Illian's Career Day Leads Valley Over Hills

Many of those who know Senior Kevin Illian know him for his play on the Gridiron.

A three-year starter, Illian played both Wide Receiver and Safety. He was the Indian’s #1 receiver and the secondary’s hardest hitting defensive back. In the 2012 season where Pascack Valley went 12-1 and appeared in the State Championship Game, Illian earned First Team All County defensive back.

With all the recognition and accolades that he receives on the football field, some forget that he is also one of the best lacrosse players in Bergen County and around the state.

When asked which sport he preferred, Illian simply could not make up his mind.

“You know I like them both to be honest. Football is high intensity and high pressured with big crowds. Lacrosse is laid back and we have a lot of fun in practices and games.”

On Wednesday afternoon, it was behind Illian’s 5 goals that Pascack Valley earned a 13-5 win over arch rival Pascack Hills.

Although the Cowboys took a 1-0 lead in the opening minutes, Illian made sure they realized that this day belonged to him. He put two goals past the Hills’ goalie in the first period, giving Pascack Valley a 2-1 lead after the first 12 minutes.

Pascack Hills responded however and tied the game at two. In a quarter with lots of possession, but not many shots on goal, Nick Soravilla was the only other player to score in the period. At intermission, the Indians were clinging to a 3-2 lead.

Pascack Hills, the 10 seed in the upcoming Bergen County Tournament, was staying with Pascack Valley and giving them the type of battle that all rivalries should have. With that being said, this was not the best havf the Indians have played by far this season. They were sloppy on offense and were giving up creases for shots on defense. If they failed to clean up their act in the second half, the bragging rights they held so dear might have been lost.

Apparently, Pascack Valley wanted to send a message to the Cowboys in the second half. They scored 6 goals in the quarter and turned what was a dogfight into a game in which the Indians had good control over.

Illian added two more goals in the third quarter, giving him a total of four for the day. Not only did he score, but he also set up teammates such as Mike Buldo and Nick Sunseri for easy shots.

The final period provided Pascack Valley a chance to really pour it on. After a goal by Mike Buldo, two by Nick Sunseri, and Kevin Illian’s 5^th goal of the day, the Indians put the game out of reach and kept their incredible season rolling.

Nick Sunseri had three goals for Pascack Valley. Mike Buldo and Nick Soravilla each had two and Zach Beja added the other.

All that aside, the player of the game was Illian. He was the vocal leader on the field as well as the physical one. He put the team on his back (scoring wise) and led this Indians to the second of back-to-back wins over Pascack Hills.

“It’s always good to take down Hills and keep the bragging rights, especially with lacrosse being one of the only sports where we play them.”

The seeds for the Bergen County LAX Tournament came out this afternoon and Pascack Valley (12-1) was awarded with the 4 seed and a date with Indian Hills in the first round on Saturday.

Granted they are fortunate enough to win that game, they will play the winner of 5^th seeded Fair Lawn and 12^th seeded River Dell. The Indians most suspenseful game of the season came earlier in the year against Fair Lawn when they earned a hard fought 5-4 victory.

The top three seeds in this year's tournament are Bergen Catholic, Don Bosco, and Ridgewood respectively. No matter what everyone says, these three teams are a cut above the rest and have a great shot at making the semifinals.

By earning the 4 seed, Pascack Valley's semifinal dream seems well within reach being that they avoid each of those three teams before the final four. Even if their chances look good on paper, Pascack Valley must not take anything for granted.

“We have to play for four quarters,” added Illian. “If we come out like we did against Pascack Hills, we will be on the losing end.”

An added bonus to Illian’s great day is the fact that he ended up breaking a school record. By scoring 5 goals today, that puts him at 119 for his career when the previous school record was 116.

Records are meant to be broken.

Pascack Valley has never been to a Bergen County semifinal.

Is this the year the Indians break through and make a run to the beloved Final Four?

With Kevin Illian on the field, expect the unexpected.

Daily Recap: Tuesday, April 30th

Boys Lacrosse:

Pascack Valley 13, Pascack Hills 5

The Article will be up shortly. I will post a link once it is posted.

Record: 12-1

Next Game: Friday, May 3^rd at 5:30 PM against Paramus (Away)

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Girls Lacrosse:

Roxbury 14, Pascack Valley 9

Pascack Valley got off to rough start against Roxbury in their final home game of the season.

They failed to show up in the first half and were in an 11-1 hole because of it.

In the second half, the Indians woke up, almost making an improbable comeback from 10 goals down.

Senior Carrie Schroeder led the Indians with 3 goals. Lydia Christiano, Katie Keogh, Jamie Saslaw, Ana Beyer, Natalie Bade, and Amelia each added a goal each.

