The Shaker girls soccer team got off on the right foot in the Section II, Class AA playoffs specifically, Caitlin Cahalan’s right foot.
The junior forward scored her team’s first three goals on her way to a four-point afternoon to lift the Blue Bison past Troy 8-0 in last Friday’s first round in Latham.
There were definitely good passes by my teammates, and I was lucky to finish them,` said Cahalan.
`It’s what we needed to do,` said Shaker coach Heather Daniels. `We needed to come out and make our mark, and we did that.`
Cahalan has been making her mark all season. Friday’s four goals lifted her season total to 32 ` three shy of her personal goal of 35.
`I had 15 last year, and I really wanted to improve from that,` said Cahalan. `I knew we’d have to score a lot of goals, and 35 seemed like a good number to me.`
Cahalan’s usual partner-in-goal-scoring is senior midfielder Becca Millock, but on Friday it was Kat Thomas who helped Cahalan get Shaker’s offense started. Thomas assisted on Cahalan’s first two goals, which came in the opening 10 minutes.
After Cahalan’s third goal, Shaker started spreading the wealth around. Sophomore midfielder Krista Pilla and freshman forward Bridget Malicki tallied later in the first half to give the Blue Bison a 5-0 halftime lead.
Senior forward Corinne Pro tacked on a goal early in the second half, and
sophomore Rhiannon Spencer tallied midway through the final 40 minutes to extend Shaker’s advantage to 7-0 before Cahalan capped the scoring by heading the ball into the goal in the final 10 minutes.
`It’s nice to see my teammates score, and it’s nice to get assists once in a while,` said Cahalan, who leads Shaker with 39 points. `It’s relieving (not to be the only goal scorer). I don’t have that much pressure.`
`Everybody works hard, and that’s what makes this team so great,` added Daniels.
Shaker looked to advance to the class AA semifinals when it hosted Saratoga in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round. The winner of that game faces either Queensbury or Shenendehowa in the semis.
Colonie, CBA lose in quarterfinals
Two boys soccer teams saw their seasons end in the class AA quarterfinals Monday.
Colonie and Albany played through 110 scoreless minutes before Albany won 7-6 in penalty kicks, while Shen downed Christian Brothers Academy 4-0 in Clifton Park.
Goaltender Rory Murphy stopped Colonie’s seventh penalty kick attempt, and Owen Daniels scored on his try to propel Albany into Thursday’s semifinal against Niskayuna, which survived a 3-2 overtime game against Guilderland Monday.
Shen scored two goals in each half to eliminate CBA. Andrew Tambasco, T.J. Popolizio, David Clemens and Joey Miner tallied for the Suburban Council champion Plainsmen.
Carm Volpe stopped 17 shots in goal for the Brothers, who edged Shaker 1-0 in last Friday’s opening round to advance.
In class D, Loudonville Christian’s season came to an abrupt end with a 2-1 opening round loss to Sharon Springs last Friday. Ryan Brown and Brian Warner scored first half goals to give the Spartans a 2-0 halftime lead. Dillon King tallied off a Matt Burke assist in the second half for the Eagles, but they couldn’t get the equalizer.
Goaltender Alex MaLossi made 17 saves for Loudonville Christian, which won the Central Hudson Valley League title this season.“