One is trying to get it back; the other just continuing their winning ways. The New Paltz girls’ soccer program, coming off a winless season, dropped a 3-0 season-opener to FDR last Tuesday, but then bounced back to tie rough, tough Wallkill on Thursday 1-1 on a late goal by freshman Honour Butler. Meanwhile, the Highland girls’ program continued its two-decades-long roll with a home-opening 7-0 wipeout of Pine Plains.

Some time in the near future these teams will once again battle for Section supremacy, with New Paltz having to raise its game considerably to be able to match the play of Highland.

New Paltz was outshot 12-2 in its loss to the experienced FDR, which scored all its goals in the first half. It wasn’t a good start to an expected “revival” season for the Huguenots.

But in Thursday’s home opener with Wallkill the team did show signs of improvement, holding the Panthers at bay. Keeper Brittany Ormand had a tremendous game in goal, with 22 saves. The entire defense. Including sweeper Liz Dressel, stopper Katie Capulli and outside defenders Abby King and Adrian Hekking, limited Wallkill to a single second-half goal (by Miranda Antonucci at 34:20) despite the tremendous pressure.

Offensively, New Paltz, for the second game in a row, had trouble mustering scoring opportunities, with a Cora Butler-to-sister-Honour crossing pass just missing its mark late in the first half and a Mikie O’Donnell breakaway (stifled inside the 18 by the Wallkill defense) midway through the second half constituting the only real chances for the Huguenots. But with just over two minutes to go in the match, Adrienne Watts found Honour Butler out in front of the Wallkill goal with a great through ball. The freshman forward tipped it in for the tie at 47:15. There was no scoring in the two overtime periods.

New Paltz is 0-1-1 overall and in the MHAL (0-0 in Division 2).

The Highland girls completely dominated the visiting Bombers. Playing nearly the entire game in the Pine Plains’ end, the Huskies broke out on top on a Jenna Moretti breakaway off a Carly Bilchak pass at 9:00 of the first half. Her goal was from ten yards out. Seven minutes later it was Jen Porter with a steal outside the Pine Plains’ 18-yard mark and another goal from ten yards out. Then it was a Sam Valentino corner kick into the right corner of the net at 21:00 for a 3-0 lead. Bilchak made it 4-0 with a rebound off a goalkeeper stop of a Kristy Benicase shot from 25 yards out at 24:00. Moretti made it 5-0 with her second goal of the game on a steal and quick shot from inside the Bombers’ 18 at 28:00. And Samantha Byrne ended the first-half scoring with a breakaway and goal from 10 yards away (assisted by Valentino) at 33:00. Jasmine Cruz scored the final goal at 71:00 (again assisted by Valentino). Steph Porter had to make just two saves for the Huskies.

Highland is 2-0 overall and in the MHAL (1-0 Division 3).