Record: 3-10

Next Game: Tuesday, May 7^th at 4:15 PM against Holy Angels (Away)

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Tennis:

Pascack Valley 5, Teaneck 0

Behind the firepower of Brian Reiff and Greg Gottfried, Pascack Valley swept Teaneck in impressive fashion.

Record: 7-6

Next Game: Wednesday, May 1^st at 4:15 PM against Old Tappan (Away)

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Golf:

Pascack Valley defeats Ridgefield Park

Pascack Valley dominated Roxbury on Tuesday afternoon.

Sam Komrower led the Indians by shooting a 41. Kevin Sinisi shot a 42, Jack Gallagher shot a 43, and Will Gallagher shot a 44.

Record: 10-5

Next Match: Wednesday, May 1^st at 4 PM against Tenafly (Knickerbocker Country Club)

Daily Recap: Monday, April 29th

Although it was a rainy day, the show must go on. Only Tennis had their game postponed, still leaving Monday with a multitude of sporting events.

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Golf:

Pascack Valley 170, Mahwah 182

Record: 9-5

Next Match: Tuesday, April 30^th at 4 PM against Ridgefield Park (Home)

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Baseball:

Pascack Valley 6, Tenafly 0

There is not a much better feeling in baseball than a shutout.

J.J Reuhl went 4 1/3 innings and Kyle McDonald took care of the rest as Pascack Valley shut down Tenafly for a 6-0 win.

Ricky Tiburcio’s home run in the first inning set the tone for the entire game.  Mike Sowinski, Kevin Dehn, Mikey Scalia, and Justin Schwartz were just a few of the players who picked up RBI on Monday afternoon.

This is definitely a good start to a busy week. Pascack Valley plays Old Tappan on Wednesday,  hosts Bergenfield on Friday, and takes on River Dell on Saturday.

Record: 6-9

Next Game: Wednesday, May 1^st at 4:15 PM against Old Tappan (Away)

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Softball:

Tenafly 3, Pascack Valley 2

With a showdown against Old Tappan in a game that could decide the league title looming on Wednesday, Pascack Valley was not focused on the task at hand.

And it cost them.

Tenafly was able to pull the 3-2 upset over the Indians and make a league title that much more difficult to grasp. Pascack Valley will now have to beat both Old Tappan and Bergenfield this week and gain a share of the crown.

In addition, the county tournament seeding will be determined Tuesday and Pascack Valley has not left a good taste in the committee’s mouth.

Let’s hope they won’t penalize Pascack Valley too much because with the right draw and consistency on both offensive and defense, the Indians could end up being a tough out.

Record: 8-5

Next Game: Wednesday, May 1^st at 4:15 PM against Old Tappan (Home)

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Boys Track:

Pascack Valley 70, Bergenfield 8

Here are the individual results:

400 m hurdles: Ben Mandel (1^st), Paul Yoo (2^nd)

100 m hurdles: Jorge Cortes (1^st), Nick Karach (3^rd)

1600 m: Nurlan Herburger (1^st), AJ Hall (2^nd)

400 m: Ben Malone (1^st)

110 m hurdles: Paul Yoo (1^st)

800 m: Jaleel Felton (1^st), Devin Foster (2^nd), Nurlan Herburger (3^rd)

200 m: AJ Hall (1^st), Ben Mandel (2^nd), Jorge Cortes (3^rd)

3200 m: Ben Malone (1^st), Brian McKenna (2^nd), Chris Carcich (3^rd)

4x400m: PV wins

Record: 3-1

Next Game: Monday, May 6^th at 4 PM (Division Championships at Hackensack High School)

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Girls Track:

Pascack Valley 53, Bergenfield 19

Here are the results for the Individual events:

400 m: Kelsey Witt (1^st ), Megan Doody (3^rd)

100 m: Nicole Miller (1^st), Amelia Della Pesca (3^rd)

1600 m: Madison Weis (1^st), Chelsea Lee (2^nd), Morgan Bade (3^rd)

400 m: Kayla Begen (1^st), Alice Urbiel (2^nd), Jess Himmelman (3^rd)

100 m Hurdles: Kelsey Witt (1^st)

800m: Abby Lee (1^st), Madison Weis (2^nd), Caroline Morrow (3^rd)

200 m: Kayla Begen (2^nd), Alice Urbiel (3^rd)

3200 m: Bessie Zavidow (1^st)

High Jump: Rachel Kearney (1^st), Kelsey Witt (2^nd)

Long Jump: Rachel Kearney (2^nd), Erin Conolly (3^rd)

Triple Jump: Erin Conolly (2^nd), Hana Shapiro (3^rd)

Pole Vault: Olivia Cassano (1^st), Ryan Andretta (2^nd), Dara Cooper (3^rd), Beri Weinstein (3^rd)

 Record: 1-3

Next Game: Monday, May 6^th at 4 PM (Division Championships at Hackensack High School)

Weekend Recap: April 26th to April 28th

Baseball:

Teaneck 2, Pascack Valley 1 (Friday)

Balance has been the downfall for Pascack Valley this year.

