The Voorheesville boys soccer team moved a step closer to its first regional playoff berth in five years.
Chris Dimmitt, David Suozzo and Andrew Cole scored in the penalty kick round to help the Blackbirds (13-2-2) get past a determined Schoharie team in Saturday’s Section II, Class CC championship game and earn a shot at Waterford-Halfmoon the state’s No. 3 ranked Class C team in Monday’s crossover game at Colonie Central High School.
`We have only three seniors, so it’s exciting [to get this far],` said Voorheesville coach Willie Sanchez. `It’s quite an accomplishment because we are so young.`
Voorheesville and Schoharie battled to a 1-1 tie through 80 minutes of regulation and two 15-minute overtime periods, which officially earned both teams a share of the Class CC title. Voorheesville got on the scoreboard 13 minutes into the first half when Dimmitt’s corner kick curled into the Schoharie goal, and Dylan LaBadia tied it midway through the second half on a direct kick.
`I think [Schoharie] did a very good job,` said Sanchez. `I give them credit. They played hard, and they played physical [in the second half].`
Voorheesville thought it had the game won outright in the second overtime period when Hayden Wood launched a shot past Schoharie goaltender Sean Lawyer, but it was called back on an offsides.
`We had a couple of good chances in overtime that we didn’t convert,` said Sanchez.
The penalty kick round started well for Voorheesville when Dimmitt made the team’s first shot, but LaBadia made Schoharie’s first attempt to tie. Both teams missed their next two attempts, with Lawyer and Voorheesville goaltender Joe Keenan each making key saves.
Suozzo gave the Blackbirds a 2-1 lead when his penalty kick found the upper part of the Schoharie goal. Terrence Bevins had a chance to tie, but Keenan made the save to give Voorheesville the break it needed. Cole then made his shot to propel the Blackbirds into the crossover game.
Voorheesville tried to carry the momentum into Monday’s match with Waterford, which breezed into the crossover game with a 3-1 victory over Central Hudson Valley League rival Berlin in Saturday’s Class C final.
`They have some very strong players that we have to take account of,` said Sanchez. `I think we’re going to have to maintain possession of the ball.“
