Saratoga’s bid for its first Section II soccer title fell one game short.
Bryan White scored two goals in the final 3:33 to lift Bethlehem past Saratoga 2-0 in Tuesday’s class AA boys soccer championship game at Colonie Central High School.
It could have gone either way, said Saratoga coach Doug Leininger. `I thought we played better in the second half, but we missed a couple of opportunities.`
The Blue Streaks had a chance to take the lead less than three minutes into the second half. Bethlehem goaltender Jason Daniels came off his line to snare a loose ball, but Saratoga’s Johnathan Rosebrook beat Daniels to the ball and crossed it to Sean Behan in front of an empty net. Behan’s shot sailed high over the crossbar, though.
`The player was where he was supposed to be,` said Leininger.
Rosebrook had his own chance at an empty net goal later in the second half. He knocked the ball away from Daniels and shot it toward the goal, but Bethlehem’s defense swooped in and cleared the ball away.
White broke the scoreless deadlock less than six minutes later. After his initial shot was stopped by Warren Gross, White kicked the rebound away from Gross’ hands and knocked the ball into the empty net.
White added an insurance goal 93 seconds later. Bill Barrowman sent a crossing pass to White, who headed the ball past Gross.
`I just saw it coming and put my head on it,` said White.
Gross made several saves in his final game in a Saratoga uniform. The senior goalie will be playing for Penn State next fall after earning all-Suburban Council first-team honors the last three years.
`It feels good to have gotten this far,` said Gross, who never played for a Sectional title before this season. `It would have been better to win, but we came a long way.`
Bethlehem advances to Friday’s regional playoff game against Section III champion Cicero-North Syracuse at West Genesee High School outside Syracuse. Saratoga finishes its season with an 11-8-2 record.“