The Pleasantville-Bronxville and Brewster-John Jay games were the marquis matchups as Pleasantville and Brewster entered undefeated and Bronxville and John Jay were unbeaten.

In their first meeting since the 2006 Section 1 Class C title game (won by Bronxville), unbeaten Bronxville dealt Pleasantville a 3-0 setback. Junior center forward Jessica Murrer scored twice and right wing Brook Gogel added a goal and an assist.

In the Brewster-John Jay game, defense took center stage in a 0-0 draw.

Plesantville entered the game with a 4-0 mark and had outscored its opposition, 15-0, led by Bridget Munier’s seven goals. Munier, along with Kara Falconi and Jacki Vosburg, is one of the quickest forward lines in Section 1. However, Bronxville’s “new” defense of Kathryn Whitney, Taylor Dunn, Maggie Goff and lone returning starter Bizzie Howitt, was equal to the challenge. Howitt had the assignment of shadowing Munier.

Murrer, who was Bronxville’s starting center mid until two games ago, opened the scoring at the 10:55 mark. Rachel Kim initiated the play with a free hit down the right wing. Brooke Gogel chased it down, controlled it and threw a shot on goal that Pleasantville goalie Adrianna Iannotti halted. Murrer picked up the rebound and deposited it in the net. Murrer later added her second goal of the game with 54 seconds remaining in the first half.

Even though Pleasantville allowed a season-high three goals, center back Katie Verlizzo and sweeper Amanda DeBlasio played fine games.

This will not be the only meeting between these teams. Veteran Pleasantville coach Rosemary Sotherden will probably begin implementing adjustments for Bronxville next time the teams meet, which should be in the Section 1 Class C final at Lakeland.

When I returned to the office following the Pleasantville-Bronxville game, I went right to the field hockey file and saw the scoreless game between Brewster (3-0-1) and John Jay (4-0-3). John Jay goalie Parrish Wright was credited with 13 saves.

Brewster will close out a challenging two-day stretch with undefeated Somers on Thursday. Lizzy Russo and Amanda Heyde and their Somers’ teammates are among the surprises of the season.

A side note on the Pleasantville-Bronxville game. I had a chance to talk to Rick Esteves, father of Pleasantville left back Jess Esteves and former three-time Section 1 Division II wrestling champion Michael Esteves. Michael is a freshman at Cortlandt and is a member of the wrestling team. Michael Esteves finished his career as Pleasantville’s career wins leader and finished fourth in the 2006 New York State Division II Championships at the Nassau Coliseum.