When the bats wake up, the pitching struggles to get people out.

When the pitching is lights out, Pascack Valley struggles to score runs.

That’s how it ended up on Friday afternoon against Teaneck. The Indians received a great pitching effort but could not give enough run support to secure the victory.

At 5-9, Pascack Valley needs to make a late season run if they want to find themselves in the postseason.

Record: 5-9

Next Game: Monday, April 29^th at 4:15 PM against Tenafly (Home)

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Boys Lacrosse:

Pascack Valley 14, Dwight Englewood 3 (Friday)

Pascack Valley just kept rolling on Friday afternoon with a dominating victory over Dwight Englewood.

After Mike Buldo scored three straight goals to begin the game, both teams knew how this contest was going to play out.

Pascack Valley had a 9-2 lead at halftime and never looked back.

Mike Buldo led the Indians with 5 goals and Kevin Illian was the next highest scorer with 3.

The Indians have a great chance to win the Curcio division again this year. They sit at 9-0 in league and 11-1 overall, leading Fair Lawn by one game.

Pascack Valley can all but wrap it up on Tuesday afternoon when they play Pascack Hills, who is the third place team.

There is nothing this team would want more than to beat up on the Cowboys to secure their second straight league title.

Record: 11-1

Next Game: Tuesday, April 30^th at 4:30 PM against Pascack Hills (Away)

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Girls Lacrosse:

Northern Highlands 11, Pascack Valley 1 (Friday)

Pascack Valley suffered a tough loss on Saturday at the hands of Northern Highlands. They were unable to match the aggressiveness of the Highlanders, ultimately causing their demise.

Record: 3-9

Next Game: Tuesday, April 30^th at 4:15 PM against Roxbury (Home)

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Penn Relays:

Pascack Valley was represented in two more events this weekend at the Penn Relays.

In the much-anticipated mile run, Ben Malone ran a 4:05.59 to finish in second place.

On Saturday morning, the fantastic four of Jaleel Felton, Ben Malone, AJ Hall, and Jorge Cortes ran a 3:23.48 in the 4x400. That turned out to be the fastest time in North Jersey and the 7^th fastest time in the event.

Overall, it was a great showing for the Indian’s track team over the weekend.

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Ben Malone Athlete of the week

I wanted to give a special shout out to Ben Malone for earning “Athlete of the Week”. This is a prestigious award and one that is definitely well deserved. 

Daily Recap: Thursday, April 25th

Softball:

Throughout the season, Freshman Alex Pleasic and Sophomore Jenny Schneider have made their mark on the mound.

They have combined to pitched in every game for the Indians and have been a big part of the team’s 7-4 start.

On Wednesday afternoon, it was the bats of these two underclassman that propelled Pascack Valley to an 8-2 win over Teaneck.

Pleasic had a two run home run while Jenny Schneider added a solo bomb. The bats came alive today with eight of the nine Indian hitters having at least one hit

This was a solid all around performance today for Pascack Valley. If Pleasic and Schneider can become consistent power hitters on an otherwise small team, look out for this team down the road.

Pascack Valley 8, Teaneck 2

Record: 8-4

Next Game: Monday, April 29^th at 4:15 PM against Tenafly (Away)

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Penn Relays:

The Penn Relays began on Thursday with the Girls.

Pascack Valley sent four girls to the event to run the 4x400 m relay.

Nicole Miller, Kayla Begen, Kelsey Witt, and Alice Urbiel ran 4:10 unofficially.

Pascack Valley also sends Ben Malone for the mile and the 4x400 team will also race in the coming days. 

Daily Recap: Wednesday, April 24th

Baseball:

Demarest 14, Pascack Valley 11

Not many times does a team score more than 10 runs and lose a game.

It happened to Pascack Valley on Wednesday afternoon and is not something they are used to.

Pitching has always been a strong point for this team. Let’s just hope this is one bad start and does not become the norm going forward.

Record: 5-8

Next Game: Friday, April 26^th at 4:15 PM against Teaneck (Away)

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Softball:

Pascack Valley 2, Demarest 1

It felt like ages ago when Pascack Valley faced off against Demarest in the season opener. In that game, Freshman Alex Pleasic cruised through the first 5 innings before giving up 5 runs in the 6^th.  Pascack Valley couldn’t muster up many runs throughout the game and fell 5-1.

