GUILDERLAND — With a five-goal lead early in the second half, Guilderland girls’ lacrosse Coach Gary Chatnik called a timeout.

His team had just given up a sloppy goal and the coach sensed that his players were in a funk.

The timeout worked as Guilderland scored six straight goals and did not give up another until there were 21 seconds to go in the game. The outburst allowed the Lady Dutch to surprisingly cruise to a 14-4 win over Saratoga in the Class A Section II semifinals on Wednesday. Guilderland will play Shaker next Thursday at the University at Albany. The game will start at 7 p.m.
"We were getting sloppy and we needed to settle things down," Chatnik said about calling the timeout. "We had had a sloppy defensive play and Saratoga made a good hustle play."
"That’s what timeouts are for to re-focus," said Guilderland senior Nikki Branchini. "We kind of took over. Our offense got going and we were winning the draw controls. We got it going in time."

Guilderland led at halftime, 7-2. The lead was quickly added to as Abbey Fashouer scored about a minute-and-a-half into the 25-minute period.

The Lady Dutch had more opportunities to score but Saratoga goalie, Erin Delancey, made some good saves including three straight on Guilderland free positions after Blue Streak fouls.

Then Guilderland gave up the sloppy goal on a clearing attempt and Chatnik called the timeout.

Lauren Pescetti scored the goal with an assist from Morgan Powell.

Guilderland responded as ninth-grader Chelsea Newman scored with 12:10 left in the game.

Three minutes later, Courtney Davis followed up with a goal on a strong drive to the cage to make the score, 9-3.

Davis was credited with another goal as a loose ball got into the goal as the Blue Streaks tried to clear it out of their end. Davis scored her third straight goal as she took off from the re-start and ran straight to the goal and fired a shot that found the back of the net.

Guilderland had a nine-goal lead, 12-3.

Davis scored again with 3:54 left in the game and Branchini rounded out the Guilderland scoring with a goal with 2:04 left in the game.
"Defense today"
"It was defense today," Chatnik said. "We ran seven defenders in there. From our attack to defense, our defense was tough. Jen Kaye kept us in it early. She made big saves. We went down, 1-0, but then she made, two, three, and four saves. She made some great saves early on. She did what a goalie is supposed to do. Then we started playing."

Kaye finished the game with five saves before coming out late in the second half. Amanda Santandrea made one save for the Lady Dutch.

Emily Layden scored the first goal of the contest for Saratoga.

Guilderland then got three straight goals from Danielle Tetreault, Branchini, and another from Tetreault. Amanda Best assisted on Tetreault’s second goal.

Tetreault scored again with an assist from Branchini. Saratoga got its second goal but Guilderland scored the final three goals of the half.

Newman, Fashoeur, and Branchini had the tallies. Branchini and Bridget Daley assisted on the final two goals.

The Dutch also got a break when Layden, who will play at Stanford University next year, was given her second yellow card and was forced from the game.
"It made it easier for us," Chatnik said. "We could focus on the rest of their players. They didn’t have their best player so we didn’t have to put our best defender on her. If that doesn’t happen, we can’t slide and take chances with our defense."

On to the finals

Now it is on to the finals for the Lady Dutch. Guilderland lost in the finals in 2005 and the semifinals last year.

The Lady Dutch players were a little surprised to hear that Shaker, not perennial power Bethlehem, would be their opponent.
"It’s exciting," said Branchini, who did not play on the 2005 team. "We can’t take Shaker lightly. We went to five overtimes and barely beat them last time. If they are good enough to beat Bethlehem, they are good enough to beat anybody."
"We had a tough game with them," Chatnik said. "It was no picnic. They have a lot of talent. They are a good team.
"We’ll start looking at them," the coach added. "We have a lot of work cut out for us. It’s the same deal. We’ll take it one at a time. We’ll start planning for them."

With another trip to the finals, comes some added excitement for the team.
"The fans and the support here is great," Branchini said. "This is the biggest crowd we’ve had here all year. It feels good to have all them behind you.
"All the teachers are excited," she added. "They always come up to me and ask how I’m doing. Guilderland sports this year are all doing well."

And as for a trip to the finals in her senior year, the University of Albany bound senior is really up for it.
"I’m excited to be going there," Branchini said. "It’s what we have been working toward all year. It’s what really matters."