Category Archives: Sports

Charlotte FC Beats Red Bull New York 2-0

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By Raquel Laskowski

The match between Charlotte FC and Red Bull New York came down to which goalkeeper was the better passer, a difference that helped separate the visiting team from their New Jersey-based opponents in a 2-0 victory on July 25. 

Keepers Ethan Horvath (Red Bull New York) and Kristijan Kahlina (Charlotte) each stood at their post, ready to block the shots that would soon encroach on the net behind them. They watched and waited. With both teams sharing the same 6-6-4 (win-loss-draw) record, the anticipation was high.

Charlotte started strong, but by minute three, New York had majority possession, nearly scoring from a corner kick. However, defender Matthew Dos Santos miscalculated a pass from a later set piece, handing Charlotte possession of the ball. At minute six, Horvath broke and Charlotte midfielder Pep Biel scored the team’s opening goal. 

At the ten minute mark, Kahlina painted a rainbow above the field with a goal kick to Horvath, who smashed the ball out of bounds. Two minutes later, Charlotte midfielder Ashley Westwood scored off a low shot at goal after forward Kerwin Vargas found him from the left side. 

Unfortunately for their fans, New York couldn’t get the ball past Kahlina. The major difference between the teams’ strategies was the use of their respective keepers. While Charlotte utilized their keeper’s strong kicks and ability to find openings, New York wasn’t using Horvath in its passing game. This was evident in the first half, where Kahlina continuously helped Charlotte stretch their passing lanes from one side of the field, back to him, and then back to the other side with a quick ambush towards the home team’s goal. 

In contrast, New York’s offense relied on passing between midfielders and wings with high crosses. That strategy allowed Charlotte to knock the ball away with ease and regain possession. Horvath received only his second pass in the 39th minute of the game. He kicked it down the field, where Charlotte players again stole possession and passed the ball downfield towards the goal. 

When the whistle blew and the second half began, Red Bull New York adopted Charlotte’s formula: using their keeper to add to the team’s on-field passing dynamic. With both teams passing from keeper to keeper, the gameplay turned from formations and passing plays to aggressive blocks and steals. New York’s new strategy worked. They held possession for the majority of the second half, taking 23 shots on their way. 

Unfortunately for New York, their late shift in strategy could not make up for their performance in the first half of the game. Kahlina made 47 pass attempts, nearly doubling Horvath’s 19. It makes sense that the final score followed suit.

Red Bull New York’s Defensive Drought Continues

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By Yeisbel Peña

Charlotte FC needed just twelve minutes to decide their July 25 match at Sports Illustrated Stadium, beating Red Bull New York, 2-0, in a match decided not by sustained pressure, but by consistent defensive lapses. 

Both goals came in the opening stretch of the game, with Charlotte’s Pep Biel striking in the seventh minute and Ashley Westwood scoring another in the twelfth. On the other end of the field, Charlotte Keeper Kristijan Kahlina finished with five saves to close out the shutout in front of a home crowd that had barely settled in their seats before the deficit hit two. 

The early Red Bull collapse reflected a season-long struggle for the team’s back line. Dylan Nealis, Justin Che, Julián Bazán and Matthew Dos Santos have rotated through the defense amid injuries and inconsistent form. Neither of the team’s centerbacks closed in on Biel in time to stop his opener. Charlotte worked the ball through the midfield unchallenged, landing a low finish from just inside the box. Westwood found even more room on the second goal, arriving at the back post without a Red Bull defender in sight. 

Charlotte’s defense had its shaky stretches, too. The visiting team conceded chances late in first-half stoppage time and again after the break as New York’s Cade Cowell, Emil Forsberg and Adri Mehmeti pushed forward, looking for a way back into the match. Mehmeti forced a save in the closing minutes of the game, but Charlotte’s back line, marshaled by Kahlina’s five stops, held on comfortably enough that the outcome was rarely in doubt. 

The loss dropped the Red Bulls to 6-4-7 on the season, 22 points, while Charlotte improved to 7-4-6, 25 points, tightening the race in a crowded Eastern Conference table. Neither club sits comfortably in its conference standing, a detail that fits a broader trend across the league this year. MLS teams have generally found it easier to score than to stop opponents from scoring.

Roster turnover, congested fixture lists tied to international windows, and league-wide spending that favors attackers over centerbacks have left many clubs cycling through back-line combinations without ever settling on a consistent unit. Saturday’s match compressed that trend into a dozen minutes, as two early defensive breakdowns decided a game that otherwise stayed competitive from end to end.