This time around, it was sophomore Jenny Schneider on the mound. Just like Pleasic was in the first matchup, Schneider dominated the Demarest hitters throughout the game. Only this time, Jenny Schneider did it for 7 innings, allowing only one run on a hand full of hits.

The problem with the Indians was not the defense and pitching.

It never is.

The problem was with the offense. Through the first four innings, Pascack Valley could not get anything going. It wasn’t until the top of the 6^th when the Indians finally broke through. Freshman Alex Pleasic came through with the RBI and Valley was up 1-0.

Demarest responded in the bottom half of the inning by scoring one of their own. The game was tied at 1 going into the 7^th and it was only right that drama would ensue.

In the top of the 7^th, Michelle Orden reached base and made her way to third. Sophomore Olivia Beattie stepped up to the plate with the intentions of hitting Orden home with a base hit. Instead, Beattie put down a beautiful suicide squeeze bunt, scoring Orden and giving Pascack Valley a 2-1 lead that they would not relinquish.

Going around their schedule for the second time, Pascack Valley definitely started off the second half of the season on the right foot. If they continue to play solid defense and receive outstanding pitching, the Indians will be just fine.

Record: 7-4

Next Game: Thursday, April 25^th at 4:15 PM against Teaneck (Home)

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 Boys Lacrosse:

Pascack Valley 17, Old Tappan 4

Old Tappan never even had a chance.

Pascack Valley jumped on the Golden Knights early and never stepped off the gas pedal.

Now at 10-1, the Indians have a solid chance at winning the Curcio division, granted they defeat rival Pascack Hills next week.

Record: 10-1

Next Game: Friday, April 25^th at 4:30 PM against Dwight Englewood (Home)

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Girls Lacrosse:

Morristown 19, Pascack Valley 6

Senior Night provided Pascack Valley with their best win of the season.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Indians could not keep up with Morristown.

Junior Mia Stern led the Indians with 3 goals and one assist. Jamie Saslaw, Natalie Bade, and Amelia Stalknecht each scored one goal each.

Record: 3-8

Next Game: Friday, April 25^th at 4:30 PM against Northern Highlands (Away)

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Tennis:

Demarest 5, Pascack Valley 0

Record: 6-6

Next Game: Monday, April 29^th at 4:15 PM against Tenafly (Home)

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Golf:

CANCELLED

Record: 8-5

Next Match: Thursday, April 24^th at 4 PM against Ridgewood (@ Ridgewood Country Club)

Daily Recap: Monday, April 22nd

Baseball:

Pascack Valley 7, Hackensack 0

Ryan Vasel is only a sophomore.

However, this super sophomore is 3-0 with an ERA that has been magnificent. On Monday afternoon, he pitched six scoreless innings and seemed to be in complete control at all times.

In the early innings, the Pascack Valley offense wasn’t much of a help to Mr. Vasel. They would leave several runners on base without scoring a run. A 2-0 lead in the 3^rd inning should have been more like an 8-0 lead.

It wasn’t until the 4^th inning where Pascack Valley began to take over. After Senior Billy Beattie grounded into a double play, the Indians strung together a series of hits and scored four runs in the inning. That is really all the run support that Vasel needed.

Another good sign for the Indians was the return of Senior pitcher Kyle Mcdonald. Mcdonald had been sidelined for the start of the year because of an elbow injury. He came back today in his debut to pitch one scoreless inning and looked good in the process. McDonald will be a very key piece of this Valley team going forward.

Record: 5-7

Next Game: Wednesday, April 24^th at 4:15 PM against Demarest (Home)

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Softball:

Hackensack 4, Pascack Valley 2

As I said in my previous article, Pascack Valley softball has been on a roller coaster ride this season.

I also mentioned that they would probably lose a game they were supposed to win going forward and this was the game.

According to the girls I have talked to, it was a sloppy game all around and one that Pascack Valley would like to soon forget.

Luckily for the Indians, they have a chance to get back on track Wednesday against Demarest. This is the same team that handed Pascack Valley its first loss of the season.

The Indians would love nothing more than to show they are a different team from earlier in the season.

Record: 6-4

Next Game: Wednesday, April 24^th at 4:15 PM against Demarest (Away)

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Girls Lacrosse:

Pascack Valley 9, Fair Lawn 8

The seniors on the Pascack Valley Girls Lacrosse team have been thinking of this night for four years. There is only one thing better than playing your last home game under the lights and in front of your friends and family.

That would require winning and that is just what Pascack Valley did.

With the help of Lydia Christiano and Mia Stern, Pascack Valley got out to a 7-3 lead before halftime and seemed to have the game in hand.

However, Fair Lawn continued to fight back and even made it an 8-7 game with 3 minutes to play.

