An unbeaten team is often referred to as “perfect,” a reflection of its won-lost record.
Guilderland boys’ soccer coach Mike Kinnally knows the difference between unbeaten and perfect, and he’s not about to let his team use the two adjectives interchangeably.
“We’re on a nice run, but there are still some things I’d like to see us do better on a consistent basis,” said Kinnally after the Dutchmen ran their Suburban Council
record to 11-0-0 (13-0-0 overall) Saturday with a
5-0 home win over Burnt Hill-Ballston Lakes. “They are playing well together, and I hope it’s something we can continue.
“But we also know that there’s not a team in the league that can’t beat us if we don’t play well.”
One of Kinnally’s concerns is his team’s slow starts.
“We’ve had several games where we’ve had five or six real good scoring chances early, and not finished,” he said. “Then we have to work harder.”
That concern was abated Saturday, when Sahr Nyuma raced to the far post and pushed home a shot by Tony Campagnano for a quick Guilderland lead. Caleb Ciaschetti made it 2-0 minutes later on a nice individual move, collecting the ball and turning away from pressure before firing.
A 3-0 lead all but decided the game, as Nyuma’s goal second of the day came with Burnt Hills goalie Michael Horan on the ground and out of the play after a mid-air collision with a Guilderland player.
Horan, who wears a soft helmet as protection after suffering a concussion earlier this season, injured his hip and had to leave the game.
“We’ve had some injuries, and we’re trying to hold it together until sectionals, and then try to get people healthy and make a run,” said first-year Spartans head coach Matt Jones of last year’s state Class A finalists.
Nick Cannistraci — who scored the overtime winner as Guilderland overcame a two-goal deficit late to beat Colonie on Thursday — made it 4-0 before the half, and Dylan Tate’s corner kick found the net in the second half.
The latest win means that Guilderland is focused on the upcoming Section II tournament, right?
Wrong.
“We’re doing well, but we can’t look at the end of the season yet,” said Campagnano, channeling the memory of last fall’s painful four-overtime loss to eventual champion Niskayuna in the Class AA playoffs. “Our season ended earlier than we wanted it to last year.”
Midfielder Kip Stillman thought this could be a special year for the Dutchmen, but, like Campagnano, isn’t about to take anything for granted.
“We’ve played a lot together, up through club and school soccer, and I thought these two [senior and junior] classes would make a good team,” he said. “But right now, we’ve got to think about playing Mohonasen on Monday.”
That’s the type of thinking that Kinnally likes.
“We’re not a bunch of chest thumpers,” said Kinnally, whose teams have increased their win total in each season since he took over the program in 2003. “I don’t want them to draw attention to themselves, and they’re not the types to do that.
“But when I took over the program, I said our goal was to be in the conversation when people are talking about the best programs in the section.
“I think we’re in the conversation now.”
PLAINSMEN WIN 10TH
While Guilderland has command of the South Division in the Suburban Council, Shenendehowa owns the North lead.
The Plainsmen improved to 10-1-1 with a 2-0 win over Mohonasen as David Clemens and Luke Popolizio supplied the goals.
Since he took over the program in 1980, Mike Campisi’s teams have failed to get to double digits in league wins only five times, including a 9-0-5 record in 2006.
Will Johns got a pair of goals, and Tristan Frey added one, as Saratoga Springs blanked Colonie, 3-0.
Aaron Costello had to make six saves in posting the shutout.
Seth Van Der Veer, Sean Murphy, Matt Capeless, Austin Britt and Bobby Daley all had goals as Shaker downed Averill Park, 5-0.
Logan Sharpe scored off a Colin Dierks assist as Schoharie got past Sharon Springs, 1-0, in the Western Athletic Conference.
Matt Akin and Jason Winckler scored goals as Tamarac beat Chatham, 2-1, in the rescheduled final of the Tamarac tourney.
Josh Kohrs answered for Chatham in this matchup of teams that should do well in the Class B sectionals.
Waterford-Halfmoon picked up its 12th win against two losses as Dylan Carlton scored in the second overtime to beat Catholic Central, 2-1, in a non-league game.
Kyle Lessard (penalty kick) had the other goal for the Fordians. George Harrienger scored for the Crusaders.
KNIGHTS TRIM BLACKBIRDS
Taylor O’Malley-Jura scored a first-half goal as Lansingburgh edged Voorheesville, 1-0, to get to 5-3-1 in Colonial Council girls’ play.
Calli Moise made four saves for the Knights.
Ashley Wilson set up a Lindsey Millett goal as Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk got past Albany Academy, 1-0.
Bernadette Jordan and Kierra Moore scored to give Holy Names a 2-1 win over Cobleskill-Richmondville. Ashleigh Tracy had the goal for the Bulldogs.
Schuylerville pulled into a second-place tie with Tamarac in the Wasaren League with a 2-1 win over Cambridge. Laura Hanehan and Molly O’Connor scored for the Black Horses, who have 16 points on an 8-2-0 record, including a win over 7-1-2 Tamarac.
Beth Cleeland scored two goals as Schoharie topped Sharon Springs, 4-0, in the Western Athletic Conference. Mattia Cornell added a goal and an assist for the Indians, with Hillary Hext getting the other score.
Categories: High School Sports