For Red Bull New York, the result renews questions about whether the roster has kept pace with a division growing more direct in the final third at a time when reliable defensive options remain difficult to find across the MLS.

Clean Up on the BULLevard

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By Kamiyah Hill

As thousands of fans took their seats at Sports Illustrated Stadium, Red Bull New York was not the only focus of the crowd. The stadium, which holds over 20,000 people, leaves a lasting impression on anyone who has ever stepped inside. During Saturday’s game against Charlotte FC, fans filled the stadium hoping to see a win. But would that excitement hold? 

One reason for the excitement: Game day, July 25, was the birthday of the team’s mascot, REDD. A party for REDD was held at a fan event called The BULLevard, where the well-known cast of Sesame Street welcomed young Red Bull fans to celebrate with meet-and-greets with Elmo, coloring stations, face painting, and games. The Red Bull logo was everywhere. Fans were encouraged to arrive early to receive a limited edition REDD bobble head.

After making it past security, the majority of the crowd went up a large staircase to the stadium’s concourse, where food vendors lined the walkway. The smell of the greasy chicken tenders, fries and pizzas was striking. Fans searched for their seats in sections labeled above staircases, which made the area easy to navigate. 

The stadium appeared to be freshly cleaned; the floors were wet and shiny, presumably mopped and pedestrians navigated the paths without much foot traffic. In a women’s bathroom near third story Section 224, the floor was clear save for a few tiny ants marching between the stalls. The bathroom was accessible, fully stocked and welcoming to all, with many stalls and sinks available. 

The rows in the upper stands were close together, forcing fans to stand from their seats to allow others to pass or turn vertically to slip through, which made it hard for others to get to their seats. The stands were trash-free and the seats left no residue.

Fireworks went off before the game began, leaving behind a thick grey smoke that made it hard to see the action. As the smoke cleared, children and adults walked onto the pitch holding a New York Red Bull banner during the national anthem, which was followed by another firework display. The game began shortly after. 

At halftime, youth teams took the field while Elmo helped REDD celebrate his birthday with a cake. If the environment was supposed to be family friendly, many fans did not receive the message. Older fans yelled out profanities and degrading chants, disappointed by their team’s poor performance in a 0-2 loss to Charlotte FC. 

Despite the loss and the inconsiderate behavior of some of those present, the fans had fun and the stands were clean. For some, that’s enough. But for others, the bathroom conditions, lingering fireworks smoke and lack of space in the stands might be a dealbreaker. 

‘Sesame Street’ After Dark

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By Emma Gaskill

Red Bull New York’s first home game after the World Cup on Saturday was supposed to be a welcoming, kid-friendly environment because of its “Sesame Street” theme, but rowdy adults got in the way.

New York fans were excited to finally see their team back in action as red and yellow filled the stadium. Red Bull’s mascot, Redd, was even celebrating his second birthday with fellow sports mascots from around the country, and special guest Elmo.

Although the night was meant to be special, New York fans were quickly disappointed as Charlotte scored two quick goals before the tenth minute. Naturally, the adults in the stadium became angry with the performance of their team. 

Not everyone felt the same amount of anger. A few rows into section 225, there were kids no older than ten or eleven enjoying their night. But the emotions of frustrated grown-up fans caused those kids to move seats, leaving the yelling adults behind. 

 This highlighted a key divide between fans in this game: Kids versus adults.

Both groups handled Saturday’s game differently, specifically the losing, and their reactions weren’t necessarily mixing. 

In a game centered around kids, there were adults who clearly disregarded the audience around them. They shouted at refs about calls, or the lack thereof, that they didn’t agree with. For instance, they shouted when Adri Mehmeti was sent off with a red card. The general play by the athletes also caused an uproar among fans. 

In the same 225 section, a little kid that was no older than eight or nine was simply cheering for New York, hoping that they would score goals and win the game. 

New York’s Emil Forsberg, the team captain, talked about how he liked the energy of the fans and how it brought a good feeling to the team. That same energy didn’t have a similar impact on the children in the crowd. Parents of those children now have to think about the environment they are putting their kids into at Red Bulls games. Sports games are fun, but parents also have a responsibility to their children.

Adults are going to get angry when their teams lose a game and kids are always going to be at sports games. Should these adults have reigned in their vulgarities at a game specifically marketed to kids? Maybe. But should parents know that their kids might hear some bad words at a Red Bull game? 