In her last home game wearing the green and white, Senior Jamie Saslaw decided right then and there that a loss was not going to happen. With two minutes left in the game, she ripped one past the goalie, giving Pascack Valley a two-goal cushion and sending the crowd into an uproar.

In a season that has not gone exactly as planned, it was only fitting that Pascack Valley receive a thrilling win on Senior Night. This is one that these seniors will remember forever.

Record: 3-7

Next Game: Wednesday, April 24^th at 4:30 PM against Morristown

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Boys Lacrosse:

Pascack Valley 11, Indian Hills 4

Another game and another win for Pascack Valley Lacrosse.

Like most of the games this season, it wasn’t close.

Balance, as with most games, was the key to Pascack Valley’s success. Mike Buldo, Nick Soravilla, Nick Sunseri, Kevin Illian, and Zach Beja scored two goals each for the Indians. Brendan Morrissey added the other goal.

Now at 9-1, Pascack Valley is rolling to say the least. They are going to be tough to stop going forward.

Record: 9-1

Next Game: Wednesday, April 24^th at 4:30 PM against Old Tappan (Away)

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Tennis:

Pascack Valley 5, Hackensack 0

Pascack Valley dominated Hackensack on Monday afternoon and Seniors Greg Gottfried and Brian Reiff were a big season why.

The pair kept their undefeated doubles season alive by beating Hackensack 6-0, 6-0.

Record: 6-5

Next Game: Wednesday, April 24^th at 4:15 PM against Demarest (Home)

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Golf:

Northern Highlands 174, Pascack Valley 182

Kevin Sinisi shot a 42 for the Indians.

Record: 7-5

Next Match: Tuesday, April 23^rd at 4 PM against Bergen County Technical School (@River Vale Golf Course)

Weekend Recap: 4/19 - 4/21

Baseball:

Ramapo 7, Pascack Valley 4 (Friday)

What happened in the 6^th inning could be used to explain the type of season that Pascack Valley is having.

Leading 4-3 going into the 6^th, the Indians gave up four runs and ended up falling 7-4 in a game they would have loved to have.

There have been several games where Pascack Valley has had the lead and then could not keep it.

If the Indians could start closing out games, they can easily make their way back to .500 and make a run in the state and county tournaments.

Record: 4-7

Next Game: Monday, April 22^nd at 4:15 PM against Hackensack (Home)

Tennis:

Ramapo 4, Pascack Valley 1 (Friday)

Record: 5-5

Next Game: Monday, April 22^nd at 4:15 PM against Hackensack (Home)

Boys Lacrosse:

Pascack Valley 12, Waldwick 2 (Saturday)

Northern Highlands 8, Pascack Valley 5.

That is a game that feels like an afterthought to Pascack Valley right now. They are rolling through their schedule and putting their opponents to bay with ease.

On Saturday morning, Waldwick became the next victim of the Indians, falling 12-2.

By halftime, Pascack Valley had a 7-0 lead and the game was already out of reach.

Nick Sunseri led the Indians with 3 goals and Zach Beja, Kevin Illian, and Nick Soravilla each added two goals.

Mike Buldo and John Decotiis also scored for Pascack Valley. That brings the total to 11 goals. So who scored the 12^th goal?

That would be Senior Kenny Sessa. This was his first goal of the year, which is deserving of a shout out in any article.

Balanced scoring has been a staple of the Indian’s offense and continued to hold true on Saturday.

If I were among the North Jersey teams who have not played Pascack Valley yet, I would check the calendar.

The last thing I would want to see is the Indians on my schedule.

Record: 8-1

Next Game: Monday, April 22^nd at 7 PM against Indian Hills (Away)

Girls Lacrosse:

Montville 16, Pascack Valley 9 (Saturday)

Despite a strong effort, Pascack Valley couldn’t pull out the win.

This is not the type of season that the Indians would have hoped for, but they still have time to improve.

Tomorrow is Senior Night for the Girls and everyone should come out and support. These girls have put in four years of hard work and should be recognized for their effort.

Record: 2-7

Next Game: Monday, April 22^nd at 7 PM against Fair Lawn (HOME)

Softball:

Pascack Valley 5, Ramapo 3 (Sunday)

ARTICLE

Record: 6-3

Next Game: Monday, April 22^nd at 4:15 PM against Hackensack (Away)

Roller Coaster-Like Ride so Far for Pascack Valley Softball

Kyle Stackpole

Pascack Valley 5, Ramapo 3 (Sunday)

The perception of the Pascack Valley softball team has changed frequently throughout the season.

There were high expectations for a team that returns multiple starters and a second year coach who was ready to make her mark on Pascack Valley.

Those expectations took a bit of a hit after a season opening loss to Demarest. All of the sudden, Pascack Valley was just another mediocre team that would finish the season with the same number of losses as wins.

