If the Guilderland boys soccer team keeps winning, head coach Mike Kinnally might need to take a second full-time job.
Kinnally already owes his players a dinner at Red Lobster following Monday’s 2-1 class AA quarterfinal victory over top-seeded Shenendehowa. A victory against Saratoga in Thursday’s semifinals could mean another dinner.
I might have to look into (working) overtime, said Kinnally.
The Dutchmen had to work overtime to defeat Shen. Each team scored in the first half and then played through 70 scoreless minutes before penalty kicks decided the match.
`To say that one team deserved to win over the other would be a disservice. It was that even,` said Kinnally.
The penalty kick round was even until the end. With each team making three out of four penalty kicks, Ryan LaFaro put Guilderland ahead 4-3 by making his shot. Uriah Myrie then stopped Shen’s last shot to preserve the Dutchmen’s victory.
`I watched every single (penalty kick) except for that last one,` said Kinnally. `I was looking up and apologizing for what I was asking for.`
T.J. Popolizio gave Shen a 1-0 lead on a first half goal off a pass from Joey Miner, but LaFaro tied it a short time later off a Kyle Klapp assist. Popolizio appeared to give the Plainsmen the lead again in the second half, but his goal was wiped out by an offsides call.
That was the last ball Myrie let in until the penalty kick round. The senior made 14 saves to keep the score tied.
Guilderland will now try to beat a Saratoga team that has given it fits this season. The two teams played to a scoreless tie on Sept. 13, and then the Blue Streaks edged the Dutchmen 2-1 Oct. 11.
`It doesn’t matter who you play. Everybody is good at this time of year,` said Kinnally.
The Dutchmen opened their playoff run last Friday with a 6-0 victory over Christian Brothers Academy in Colonie.
Guilderland took control early and never let up, out-shooting CBA 25-1. Klapp led the Dutchmen with two goals and two assists, while Frank Campagnano contributed a goal and two assists. LaFaro, Tony Campagnano and Brian Linehan also tallied.
`The nice thing about the CBA game was we got everybody in, and we kind of worked on the formations that we were going to use (against Shen),` said Kinnally.“