Four days after losing their first game of the season, the James I. O’Neill Raiders earned their first win of the season on Sept. 10, scoring three first-half goals on their way to a 5-1 win over the Chapel Field Lions at Chapel Field Christian School in Pine Bush.

“It felt great,” senior captain Jacques Farlow said. “We definitely fed off what we wanted to improve against Newburgh, and I think we were able to do that today.”

The Raiders got on the board quickly, scoring the game’s first two goals before the Lions got a goal from Davey Acuna to cut the Raiders’ lead to 2-1. The Raiders scored another goal to widen the lead to 3-1 at halftime.

“I thought we played pretty well,” O’Neill coach Ken Hall said. “We were very composed on the back end. We were able to swing the ball around. We were able to build out of the back, which was really good to see.”

The Raiders added two more goals in the second half, the first from freshman Asher Dabkowski in the 55th minute, and another in the 62nd by junior Julio Mendez.

“We did a bunch of things,” Farlow said. “I feel like we talked, most importantly. We talked more to each other. I think when we get down, we tend to have disagreements within our own team. But I really thought we had good chemistry today and it showed in the scoreboard.”

The Raiders also were able to keep the Lions off the scoreboard outside of the one first half goal.
But that didn’t mean the Lions didn’t have opportunities. Chapel Field’s Eric Dennett had three chances to put more goals on the board. He bounced one shot off the crossbar in the 57th minute and shortly after the

Raiders scored their fifth goal of the game, his shot was deflected by goalkeeper David Osgood.

“Our keeper made leaps and bounds today,” Hall said. “He’s not used to playing with the ball at his foot, and today he really took hold of that and grew immensely.”

It should be noted that the Raiders’ game against the Lions was early in the team’s third week being together after a short preseason. The team came together on Aug. 26 and its game against Newburgh was 11 days later.

“It was a really short preseason and not a lot of time with these guys, but every day, these guys take to the mentality of getting better,” Hall said. “Whether it’s on the game field, scrimmage field or practice field, they’re really up to the challenge and we’re looking to continue to grow as the season goes on.”

The Raiders continued their week with a 5-1 loss to the Saugerties Sawyers on Thursday and a 2-1 win over the Minisink Valley Warriors on Saturday.

“I think the guys are developing really well,” Farlow said. “I’m seeing a lot of young guys step up, and that’s something that’s new this year. A of the young guys are stepping up and developing quickly, getting used to the varsity speed and varsity physicality. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”