Definitely.

Championship Slump: NY Liberty Come Up Short 

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By Richard F.

Before tip-off, the story was simple: experience over youth. Social media buzzed with predictions of a dominant New York win. The fans brought swagger, confident that the star-studded Liberty roster would roll over the unproven Los Angeles Sparks — a team full of rookies and overlooked talent. But that confidence unraveled almost immediately.

From the opening minutes of the first quarter, it was clear the Sparks weren’t there just for the sake of it; they came to win. L.A. took a commanding 15-point lead using an unorthodox strategy powered by their explosive speed and athleticism. The rookies repeatedly attacked the basket, overwhelming New York’s defense. The veterans lost star Breanna Stewart to injury early, allowing the Sparks to maintain their lead into the second quarter. The crowd sounded their frustrations with their ear-splitting boos. 

The advantage of the Sparks’ youthful energy was undeniable, but the crowd didn’t give up on the Liberty. New York kicked it into high gear, catching up in the third quarter. The atmosphere became ecstatic as Ionescu broke a franchise record with her 16th 30-point game.

Although the vets had their honed plays and established chemistry, they were brought down by pure youthful tenacity. With the game tied at 99-99 and one second left on the clock, player Rickea Jackson accepted a pass in the paint from teammate Dearica Hamby, then heaved up an off-balance shot.

Swish. 

Silence reverberated through Barclays Center as the underdog Sparks celebrated their buzzer-beater at center court. It was a statement win on the road for L.A., showing that being untraditional and fresh-faced doesn’t always mean being sloppy and reckless. 

Liberty’s 6th woman rallies to bring a comeback 

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By Bryan R.V.

The New York Liberty were down in the first quarter. Way down. With 1:32 left on the clock, they trailed the Los Angeles Sparks 24-15. L.A. was relentless. When Rae Burall walled off Natasha Cloud from getting into the paint, it seemed like another missed opportunity. But Cloud spun wide and with help from Isabelle Harrison, put up a shot to let it fly. 

Bucket. 

The crowd roared with excitement after witnessing the masterpiece of a play. The sixth woman had arrived. 

Just over 16,000 people were in attendance to watch the Liberty, one of the best teams in the league and the Sparks, one of the worst, at the Barclays Center. Liberty fans cheered for a comeback after L.A. got off to a hot start, looking to extend its four-game win streak. The Sparks dominated early, with Kelsey Plum launching fearless 3s while New York stood paralyzed. Things worsened when Breanna Stewart exited three minutes into the game with a leg injury. At halftime, the Liberty trailed 58-45. All the momentum belonged to the Sparks. 

The response came from the fans.

The Liberty faithful poured their hearts out like their lives were on the line. Ellie the Elephant, New York’s world-famous mascot, put on a performance that could rival Beyoncé. The team picked up speed in the third, scoring 24 points. Natasha Cloud and Sabrina Ionescu locked in and made repeated big plays, the fans going ballistic over each highlight. Cloud gave it her all, scoring 22 points and putting on a show after each bucket. Ionescu recorded her 16th 30-point game, a new franchise record. But what sent the fans into absolute madness was a simple free throw. 

With 2:18 left on the clock, Ionescu was rewarded with one shot and the opportunity to tie up the game. Just like Atlas, Ionescu carried the weight of the world to keep the Liberty’s win streak alive. 

Bucket. 95-95.

New York had completed the comeback, and the torch was blazing hot. The jumbotron words jumped on screen, the arena lights tried to give someone an epileptic seizure, the fans rallied to cheer on their favorite team. But with the score tied at 99-99 and the clock ticking toward zero, the Spark’s Rakia Jackson launched a desperate shot over the Liberty’s Stephanie Talbot. Bucket. 

Cutting Weight Can Wait; Teens’ Health Can’t

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Aigner Settles (left) and Sofia Barnett (right) powerlifting for their high school teams.

By Sofia Barnett

Frisco, Tex.

I didn’t understand the toxicity of high school sports until I had to lose 11 pounds in 36 hours for varsity powerlifting.

On weigh-in day, I rose before the sun. Having completely deprived myself of food the day before, I immediately sank back down as fireworks of red, blue, and green interrupted my blurred vision—my body’s way of warning me that I needed help. I put on five sweat- shirts and six pairs of sweatpants, hot-flashing already as I struggled to tie my sneakers. Still, I made it to my high school track just before the first wave of runners started their early morning jogs.

Twenty sprints, 100 meters, 16-second average. Ready, go.

