Bethlehem’s Austin Hughes grimaced as his shot went wide of the Niskayuna goal late in the second half of Saturday’s Suburban Council boys soccer game. Then, he shrugged off the missed opportunity with a smile.
After all, Hughes already had three goals. One more might have been overkill.
He couldn’t seem to miss except for that last shot,` said Bethlehem coach Phil Ridgway. `He played a great game.`
Hughes’ hat trick sparked the Eagles to a 4-0 victory over Silver Warriors and moved Bethlehem (7-3-1 league, 8-3-2 overall) within one-half point of Niskayuna (6-4-1) in the Blue Division standings heading into the final week of the regular season.
`Defensively, we played one of our best games, and we capitalized on some nice counterattacks,` said Ridgway.
`We’re scratching our heads right now because it certainly shouldn’t have been a 4-0 game,` said Niskayuna coach Jeff Ormsbee.
After a scoreless first half, Hughes went to work on Niskayuna’s defense. The senior midfielder forced a turnover less than three minutes into the second half, chipped the ball past a Niskayuna defender and shot it past goaltender Luke Citrinitti, who came out from the goal line to cut down the angle.
`The (Niskayuna) defense was playing slow, so I just got lucky that time,` said Hughes.
Sean Fishel had a chance to tie the game for the Silver Warriors 90 seconds later. Fishel had an open look at the Bethlehem goal, but his shot sailed wide past the left post.
That turned out to be an unfortunate break for Niskayuna. Less than two minutes later, Nick Jackson lofted a long, high crossing pass on goal, and Hughes headed the ball into the left corner of the net to give Bethlehem a 2-0 lead.
`I was waiting for one of those to come across all season, and it happened,` said Hughes.
Niskayuna turned up the offensive pressure after Hughes’ second goal, but goaltender Dan Maddock and the Bethlehem defense denied the Silver Warriors time and time again. In one instance, Maddock dove to block a Jake Johnson shot that was destined to enter the lower right corner of the goal.
`For a sophomore, the kid is playing fantastic,` Ridgway said of Maddock, who finished with seven saves. `He’s a very good shot blocker.`
Hughes put the game out of Niskayuna’s reach with 6:55 left in the second half. After watching two Silver Warriors play a long pass, Hughes stole the ball, sprinted past a Niskayuna defender and launched a shot past Citrinitti to complete his hat trick.
`Austin found the opposite side of the net, and he was very composed out there when he had the shot,` said Ridgway.
`We fell asleep in the back,` said Ormsbee. `We let him have spaces he shouldn’t have had. Credit him for taking advantage of his opportunities.`
Kevin Wendth capped Bethlehem’s victory in the 78th minute with his fifth goal of the season.
Niskayuna will have another shot at Bethlehem Friday when the two teams meet in Delmar.
`They’re going to be very angry (about the 4-0 loss), and they’re going to come out fighting,` said Ridgway. `You can never count Niskayuna out.`
`We’ve got to do a better job of opening (their defense) up,` said Ormsbee. `We need to see if we can get them to come out and play (the ball).`
Prior to Friday’s rematch with Niskayuna, Bethlehem has a score to settle with Blue Division leader Shenendehowa Wednesday in Clifton Park. The Plainsmen ` currently ranked No. 1 in the state ` defeated the Eagles 2-0 last month.“