Westlake and Pleasantville Face Diverse Playoff Paths in Section 1
Football and soccer teams from the area face distinct challenges as they advance through the state tournament brackets.
By Marco Kapoor ·
Westlake and Pleasantville athletes enter the Section 1 playoffs with contrasting prospects. The undefeated Westlake Wildcats, currently ranked fifth in the state, hold the top seed in Class A football. Their path to the championship game on November 14 at North Rockland appears favorable, though they must first navigate a potential matchup against the Pelham Pelicans. The Wildcats are favored to defeat the Pearl River Pirates in the semifinals, a game where Westlake’s running back Harry Hudd is expected to exploit defensive gaps. If Westlake advances, they would face Pelham in the final, a contest that only Putnam Valley or Byram Hills could prevent by stopping the Pelicans earlier in the bracket.
In Class C football, the Pleasantville Panthers face a more difficult road. Ranked 16th in the state, the team received a first-round bye but must confront the unranked Valhalla Vikings in the semifinals. The Vikings, who will likely have their key player Foisset available, possess a strong rushing attack that could overwhelm Pleasantville’s defense. To reach the November 14 final against top-seeded Bronxville, Pleasantville must execute its gang-tackling strategy against Valhalla’s senior running back Connor Day. The Panthers’ success hinges on containing Valhalla’s offensive line, a task that has historically been difficult.
The Pleasantville girls’ soccer team holds the strongest position in the regional competitions. Ranked first in the state with a 15-1 record, the Panthers are the clear favorites in the Class B tournament. They will play their semifinal match against fourth-seeded Croton on October 31 at Arlington High School. The Panthers have not faced Croton during the regular season, but their scoring duo of senior Faith Brown and sophomore Samantha Schultz, both 100-goal scorers, provides a significant advantage. The team aims to reach the final, where they would likely face the winner between second-seeded Briarcliff and fourth-seeded Blind Brook.
The Pleasantville boys’ soccer team faces a steeper challenge in the same Class B bracket. Ranked 14th with a 12-2-1 record, the Panthers were upset by Croton 5-3 just over 10 days ago, although they have since secured a 3-1 victory in their most recent meeting. They must defeat Croton in the quarterfinals before potentially facing second-seeded Irvington in the semifinals. The championship game on November 1 at Mahopac High could pit Pleasantville against the state-ranked seventh-seeded Briarcliff Bears. The top three teams in this bracket, Pleasantville, Irvington, and Briarcliff, have combined for a 37-5-4 record, indicating a high level of competition throughout the tournament.
The Section 1 soccer and football brackets have been finalized, setting the stage for the postseason. The November 14 football finals will be held at North Rockland, while the November 1 soccer championship will take place at Mahopac High. Coaches across the region are preparing their teams for the upcoming matches, with particular attention paid to defensive strategies against high-ranked opponents. The results of the semifinal and quarterfinal games will determine the final matchups for the weekend championships.