That perception quickly changed in the coming weeks as the potential of Pascack Valley truly showed. They won five straight games and were playing some of the best ball in Bergen County. Alexa McManus and Rachel Squiccimarri led the offense while Alex Pleasic and Jenny Schneider became a two-headed monster on the mound.

Even Varsity Aces recognized the Indians solid play, moving them up to #18 in the North Jersey Softball Top 25. Pascack Valley was riding high and ready to take on and defeat an Indian Hills team that has been one of the best in recent years.

Although Pascack Valley fell just short in their mission to upset Indian Hills, they showed the county they can play with the best and were not just a decent squad playing a weak schedule.

When the confidence of Pascack Valley couldn’t be any higher, they laid an egg against Paramus Catholic, falling 13-1 in only 5 innings of play. They defense was sloppy and the offense could not hit the ball out of the infield. The Indians had now lost two in a row and the doubters were starting to return. Maybe their gaudy record was due to poor scheduling. Maybe this team had a few good games. The Indians were the underdogs once again, hoping to re-prove that they were worthy of their initial praise.

The latest chapter in the Pascack Valley saga came on Sunday morning against Ramapo, the 8^th ranked team in North Jersey. Coming into the game with consecutive losses, not many gave Valley a chance against the Green Raiders.

The game started off well for Pascack Valley. They took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a fielder’s choice by Sophomore Olivia Beattie. Ramapo responded with a run of their own in the 4^th, tying the game at one.

Pascack Valley’s Jenny Schneider has been simply dominant so far this season on the hill. That is why what happened in the bottom of the 5^th was unusual to say the least. Ramapo belted a two run home run to take a 3-1 lead and crush the hopes of the Indians. With only two more at bats and outs being at a premium, their chance for a signature win was slipping away.

The way this season has gone, it was only fitting that Pascack Valley score four runs in the top of the 6^th and take a 5-3 lead. Even more fitting was the contributors who gave them the lead. On a team filled with upper classmen, Freshman Alex Pleasic and Sophomore Lindsey Gordon each had two RBI to give the Indians a two run cushion.

Once the Indians were given the lead, it was all but over. Jenny Schneider cruised through the final two innings to give Pascack Valley the season defining win they so desperately sought to have.

Now sitting at 6-3, Pascack Valley is back on the county radar. Will they lose a game they are not supposed to lose going forward? Probably. Will they also upset a team who they have no business playing with? I wouldn’t doubt it. Either way, the second half of the season will probably be as unpredictable as the first.

Would you expect anything different?

#feartheindiansoftballteam

Record: 6-3

Next Game: Monday, April 22^nd at 4:15 PM against Hackensack (Away)

Daily Recap: Thursday, April 18th

Baseball:

Pascack Valley 5, Indian Hills 4

It was only on Monday afternoon where Pascack Valley suffered a heartbreaking 6-3 loss at the hands of Indian Hills.

Due to weird scheduling, the Indians had another shot at this team only a few days later. This time, they made sure to preserve their lead and came away with a 5-4 win.

Indian Hills held onto a 1-0 lead until the top of the 4^th inning. Michael “Waffles” Sowinski knocked in his cousin Kevin Dehn to tie the game at 1.

Ryan McNaughton had a pair of RBIs on a triple and “Waffles” knocked him in with a hit of his own. Tyler Gronek went 5 2/3 innings and John James Ruehl finished it off for the Indians.

Revenge is sweet and Pascack Valley experienced that first hand today.

Record: 4-6

Next Game: Friday, April 19^th at 4:15 PM against Ramapo (Away)

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Boys Lacrosse:

Pascack Valley 10, Jefferson Township 1

After starting off the game slow, Pascack Valley dominated Jefferson Township en route to their 7^th win of the season.

The first quarter was low scoring has each team only scored 1 goal. Even at halftime, the Indians only held a 4-1 lead.

It wasn’t until the second half when Pascack Valley turned it on. They shut out their opponent while scoring 6 goals to end the game in complete command.

Nick Soravilla led the Indians with 3 goals and Nick Sunseri had a pair of his own. Kevin Illian, Mike Buldo, John Decotiis, Brendan Morrissey, and Zach Beja each added a goal for Pascack Valley.

Record: 7-1

Next Game: Saturday, April 20^th at 10 AM against Waldwick (Away)

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Girls Lacrosse:

Morris Catholic 16, Pascack Valley 6

Record: 2-6

Next Game: Saturday, April 20^th at 11 AM against Montville (Home)

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Golf:

River Dell 165, Pascack Valley 184

Pascack Valley ran into a hot River Dell team on Thursday afternoon. They were not able to match the Hawk’s low scores and suffered because of it.

