Peabody Returns to Girls Soccer Team With High Expectations

The Pearl River girls soccer team will begin the 2011 season as it ended 2010 -- facing Byram Hills.

Pearl River lost to Byram Hills in the section quarterfinals last season, but the Pirates enter 2011 looking to take another step forward. Pearl River started on that road with the official start of practice Monday morning.

"I think our expectations are pretty high right now," said Pearl River Head Coach Tim Peabody. "We have a talented group of kids, a lot of multi-sport athletes who combined (well) when they play soccer. There is a real chance for some really good outcomes this year."

Peabody's return for his 18th season as Pearl River's head coach will be a part of that. Peabody, who had also been a head coach at Albertus Magnus for nine seasons, had to sit out the 2010 season for health reasons, with Diana Gillule and Lisa Linehan acting as co-coaches in his place. Gillule will be an assistant with the varsity this season and Linehan will take over the district's modified team.

"I've been with most of these kids for quite a while," Peabody said. "I believe that we have a good repore. It was unfortunate that I couldn't do it last year, but Diane and Lisa did a great job. I just look at it as being out injured for a year."

Avoiding injuries could also be a key for Pearl River in goal, where Francesca Cobuzzi will try to take over after being limited by injuries the last two seasons.

"She always had the potential to be a starter," Peabody said. "Hopefully, this is the year she stays healthy."

Pearl River returns seven starters from a year ago, including senior Emily Aristidabal, the Pirates' top scorer. Peabody is hoping she can form a potent scoring tandem with senior Kiera McMullan, who is committed to William and Mary on a lacrosse scholarship.

"Hopefully, with (Aristidabal) and Kiera, we will be a more powerful offensive group," Peabody said.

McMullan isn't the only standout on the soccer team who helped another Pearl River team win a section title in the spring. Two members of the section champion softball team are also returning starters in softball -- seniors Kristyn Neroda and Amanda Hartigan. They will team with senior Brynn Moynihan to anchor a veteran defensive group.

"We have a group of seniors, many of whom have been on the team since the eighth grade, and juniors who have been on since the eighth grade," Peabody said. "This is a seasoned group."

Among those juniors is Marissa Scognamiglio, another one of those multi-sport athletes. Scognamiglio emerged as a key player off the bench in basketball last winter.

"This is a good group and a very athletic group," Peabody said.

Pearl River Varsity Girls Soccer 2011 Schedule

Subject to change

Date

Time

Opponent

Site

Sept. 7

4:30 p.m.

Byram Hills

Home

Sept. 9

4 p.m.

Clarkstown North

Away

Sept. 15

4 p.m.

Suffern

Home

Sept. 19

4 p.m.

East Ramapo

Away

Sept. 21

4 p.m.

North Rockland

Home

Sept. 24

11 a.m.

Haldane

Away

Sept. 27

4 p.m.

Tappan Zee

Away

Oct. 1

11 a.m.

Nanuet

Home

Oct. 3

4 p.m.

Nyack

Away

Oct. 5

4 p.m.

Albertus Magnus

Home

Oct. 11

4 p.m.

Clarkstown South

Away

Oct. 15

11 a.m.

Tappan Zee

Home

Oct. 17

4 p.m.

Nanuet

Away

Oct. 19

4 p.m.

Nyack

Away

Oct. 21

4 p.m.

Albertus Magnus

Away

Oct. 24

4:30 p.m.

Horace Greeley

Away