By Jordan J. Michael

ROTTERDAM –– The Guilderland boys’ soccer team is hoping for more days like these.

After netting only one goal in the last three games without a win, the Dutch traveled to Mohonasen last Thursday and scored six goals while holding the Warriors to none. Jordan Weeden had a hat trick and Jimmy Quinn, Nick Cannistraci, and Chris Talone made the other three goals.

“We just really needed a win after that bad stretch,” said Quinn, who made his first appearance in four games after an injury. That stretch included losses to Bethlehem, Niskayuna, and a tie with Burnt Hills. “Today we clicked and hopefully that offensive production continues,” he said. “We definitely need more scoring.”

Another Guilderland starter, Dylan Tate, also came back to play in the game after missing four games due to injury. Head Coach Mike Kinnally told The Enterprise that getting Quinn and Tate back boosted the team’s moral.

“It was nice to work them back into the offense,” said Kinnally after the game. “We scored early on and we usually don’t do that. It worked wonders for our confidence.”

J.P. Horan, fresh off stopping a Burnt Hills penalty kick in overtime, got the shutout for the Dutchmen against Mohonasen. Senior Devin Bailey is usually in net for Guilderland, but he’s been in and out with an injury.

“It’s good to get Horan some time in there because he’ll be our keeper next year,” Kinnally said. “We’ve only given up seven goals in 12 games. Our defense is always keeping us in the game.”

Kinnally said that opponents are getting more scoring chances against his team this year, but Mohonasen couldn’t buy a goal last Thursday. “It’s been an up-and-down type of season,” he said.

Nick Cannistraci got the Dutchmen out to an early 1-to-0 lead when he headed a Caleb Ciaschetti cross past Warriors keeper Brett Cannon. That goal was shortly followed by Weeden’s first goal from close range. Quinn launched a shot from the 18 to give Guilderland a 3-to-0 lead.

“I feel like a lot of people are counting us out this year because we lost some talented players,” said Quinn after the game. “I think we can make a push in sectionals if we play well.”

In the second half, Talone got his first career varsity goal after heading a cross by Jordan Macken. Weeden put his head on a Tate corner kick to push the score to 5 to 0 and he later added another goal off a corner kick that bounced around in front of the goal.

The Dutch are now 7-3-2 in the Suburban Council South, two games behind Bethlehem. The team has games against Colonie, Coumbia, Averill Park, and Bethlehem to close out the season.

“I’m confident that our offense will improve down the stretch if we stay healthy,” Kinnally said. “We’re not getting enough quality shots and that needs to improve if we want to win.”