The balance of power in the Suburban Council may be shifting north.
With last Saturday’s 5-1 victory over Shenendehowa, the Saratoga Springs girls soccer team made a clear statement that it will be a force to be reckoned with.
This is a big win for us, said first-year Saratoga coach Adrienne Dannehy. `The girls have been looking forward to this game for the past couple of weeks.`
Eva Geraghty and Devry Drosky scored in the first half to give Saratoga (2-0 league, 3-1 overall) a 2-0 halftime lead.
Shen (0-2, 0-2) had a chance to get on the scoreboard in the first half, but Saratoga goaltender Liz Rogan stopped the initial shot, and the rebound glanced off the goalpost.
The Blue Streaks extended their lead midway through the second half on goals by Elizabeth Boyer and Chloe Boutelle. Claire Kershko scored on a free kick with five minutes left to notch the Plainsmen’s lone goal, but Boyer struck again with two minutes left to re-establish Saratoga’s four-goal cushion.
`Shen’s always a strong program, and we did not come into this game thinking this would be easy,` said Dannehy.
It was not the only surprising result of the weekend for Shen. Ballston Spa defeated the Plainsmen 2-0 last Friday to earn its first victory over Shen.
`We need to focus on our creativity in the front third (of the field) and start connecting our passes,` said Shen coach Holli Mulholland. `If you looked at what we did (against Saratoga), you’d see we’re still doing the things that Shen soccer is famous for ` good formations and short, crisp passes. We just need to start connecting.`
Shen will get second chances against Ballston Spa and Saratoga later this season, so neither Mulholland nor Dannehy read too much into Saturday’s outcome.
`Believe it or not, I still think we will be a team to watch out for by the end of the season,` said Mulholland. `The girls are working very hard. We’re just not connecting.`
`We know we’ve got a long way to go,` added Dannehy.
Ballston Spa (2-0) and Saratoga continued their winning ways Tuesday. Ballston Spa ran past Shaker 6-2, while Saratoga edged defending Section II, Class AA champion Niskayuna 2-1.
The Scotties jumped out to a 4-0 first half lead and never looked back in handling Shaker. Alena Greco and Annie Czelusniak each scored a pair of goals, and goaltender Renee Cairns stopped 12 of the 14 shots she faced to lead Ballston Spa to the win. Lauren Audi and Demi Feder both contributed a goal and an assist.
Niskayuna (1-1) had a 1-0 halftime lead on Whitney Frary’s goal, but Boyer struck twice in the second half to propel Saratoga to victory.
Tuesday’s game between Shen and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake was postponed by rain. The neighboring rivals meet Wednesday.“