GUILDERLAND — Though they have gotten off to a good start, the Guilderland boys’ soccer team has some work to do.

The Dutchmen won their first three games before losing to perennial power Shenendehowa High School, 1-0, on Monday night.
"We didn’t play particularly well," Guilderland Coach Mike Kinnally said on Tuesday. "We played well in the back. But I’m putting in a different system and we’ve still got to work on the midfield and the front. We have to be able to finish in our third of the field.
"If we can win tomorrow, we don’t play again until Tuesday," Kinnally added. "That gives us four learning days to improve the middle and the front. Tomorrow is real important."

The Dutchmen on Wednesday faced Saratoga and their all-star goalie, Warren Gross.
"Twenty minutes after the loss, we were talking about Saratoga," Kinnally said.

The Dutch have beaten Scotia and Queensbury in the Foothills Council-Suburban Council Challenge and beat league foe Columbia, 1-0.
"Columbia is pretty good," Kinnally said. "They beat Baldwinsville, which is in the top 10 in the state. It was a good win. A quality win."

Kinnally is looking forward to seeing the new offense work once it’s fully implemented.
"I drew up something that I think will work," he said. "We have to execute it."
He added of Saratoga, "On paper, we’re probably a little better. But Gross is good. He grabs crossing passes with a giggle. We have to put hard balls on the ground and get one by him early. That will change the way they’ll have to play."

"Still learning"

The Dutchmen have accomplished some things in the first four games of the season.
"We found our organization in the back," Kinnally said. "We’ve turned the corner in the back. We continue to do repetition drills but I’m not too concerned with that. We need to organize the midfield and up front"But in the back we’re fine. We’ve given up one goal in four games."

Kinnally said that not everyone is playing up to his capabilities.
"We don’t have kids playing up to their potential," the coach said. "That’s good and bad. They have it and can play better, but they aren’t playing like they can and might not. At least I know it’s there."

Kinnally feels the offense has not reached its potential, even though the Dutch won their first game, 2-0, against Scotia and scored 10 goals in a shutout of Queensbury.
"We’re at 60 percent of what we’re capable of," he said. "You couldn’t tell by looking at our games. Against Queensbury, we had nine different guys score and, against Columbia, we could have had two or three goals. Hopefully, we’ll keep working and getting better over the next two or three days."

Against Shen, the Dutchmen were outshot but defense held the Plainsmen to one goal.
"We were on our heels a little bit," Kinnally said. "We didn’t have the firepower. Defensively, we matched up well. Offensively, we were not organized.
"We need an identity in the middle," Kinnally added. "We have to focus on who should go where. Halfway through the season, we’ll get how to play it. We’re kind of still learning."

After Wednesday’s game, the Dutchmen will play Tuesday at Burnt Hills and Thursday at home against Colonie.