Rye opened its grueling three-day stretch of games with a 2-1 victory over archrival Putnam Valley as sophomore scoring sensation Torie Stearns netted the game-winning goal with three minutes remaining in the game.

This was the first meeting between the teams since Rye bested Putnam Valley in the 2006 Section 1 Class B championship game. Rye is now riding a seven-game winning streak since a season-opening 2-1 loss to Greenwich (Conn.) Academy. Rye will host Putnam Valley Oct. 18.

Rye will host John Jay-East Fishkill Friday, under the lights at Nugent Stadium, and then travel to Lakeland for a 7:15 p.m. An interesting fact regarding this three-game stretch is that Putnam Valley (one), John Jay-EF (2) and Lakeland (3) have won a combined six state championships. And don’t forget Rye’s three state titles.

Ok. Back to the game. I didn’t get to the game because we a few of my colleagues needed the night off, so I was in the office. I spoke to Rye coach Kevin Kelly and senior forward Alyssa Coughlan, who set up Stearns’ game-winner.

Kelly, who scouted the Putnam Valley-Lakeland game Tuesday, said Putnam Valley came out much more aggressive against his team and it paid off as the Tigers took a 1-0 lead on Megan Warning’s goal, assisted by Ashley Morgan.

Despite the one-goal deficit, Rye came roaring back and controlled the play, resulting in Stearns evening the score at 1-1 later in the first half.

Kelly said the key to the game was neutralizing Putnam Valley’s outstanding center back, Brittany Kinsley. Kelly explained that spearheads the Tigers’ offense so shutting her down was vital. Kelly credited sophomore forward Olivia Nabhan for contributing to this, but more so, center mid Lucy Rollins.

Prior to Stearn’s decisive goal, Kelly called a timeout. The team received a lift in the huddle when senior Morgan McCauley predicted that Rye was going to score.

Courtney Burke, who Kelly credited with having an outstanding second half in the backfield, started the play by intercepting a clearing pass. Burke sent it to Rollins, who, in turn, found Coughlan in the circle. Coughlan saw Stearns wide open and instinctively one-touched the ball to her, and Stearns did the rest.

This sounded like a great game.