The undefeated and first place Ichabod Crane Riders went to Chatham on Friday and brought home an impressive 3-0 victory over the homestanding Panthers. The Riders improved their record to 11-0-1 with the win and will look to continue their strong play when they host one win Taconic Hills Monday night. Chatham remains in the upper half of the league despite the loss and falls to 8-3-1 with a game at winless Hudson on Thursday.
The game was physical with multiple warnings from officials for talking as well, but only one card was awarded in the always intense rivalry. The Riders ramped up the pressure right from the opening kickoff as they controlled possession and worked the ball to the wings. Six minutes into the game Tyler Jablanski was fed the ball on the left sideline and he sent a cross to the middle of the field where the ball went off Chatham sweeper Mike Gilbert and into the back of the net.
Ichabod Crane didn't become complacent and instead went right back on the attack. Four minutes after the first goal the Riders countered a Chatham offensive surge as Mitchell Niemeyer took the ball around mid field and play a fantastic ball inbetween Panther defenders and onto the streaking foot of Kyle Kline who ripped a low shot to the far post under the outstretched body of Chatham goalie Steven Oleynek as the Riders jumped out in front 2-0.
As the half drew on the Riders continued to dominate possession and nearly added another goal. Nick Boardman took an ICC free kick from deep in his own end and found the head of Kline who flicked the ball over a crowd on players into space where Niemeyer had sprinted into. If not for a diving effort towards the ball by Oleynek, Niemeyer would have added a goal to go with his earlier assist.
The Riders opened the second half with a fantastic chance that again forced Oleynek into making a big save. Will Poetszch made a slide tackle challenge on a Panther defender to keep the ball in a dangerous spot. Kline got onto the loose ball and ripped a high shot heading for the upper corner before Oleynek laid out and vollied the ball to safety.
The Panthers started to fight back gaining some possession and the occasional chance but another superb defensive effort by the Riders made it an easy day in goal for Alex Mastrianni. With Boardman controlling the defense from the sweeper position and Steve Domino clearly out numerous chips with his head the Riders could seemlessly sub in and out wing defenders with no problem.
With fourteen minutes left an ICC player was fouled outside the box near the sideline. With a free kick in dangerous position Poetszch chipped the ball into the box where Niemeyer, unmarked, was able to head it into the back of the net for the game's final goal.
Mastrianni recorded 8 stops in goal for the Riders in the win and was rarely forced to do more than just pick up a stray ball into the box. Oleynek made 6 stops in the loss for Chatham.
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