Photo: Steve Galluzzo
By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor
Two weeks ago, the Western League championship looked out of reach for the Palisades High boys soccer team, but with six straight victories the Dolphins put themselves back in the hunt heading into yesterday’s game at first-place Hamilton.
The Dolphins needed to beat Hamilton, then win their regular season finale at Westchester to have a shot at defending their title—a tall order given that the Yankees and Comets handed Palisades its only losses in the first round of Western League play.
Defense has keyed the team’s surge. The Dolphins have given up only three goals in their recent streak and have jumped from fourth to second in the standings.
In Monday’s final home game Taylor Strijdveen scored off an assist from Shane Thomas and Kyle Roberts scored 20 minutes later on a rebound after Mika Moreira hit the post to make it 2-0. Thomas scored early in the second half for the final margin.
The Pali High girls squad has coasted through league play and freshman Hannah Kalt continues to impress. After a four-goal game at University, she had an assist at Venice, three goals and two assists against Fairfax and a goal in Monday’s 5-0 win at LACES, giving her eight goals and three assists in four games.
The Dolphins host Westchester in their league finale Friday.
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