GUILDERLAND — What looked like a promising season for the Guilderland ice hockey team, came to an end on Tuesday night in its first playoff game.

The Skating Dutchmen, who finished second in Division I of the Capital District High School Hockey League, were upset by seventh-seeded Saratoga, 2-1, at Union College’s Achilles Rink on a snowy night.
"It’s tough on the seniors," said Guilderland Coach John DeRubertis. "The way we finished last year and the way we were playing this year, we felt like we could make a good run. I knew coming in we wouldn’t blow this team away. It would have been good if it worked out that way, but playing them to a one-goal game in the playoffs, I’m never surprised."

Dan Going scored the game-winning goal for Saratoga in the third period.

The Dutch were just about done killing off a penalty when Going fired a shot on goal. Guilderland goalie Brendan Glennon made the initial save but the puck went right back to Going and he fired another shot that reached the goal and put the Blue Streaks on top, 2-1, with 6:27 left in the contest.

Greg Jacot was credited with an assist on the goal.

The Dutchmen tried to get the tying goal in the rest of the contest. They put constant pressure on Saratoga and its goaltender, Joe House, but could not get a puck past the senior netminder.

Senior forward Aaron Cahill tried his hardest for the Skating Dutchmen, but his blasts from the point could not find the net. Greg Warnken also had a couple of scoring chances but could not crack the Saratoga defense.
"Their goaltender did a tremendous job," DeRubertis said. "We were keeping them on their heels. But they took a 1-0 lead. It was nice we got that back. We put constant pressure on them but we couldn’t bang in the next one. If we can get one there, it changes everything. I have to give them credit."

"Pretty even"

Stephen Cash scored the first goal of the contest. The sophomore forward gave Saratoga the lead with 5:10 left in the opening period.

Cash took a shot that was stopped by Glennon but the rebound went right back to Cash and he fired a shot that went over the left shoulder of Glennon into the corner of the goal.

Garvin Dooley and Billy Mosso got the assists on the tally.

Saratoga scored the goal, despite being bombarded by the Dutchmen for the first 10 minutes of the contest. But the Blue Streaks weathered the storm and went ahead.

Guilderland did tie the game with 3:39 left in the opening period.

Dan Dickenson scored a power-play goal after a Saratoga penalty.

Jon Fogel shot the puck and it deflected off Dickenson’s stick in front of the goal and past House for the tally.

The goal came 1:19 into the penalty and appeared to give the Dutchmen new life. They continued to battle but could not jump ahead and the first period ended in a 1-1 draw.

The game was pretty even in the second period as both teams had chances but neither could get the leading goal. The middle frame ended with the same 1-1 score as the first stanza.

The Dutchmen outshot the Blue Streaks in the contest but could not get the winning goal and fell behind late in the third period.
"It was pretty even," DeRubertis said. "The shots were 32-22. It’s hard because we were tossing shots at them in deep but they got their shots off the rush. They would get the puck out and get an odd-man rush to the net. And they jumped on rebounds."

Glennon finished the contest with 30 saves and House made 21 for the Blue Streaks.

DeRubertis did not make any excuses for his team, but it was the third time the teams met during the season — with Guilderland winning both of the earlier contests — and it was also the Dutch’s fifth game in a week.

Tough schedule
"This is our fifth game since last Tuesday," the coach said. "That’s five games in seven days. It’s tough. It’s just one of those things. We got to a rolling start and that is something we’ve done in our league games. They survived it and got a goal and gained confidence. And that is all an underdog needs is to be close at the end."

The Dutchmen lost to Shenendehowa last Tuesday but came back to earn the number-two seed in the league after beating Glens Falls, 2-1. The Dutch also played in the Albany County Cup Tournament on Friday and Saturday.

Colin Burg scored the game-winning goal against Glens Falls in overtime. Greg Warnken scored the first goal for Guilderland with an assist from Burg. The Dutchmen were shorthanded when Burg scored the game-winning goal, shooting high on the glove side of the Glens Falls netminder.

Glennon made 24 saves in goal for the Dutch.

Guilderland beat Christian Brothers Academy, 4-2, in the first round of the first Albany County Cup tournament.

Dickinson scored two goals and added an assist to lead the Dutchmen. Warnken and Burg each scored a goal and added an assist. Jeff Geisendorfer had an assist for the Dutch.

Glennon made 27 saves for Guilderland in the contest.

Guilderland then beat Shaker-Colonie, 4-2, in the championship game of the tournament.

Dickinson scored two more goals and had two assists in the contest. Cahill and Burg each had a goal.

Warnken had two assists and Burg, Robby King, and Nick Koss each had an assist for the Dutchmen.

"Tough on the seniors"

Guilderland finishes the season with a 13-10-1 overall record and a 13-3 mark in the CDHSHL.

Seven seniors will graduate from this year’s Guilderland team. Glennon along with defenders Geisendorfer, Koss, Max Goodknight, and Fogel will be missed from next year’s team. High-scoring Cahill and reserve Brian Hart will also graduate.
"It tough on the seniors," DeRubertis said. "We have four on defense that did a tremendous job for the past three or four years. They improved and worked hard and are one of the best defenses in the league. I think they are deserving of being the top defense in the league. They could make that outright claim, because they are not superstar defensemen, but each is an all-star caliber defender. We got just one honorable mention, but there are a lot of good defensmen out there."

Fogel was given an honorable mention on the CDHSHL all-star team. Warnken was named to the first team at forward and Burg and Cahill were named to the second team at forward. Dickinson was named an honorable mention all-star.
"Cahill will be graduating," DeRubertis added. "It was a tough way to end and he showed some of that frustration at the end. Brian Hart wanted to be a part of the team with us. I think it was a positive experience for him. I was glad to have him.
"And Brendan Glennon, what can you say"" DeRubertis added. "We made vast improvement since the beginning of last year. He did more than what I expected of him since the beginning of last year. From then to this point, he’s been tremendous and he’s one of the best in the section.
"We looked like and felt like we would go further," DeRubertis concluded.