Record: 7-4

Next Game: Monday, April 22^nd at 4 PM against Northern Highlands (River Vale Golf Course)

Daily Recap: Wednesday, April 17th

Baseball:

Paramus Catholic 5, Pascack Valley 4

After a tough loss to Indian Hills on Monday, Pascack Valley suffered another close loss on Wednesday at the hands of Paramus Catholic.

The Indians simply have not been lucky in close games so far this year. They are one hit or one strikeout away from being 6-3 instead of the other way around.

If Pascack Valley can start winning these close games instead of falling short, they will have a chance to make a run at the end of the season.

Record: 3-6

Next Game: Thursday, April 18^th at 4:15 PM against Indian Hills (Away)

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Softball:

Paramus Catholic 13, Pascack Valley 1

Pascack Valley suffered its second straight loss Wednesday in brutal fashion against Paramus Catholic.

This was just an off day for the Indians. One where they could not find the bats and couldn’t make the easy plays in the field. It didn’t help that a girl on Paramus Catholic was three for three with two home runs and a double.

If I were a player or coach on this team, I would throw this game out and move forward.

Besides, everyone deserves a mulligan sometimes.

Record: 5-3

Next Game: Saturday, April 20^th at 4:15 PM against Ramapo (Away)

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Tennis:

Pascack Valley 4, Paramus Catholic 1

Pascack Valley is starting to peak at the right time.

They are playing good tennis and might be able to make noise in the coming weeks.

Record: 5-4

Next Game: Friday, April 19^th at 4:15 PM against Ramapo (Away)

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Golf:

Pascack Valley 172, Waldwick 191.

Here are the individual results:

Jack Gallagher shot a 43,

Kevin Sinisi shot a 43

Sam Komrower shot a 39

Record: 7-3

Next Game: Thursday, April 18^th at 4 PM against River Dell (Hackensack Country Club)

Daily Recap: Tuesday, April 16th (Lacrosse Article Included)

Boys Lacrosse:

Pascack Valley 12, Paramus Catholic 3

Buldo and Setola lead Pascack Valley to Hot Start

With three goals in the first 4 minutes of the game, Senior Mike Buldo knew this would be a special day. What he didn’t know was that his performance would be one of the best I have seen over my time covering lacrosse.

Buldo ended up scoring 7 goals (no this is not a typo) and single handedly carried Pascack Valley to a 12-3 victory over Paramus Catholic on Tuesday afternoon.

The senior attack man did his scoring in a multitude of ways. He would score from far out and close up, from the right and from the left, in the bottom of the net and in the top corner. It was a truly remarkable individual performance for a kid who was always regarded as one of the best lacrosse players in the area.

Mike Buldo wasn’t the only one responsible for Pascack Valley’s 6^th win of the season (although he was a big part). Kevin Illian, Nick Soravilla, and Brendan Morrissey added goals for an Indian team that held the lead from the opening possession.

(Mike wanted to give a shout out to “his boy” Brendan Morrissey for “putting one in the net today.”)

After taking a 4-0 lead with only a couple of minutes elapsed in the first, Pascack Valley never looked back.

Through seven games, Pascack Valley’s only blemish came at the hands of a very talented and tough Northern Highlands team. The Indians have met expectation as one of the toughest teams in the county and should continue to do so throughout the season.

“It has been nice this year to come out on top so far in the close games,” said Mike Buldo. “Everyone is playing really well. We just need to stay diligent and treat every game the same.”

Offense never seemed to be an issue going into the season. The big question mark was at the goalie spot, where Senior Anthony Setola was replacing one of the best goalies in Bergen County in Kevin Switzer.

Through seven games, Setola has not only met expectations, but passed them. He made countless saves throughout today’s game that helped Pascack Valley keep distance away from their opponent.

“He (Setola) is playing really well right now. He is really stepping it up in goal,” added Buldo.

With a potent offense and Setola and co. stabilizing the defense, Pascack Valley is going to be tough to beat going forward.

The rest of Bergen County…

You have been warned.

Record: 6-1

Next Game: Thursday, April 18^th at 4:30 PM against Jefferson Township (Away)

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Golf:

Pascack Valley put a beat down on Dwight Morrow on Tuesday afternoon.

Record: 6-3

Next Match: Thursday, April 18^th at 4 PM against River Dell (Hackensack Country Club)

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Tennis:

Pascack Valley 4, Ramsey 1

Record: 4-4

Next Game: Wednesday, April 17^th at 4:15 PM against Paramus Catholic

@Feartheindian

Daily Recap: Monday, April 15th

Baseball:

Indian Hills 6, Pascack Valley 3

On the Monday after spring break, Pascack Valley was back on the diamond with their ace Ryan MacNaughton on the mound.

