RYE – Field Hockey New York

The third round of this year’s fall season brought a rematch of what has
become a highly charges affair between the reigning champions Rye and the
back-to-back league playoff finalist and former champion Tristate. Both
teams arrived at Columbia’s Baker Field unbeaten this season. For Rye this
was the opportunity to get some distance in the standings between an
uncomfortable opponent that in the past has proven to be a stumbling block
even in most surprising circumstances. However, this Sunday did not turn out
to be one of these days. The difference in commitment could not have been
larger. On Rye’s side, a 16-men squad arrived to fight for remaining spots
in the team’s first selection which is to be decided before next weekend’s
round. Tristate on the other hand showed up without their regular keeper.
The end result of 8-1 (5-1) properly reflects the balance between a full
force Rye team which played solid hockey but missed crucial opportunities to
make this a 2-digit affair, and a Tristate squad which despite being without
a chance to ever win this game fought relentlessly until the end and sold
their skin as dear as humanly possible even under worst-case conditions.

On Rye’s side some of the latest additions to the roster gave their NEFHA
debut. Thibault Nerincx from Belgium, Pere Torres Puyalto from Spain and
Rye-veteran Pepe “El Cubano” all brought their skills to the game and fit in
nicely from the start.

After the first 3 games Rye I tops the NEFHA standings with full points and
a 23-3 goal difference. This convincing start is no coincidence. While Rye
for years fielded a handful of very skilled players in their ranks, the team
lacked the depth of their main opponents Tristate and Greenwich FHC. The
recent additions of Jaspreet Singh, Alex Anich, Lennart Cherifi, Matt Hogben
and others has completed the roster in a crucial way. With the prospect of
being able to welcome back keeper Oliver Stubel to the team next weekend the
current Rye roster looks the strongest in years.

Rye I scorers: Cheetham (2), Stutz (2), Rijkenberg,
Puyalto, Akhlaq, Anich