultimately, however, John Jay-Cross River had the final answer.
Freshman Sophya Papa scored with 3:36 remaining in double overtime, lifting the second-seeded Wolves to a dramatic 2-1 victory over fourth-seeded Harrison at Arlington High School on Nov. 1.
The winning sequence began with a free kick from Mykel Papa along the right sideline. Her delivery sailed toward the far post, where Lila Baker redirected the ball to Sophya Papa, who tapped home the championship winner.
It was John Jay’s first sectional championship since 2018. Yahoo Sports
The Wolves struck almost immediately, as Abby Mattiello converted a pass from Maye Viders in the second minute. John Jay dominated possession throughout the opening half, repeatedly testing Harrison’s defense.
Goalkeeper Samantha Mainland helped keep the Huskies within striking distance, including a crucial close-range save late in the half.
Harrison coach Jon-Erik Zappala made a tactical adjustment after intermission, providing additional defensive support without sacrificing offensive opportunities.
“I’m not surprised by the mental toughness we showed and I 100% thought they were going to come back and win this game, but that’s soccer,” Zappala said. “In the first half we had more of an offensive formation which made us a little weaker in the back, but in the second half we dropped into a formation where we were still offensive but had a little more support defensively.”
The adjustment paid dividends.
With 8:40 remaining in regulation, sophomore Natalie Chantrasuk collected a pass from Patrice Kierans during a fast break, firing through traffic into the right corner to tie the contest.
Suddenly, Harrison had momentum.
The Huskies registered three shots on goal during regulation’s final 90 seconds, but John Jay goalkeeper Evelyn Hermanto turned away every attempt.
Harrison maintained pressure through the first overtime, including a dangerous late header that Hermanto saved. The Wolves regained momentum in the second extra period before Papa’s decisive strike. Yahoo Sports
Despite the heartbreak, Harrison finished 12-6-2, overcoming regular-season injuries to reach its second consecutive sectional final. The Huskies also upset top-seeded Clarkstown South in the semifinals. AOL.com
John Jay advances to face Section 9 champion Warwick on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at Nyack.
For Harrison, meanwhile, there was pride amid the disappointment.
“It sucks, you know how it feels; they wanted the section, they envisioned winning the section and right now, they’re totally distraught,” Zappala said. “They know they could have gotten it, but they’re just looking forward to being together and just regrouping. They should be very proud of their season.”