However, their opponent was a tough one. Indian Hills came into the game with a 5-1 record and have been playing solid baseball as of late.

With that being said, Pascack Valley started the game on a great note. They scored two runs in the first inning with the RBIs coming from Colin O’Shea and Ryan Orr.

The Indians added another run in the second, when Kevin Dehn knocked in a run by reaching on an error. At the time, Pascack Valley seemed to be cruising their way back to a .500 record at 4-4.

That all changed in the Top of the 6^th. MacNaughton had been rolling all game until he gave up a game tying three run home run to the Indian Hills clean up hitter. All of the sudden, the game was tied.

After failing to score in the bottom half of the sixth, Indian Hills took their turn at bat in the 7^th. After a couple of Indian errors and a couple of base knocks, Indian Hills ended up scoring three runs in the final frame to take a 6-3 lead.

Despite have the lead off runner on to start the 7^th, Pascack Valley couldn’t muster across three runs and suffered their 5^th loss of the season.

This one might still for a little while because of the opportunities the Indians had to claim a huge win. Without one swing of the bat, Pascack Valley would be looking at a season changing win and momentum that could carry them throughout the season.

They will now have to find that momentum elsewhere, starting with their game on Wednesday against Paramus Catholic.

Record: 3-5

Next Game: Wednesday, April 17^th at 4:15 PM against Paramus Catholic

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Softball:

Indian Hills 1, Pascack Valley 0

Pascack Valley played on of the best teams in North Jersey on Monday afternoon and almost pulled off another improbable upset.

Unfortunately, the Indian Hills pitcher got the best of freshman pitcher Alex Pleasic in their pitching duel and Indian Hills held on for the 1-0 win.

Pascack Valley (5-2), who is now ranked #19 in the Top 25 Softball rankings, should not be disappointed in their performance.

They now know they are play with and beat the best teams in the county and should have the confidence to do so going forward.

Record: 5-2

Next Game: Wednesday, April 17^th at 4:15 PM against Paramus Catholic (Home)

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Girls Track:

Teaneck 80, Pascack Valley 60

Here are the individual results from the meet:

400m hurdles: Megan Doody (1^st), Kaitlin Muccio (2^nd)

100m dash: Nicole Miller (2^nd)

1600m: Jordan Sison (2^nd), Sarah Skawinski (3^rd)

400m: Alice Urbiel (2^nd), Kayla Begen (3^rd)

100m hurdles: Kelsey Witt (2^nd)

800m: Abby Lee (1^st)

200m: Amelia Della Pesca (2^nd)

3200m: Bessie Zavidow (1^st)

4x400m Relay: Kayla Begen, Kelsey Witt, Kaitlin Muccio, Alice Urbiel (1^st)

Long Jump: Rachel Kearney (3^rd)

Pole Vault: Olivia Casano (1^st), Rachel Kearney (2^nd), Ryan Andretta (3^rd)

Javelin: Julianna Tarasenko (1^st), Gianna Cocozzo (2^nd)

High Jump: Nicole Miller (2^nd), Rachel Kearney (3^rd)

Record: 0-3

Next Meet: Tuesday, April 23^rd at 4:15 PM against Old Tappan (Home)

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Boys Track:

Pascack Valley 65, Teaneck 64

Pascack Valley won a thriller on Monday afternoon against a very talented Teaneck squad.

Here are the individual results:

400 m hurdles: Ben Mandel (1^st), Paul Yoo (3^rd)

100 m: Jaleel Felton (1^st)

1600 m: Ben Malone (1^st)

400 m: Jaleel Felton (1^st)

100m hurdles: Paul Yoo (2^nd)

800m: Ben Malone (1^st), Devin Foster (3^rd)

200m: Jaleel Felton (1^st), AJ Hall (3^rd)

4x400m relay: Jaleel Felton, Jorge Cortes, AJ Hall, Ben Malone (1^st)

Record: 2-1

Next Meet: Tuesday, April 23^rd at 4:15 PM against Old Tappan (Home)

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Girls Lacrosse:

Mahwah 15, Pascack Valley 6

Pascack Valley was no match for Mahwah on Monday afternoon.

Hopefully the Indians will be able to regroup and improve in their next game.

Record: 2-5

Next Game: Thursday, April 18^th at 4:30 PM against Morris Catholic (Home)

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Tennis:

Pascack Valley 3, Indian Hills 2

Record: 3-4

Next Game: Tuesday, April 16^th at 4:15 PM against Ramsey (Home)

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Golf:

Demarst defeated Pascack Valley on Monday afternoon.

Record: 5-3

Next Game: Tuesday, April 16^th at 4 PM against Dwight Morrow