With playoffs looming later this week, Harrison and Mamaroneck closed out the regular season on Monday afternoon, battling to a 0-0 draw. But even though neither team was able to pick up one more win to strengthen their playoff position before sectionals start, the game served as one final test that should serve them well in during their upcoming stretch.
Harrison controlled the action throughout, peppering the Tigers’ Charlotte Daur with shots from the opening whistle until the final seconds, but Daur stood firm in net, turning away every Harrison chance and keeping a clean sheet on the day. Harrison coach Jon-Erik Zappala credited Daur for her play in net, but also noted that his own team played dominantly throughout, something belied by the final score.
“Mamaroneck played really well, and it was a great game by both teams, but we didn’t make the most of the opportunities we had,” said Zappala. “I think the team was cohesive, we did a great job building through the middle, but it really comes down to that final third and capitalizing on those chances.”
Duar made a whopping 16 saves for the Tigers while Harrison’s own net minder, Alexa Lacatena, had eight saves for the host Huskies.
With the draw, Mamaroneck finished the regular season with a record of 8-6-2 which is good enough to earn a No. 7 seed in the Class AAA playoffs. They will begin that journey on Friday afternoon with a game against a familiar foe in No. 10 New Rochelle. The Tigers and Huguenots squared off twice this year, with the Huguenots topping the Tigers twice, 1-0 and 3-1.
Harrison, on the other hand, finished the regular season with a record of 9-3-4, which is good enough for the No. 2 seed in the Class AA bracket, earning a weekend by in the process. The Huskies will be back in action on Tuesday, Oct. 28, when they host the winner of of No. 7 Ursuline and No 10 Fox Lane.
Heading into the playoffs, Zappala says that his Huskies need to be able to make the most of the moments that they weren’t able to against the Tigers, noting that it takes just one goal to change the complexion of an entire game.
“When you have those opportunities, you have to captialize on them, especially when you’re thinking about sectionals,” said the head coach. “Today, that’s the difference between a win and a tie, and if this were the playoffs, we’d be heading into overtime. Moving forward, that’s going to make or break and entire game.”
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