Peglegs Reach The Finals in a Historic Season

The boys’ soccer team, the Peglegs, capped off their historic season in November, where they reached the PSAL finals for the first time in the team’s history. Following two straight years of falling just short in the semifinals, the Peglegs were finally able to break through. Although they were unable to bring the title home, the season represents a milestone for the team and is indicative of how much progress they’ve made in recent years. 

Stuyvesant entered the regular season coming off a strong preseason, where they went undefeated. The Peglegs carried this momentum into their first match of the season, winning 4-2 against Washington Irving High School. However, setbacks against stronger opponents in the division, like Martin Luther King Jr. High School and Hunter College High School, left the team in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time in several years. After a loss against Beacon High School, the team needed to win in their final match against Graphics Campus to secure a playoff spot. Luckily, the Peglegs rose to the occasion and ended the season with a dominant 5-0 win against Graphics Campus, securing their place into the playoffs with a 5-5-0 record and 15 points. 

The Peglegs faced Aviation High School in the first round of the playoffs; two late goals from senior and winger Quincy Figueroa propelled them to a 2-0 victory. The Peglegs continued with a strong 4-1 result against Beach Campus, paving the way for a rematch of last year’s 3-2 win in the third round of the playoffs against Curtis High School.

In the matchup against Curtis, the Peglegs conceded just five minutes into the match and were behind for more than an hour before responding with two goals late in the game to secure a 2-1 result. Despite it being the first time in the playoffs that the team has conceded first, the game was a testament to the team’s resilience and ability to persevere through adversity. “At no point did it ever feel like we were going to lose that game,” said senior, co-captain, and midfielder Leonardo Guidi. “I’m really proud of how much self-belief we had as a team,” Guidi added. The comeback was a pivotal moment in the team’s post-season run and geared the Peglegs up for a semifinal showdown against Metropolitan Campus, which was a familiar stage for many of the team’s older players who had played in the past two season’s semifinal losses. 

The Peglegs decided to use what had gotten them to the semifinals. “Our approach in the semifinals was basically the same plan we have had all season long. We wanted to continue to do what got us that far,” coach Vincent Miller said. Before any match in the season, Miller emphasized to the team the importance of taking each game one half at a time. This mentality kept the team composed, especially when they were going up against tougher opposition. The Peglegs’ decision not to deviate from their season-long approach ultimately proved successful: the team stepped up in the crucial moments to secure a decisive 4-2 victory over Metropolitan Campus, clinching their first-ever PSAL finals appearance.  

The Peglegs’ final obstacle between them and the PSAL title was Brooklyn Tech. Tech entered the match with a 13-1 record—one of the strongest teams in the city with dominant wins throughout the season, including 10-0 and 10-1 victories against George Westinghouse and two 9-1 victories against Erasmus Hall and James Monroe. Even so, Stuyvesant had already defeated higher-ranked teams earlier in the playoffs, including 7-1-2 Aviation High School and Metropolitan Campus, 9-1-0 Beach Channel, and 6-2-2 Curtis. 

The final was tightly contested. Tech’s first goal came from an unfortunate mistake by the Peglegs’ backline; failure to clear the ball resulted in a goal. To chase the equalizing goal, the Peglegs altered their game plan to be more offensive, while Tech closed in their lines as they attempted to hold their lead. However, the Peglegs’ aggressive approach left them vulnerable on the counterattack, which Tech exploited to generate their second goal. Although the Peglegs ultimately fell short and lost 2-0, the performance still shows how far they’ve come and underscores the growth they had throughout the season.

Even with the defeat, the Peglegs walked away from the match proud of what they had accomplished. “Reaching the finals was an incredible feeling for me, personally,” said coach Miller. He described the season as a “grind, with many obstacles that were put in front of the team: field space, limited time, school obligations, and family obligations.” “Reaching the finals just shows what hard work and determination can get you,” Miller said. Miller’s reflection on the season highlights the Peglegs’ ability to stay committed and push through adversity—a feature of the team that was integral to their postseason run. 

The season also highlighted the consistency the Peglegs have shown in the past few years as one of the best teams in the city. “We really proved that we’ve been one of the best teams in the city over the last three years and that we’re here to stay,” said Guidi. The Peglegs, along with MLK, are the only teams in the 3A PSAL division to reach three consecutive semifinals, an accomplishment that showcases the program’s development. 

Looking ahead to next season, the Peglegs hope that this year’s accomplishments set the tone for the team in the future. “I would say this group of players have set a very high bar for all future [Stuyvesant] soccer teams,” Miller said. Senior and midfielder Stefan Broge expressed confidence in the core of the team for next year. “[Juniors and defenders] Sobel and Zamir, as well as [junior and midfielder] Soichiro Sugawara, have all shown this season that they’re capable of leading next year,” Broge said. “They’ll play a substantial role in the team’s performance next season.” 

The Peglegs may have fallen just short of the championship title, but it is certain that the culture and momentum that they built this season has set a new standard for future teams.