GUILDERLAND — This might be the most talented team Guilderland soccer coach Mike Kinally has had in his four years at the school.

But he wants to see how his players will perform on the field before he claims them as the best. Due to the late start date of practices — Aug. 21, a week later than usual — the Dutchmen haven’t had time to put in a lot of the practice time Kinnally feels the team needs.
"We have a game on Friday and we have done 60 to 70 percent of what I want to cover," Kinnally said. "We have Columbia the following week and everything should be good by then. We’ve stayed away from the injury bug and we’ve been blessed about that."

The Dutchmen open the season on Friday in the Queensbury Tournament. They will play Scotia-Glenville on Friday and then the host team on Saturday..
"It’ll be a good tournament to start off well," Kinnally said. "Everybody is squeezed for time"They both are probably the top teams in the Foothills Council."

The Dutch will have a scrimmage today (Thursday) that includes Chatham and Niskayuna.
"It will help," Kinnally said. "We haven’t even gone 11 versus 11 in practice that much. We have a lot of teaching to do. We have a lot of new players."

But they are talented new players.
"Our skill level is better," Kinnally said. "We have to deal with holes from players that graduated last year. But I feel we’re better in terms of personnel. Whether we perform better than last year is the question.
"We’re definitely deeper than last year," Kinnally added. "Our team speed is better than last year."

Kinnally sees just a couple of spots where the team will need to find a replacement.
"Losing [Mike] Camardo probably will hurt us," the coach said. "Everywhere else, we’re stronger. We have to figure out what to do in the midfield."

"Intangibles"
The Dutch have been working on the "intangibles."
"What I mean by that is," Kinnally said, "working on our shape and formation of plays, improving our re-starts and all those types of things."

The Dutch are senior heavy with eight returning from last year’s team and six probably earning starting roles. Kinnally also sees a sophomore and four juniors in starting roles.

Junior Frank Campagnano will return to lead the attack on offense. Senior Chris Conway returns from an injury-plagued campaign in 2005 to help on the front line.
"He was injured at the beginning of the year," Kinnally said. "And I’m not sure he was up to 100 percent full playing ability. He’s played very well this pre-season."

Phil Cassidy and Kyle Tasone, both seniors, will be key members of the defense. Uriah Myrie, another senior, will anchor the defense from the goalkeeper position.

Senior Kyle Klapp, fresh off playing in the Empire State Games, will be the anchor in the midfield.
"We’ll have five new starters," Kinnally said. "We have some players that saw time and they are getting bigger, better, and stronger."

The Dutch have 23 players on the roster but an injury to returner Jordan Dubose limits the team to 22 healthy players.

The coaching staff is working harder than they ever have before, Kinnally said.
"We’ve worked hard before," Kinnally said. "But the coaching staff is extremely organized. Everything is structured and well planned. We are addressing the intangibles. We are more focused as a unit."

Kinnally isn’t sure the team is ready for the opening of the season.
"I don’t know if playing Friday is two or three days earlier than we should," Kinnally said. "But we will be more prepared going against Columbia next week after the tourney."

Goals

Kinnally’s goals for the Dutchmen haven’t changed from when he started four years ago. They want to win one more game than last year, give up fewer goals than last year, and score more goals than the previous year.
"Everything beyond that is gravy," Kinnally said. "If we win 11 games, it’ll be ‘Okay, boys, let’s go.’ We’ll build off of that."

The Dutch are looking at having just five games at Don Snyder Field this season. The other games will be on the road. Included are trips to Union College to play Ballston Spa in a night game and to Valley Central High School at Mount Saint Mary’s College, where Kinnally used to be a coach.

The Dutch will also have five night home games — which will be played on the football field. They will have Youth League Night against Mohonasen and Senior Night will be against Saratoga.

There will be some changes to Don Snyder Field. A new fence will be put in and a scoreboard and new bleachers will be added.

More landscaping work will be done during the spring season.

As for the Dutch on the field, Kinnally feels they don’t have any pressure.
"We just want to be better than last year," the coach said. "It’s not like anyone else in the league feels we are a team to be concerned about. It’s not like anyone is gunning for us. That takes the pressure off."