My heavy exhalation lingered in clouds of vapor in the cold December air. I wasn’t sweating enough. The chill was preventing me from expelling every remaining drop of water my body had clung to. It became too much. I threw up on the side of the track just as the sun began to rise: a ceremony honoring the fact that my stomach had forced out the last of its contents.

For thousands of student athletes nationwide, the demands of weight-cut culture are a tragic reality. In order to compete, lifters and wrestlers must make a designated weight class, often by gaining or losing weight rapidly, forcing them to choose between their health and their athletic performance. With added pressures from coaches and teammates, it’s not an easy choice to make. At what point does an athlete say no?

As weight-cut culture continues to grow, the increasing number of athletes resorting to physical harm in order to make weight is not only normalized, but praised within the sports community. During my time as a powerlifter, I have heard locker-room horror stories of coaches buying students laxatives, glorifying eating disorders and unjustly punishing athletes who were unlucky enough to miss weight by even the slightest fraction of a pound.

As teenagers, we are highly susceptible to internalizing the beliefs we are exposed to, whether good or bad. Young athletes, told often of the virtues of rapid weight fluctuation, start to believe that the harm they are causing their bodies is just another inconvenience they have to overcome rather than a potentially life-threatening compulsion.

We are minors. This isn’t the Olympics, it’s high-school competition. The only thing at stake here is a cheap, bulk-produced aluminum medal that will eventually end up collecting dust in a grandmother’s moldy basement—well, that and our health. The detrimental impacts of weight-cut culture—immune system deterioration, development of unhealthy habits, and life-long trauma—far outweigh any momentary competitive advantage.

That boy spitting ounces of saliva into a jug on meet day deserves better. That girl sticking two fingers down her throat because she accidentally forgot she couldn’t have breakfast deserves better. My teammates, my competitors, and I deserve better.

In kneeling, Kaepernick and other players show patriotism

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By Jayda Jones 

Brownsville, PA

The last few words of the national anthem—the home of the brave—could refer to Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid, or any of the dozens of other National Football League players who have protested police brutality by kneeling during the song. Two years after Kaepernick first declined to stand during the pregame rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner,” NFL players are still exercising their first-amendment rights to demonstrate against racism. 

Some say the anthem is no time to protest. But far from being unpatriotic, the act of kneeling is a respectful form of civil disobedience that protests the fact that America does not treat its citizens equally. 

It’s important to remember why Kaepernick started his protest. A few weeks before Kaepernick first demonstrated during the anthem, Alton Sterling, an unarmed African-American man, was killed by police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. “This is what lynchings look like in 2016,” Kaepernick said. Other players soon followed.

Peaceful protest, even during the national anthem, is protected under the First Amendment.  But while the players clearly have a right to speak, it’s important that we listen.

For too long, the voices of people of color in America have been overlooked, which is why kneeling is so important. It’s showing that we as African Americans cannot praise or pledge our full hearts to a country that is condoning the murder of our people. It’s showing that while we respect our country enough to refrain from speaking during the anthem, we still demand to be heard through our actions to protest this long history of injustice.

Kaepernick’s loudest critic has been President Trump, who has pushed the NFL to suspend players who protest during the national anthem. “Find another way to protest,” Trump tweeted last week. But the protest’s goals were never to disrespect. The true betrayal of America is the brutality and injustice many citizens continue to experience. 

The issue of police brutality has instilled fear in the black community, leading many of them to flee when a policeman is in sight lest they be targeted and terrorized. Of course, this only makes the situation worse and leads policemen to target black individuals more, but what are you supposed to do when the color of your skin is a danger to you, and apparently, a danger to someone else? 

We protest for 17-year-old high school student Antwon Rose, unarmed when he was killed by police in East Pittsburgh, Pa. We protest for Charles Kinsey, a behavioral therapist shot by police in North Miami, Fla., while helping a patient. We protest for Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, Stephon Clark and too many others. African Americans are still being brutally and wrongfully murdered, and justice is rare. That’s why we protest. Until I, as a black female, or my brother, as a black male, can comfortably exist in a room with a police officer, or walk into a store without being accused of stealing, we will protest. Until society starts treating African-Americans like first-class citizens, we will protest.

You may not understand it, you may stand, but don’t be surprised if I kneel. That’s patriotism. 

Darnold shines in first pro action

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By Devontae Jackson

Dayton, OH

East Rutherford, N.J.–The New York Jets have a big decision to make. The competition between Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater, and Sam Darnold to win the team’s starting quarterback job began in earnest on Friday when the Jets took on the Falcons in a preseason game at MetLife Stadium.

While McCown started the game, both Bridgewater and Darnold made good cases to be the starter on Sept. 10 when the Jets open their season against the Lions. 

McCown, the Jets’ Week 1 starter last season, only lasted one series, completing one pass on one attempt for four yards. He was replaced by Teddy Bridgewater, playing in his first game for the Jets after signing for New York this offseason. On his first drive, the former Vikings quarterback gave the Jets a lead with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Crowell.  

Bridgewater stuck around for the rest of the first quarter and into the early part of the second quarter. He finished the game with seven completions on eight attempts, 85 yards, and one touchdown. 

Jets head coach Todd Bowles praised Bridgewater after the game. “I think it’s great for him to get back out on the field, just enjoy himself and have some success early was great for him,” Bowles told reporters. “I know he had a big smile on his face, so I’m just happy for him.”

But the new rookie in town, Sam Darnold, stole the show. Selected No. 3 in the 2018 NFL draft out of USC, Darnold started off slow in the second quarter. He overthrew a pass to Charles Johnson, but he settled in and slowly but surely moved the ball up the field. Just before the end of the first half, Darnold found Johnson in the endzone for a 14-yard touchdown, with the extra point giving New York a 17-0 lead. 

“He looked comfortable,” Bowles said of the rookie quarterback after the game. “He was excited going out.” He also said Darnold “can get better at some things, we can get better at some things as a team.” 

Darnold remained under center for the entire second half and finished the game 13 of 18 for 96 yards and a touchdown. Action slowed down after the break, as neither team scored, sealing a 17-0 victory for New York. 

Bridgewater had the highest overall quarterback rating of 150.5 at the end of the game. Darnold followed Bridgewater with 103.0, while McCown’s lone completion gave him an 83.3 rating. 

Bowles praised all three quarterbacks, though he has yet to name his starter for Week 1. “I’ll make my decision when it happens,” Bowles said. “I’m not going to jump to conclusions after one game.”

Darnold impressive in Jets preseason game

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By Kendall Williams

Phenix City, AL

East Rutherford, N.J.–Break! The Jets, leading the Falcons 10-0 in the second quarter, scrambled out of their huddle like hungry wolves. Though only the preseason, the moment felt anything but meaningless: Rookie quarterback Sam Darnold was in the first goal-line situation of his NFL career. 

Anxiety infused the thousands of Jets fans gathered in the stadium as New York took to the line, just over a minute remaining in the first half. Darnold had completed six consecutive passes in less than two minutes to move the Jets from their own 36-yard line to the doorstep of Atlanta’s endzone. On first and goal from Atlanta’s three-yard line, the Jets lined up with an empty backfield. The ball was snapped, and Darnold hooked a pass to Charles Johnson on the right, but failed to find his receiver. On second and goal, Darnold handed off to Trenton Cannon, but the Falcons gobbled him up in the backfield. 

On third and goal, Darnold found Charles Johnson in the endzone, but referees ruled Johnson had pushed off his defender, negating New York’s touchdown. Backed up to the 14-yard line, New York lined up in shotgun formation with Cannon in the backfield and Johnson still on the right wing. The ball was snapped and Darnold, shuffling his feet and glancing left then right, found Johnson again in the right corner of the endzone: the first-round pick’s first touchdown pass of the preseason.

This isn’t Darnold’s first rodeo dealing with the pressure and responsibilities of the quarterback position. During two years as a starter for USC, Darnold won 20 games and lost just four, throwing for 7,229 yards and 57 touchdowns against 22 interceptions. 

Darnold, who finished Friday’s game 13 of 18 for 96 yards and a touchdown, is competing with veterans Josh McCown and Teddy Bridgewater to win New York’s starting quarterback job. But if he continues playing like he did against the Falcons, he could start for the Jets in their Week 1 game against the Lions. 

Though the Jets won the game 17-0, Atlanta is expected to be a better team this season, mostly because of the team’s star quarterback, Matt Ryan, who only played one series on Friday. Ryan’s first NFL season was jaw-dropping, as he went on to win Offensive Rookie of the Year after throwing for 3,340 yards and 16 touchdowns. 

Will Sam Darnold be the 2018 version of 2008’s Matt Ryan? No one knows the answer to that question just yet, but Darnold is making a convincing case for himself as New York’s starting quarterback.