GUILDERLAND — Coming into this season, Guilderland boys’ soccer Coach Mike Kinnally thought his team was one year away from really making some noise in the Suburban Council.

But his Dutchmen players have exceeded his expectations even in a 2-0 loss to league powerhouse Shenendehowa on Saturday. The game was a make-up due to a postponement last month.
"We are getting to the point that we are getting respect," Kinnally said. "We are one of the top programs. And one of our goals was to get there."

The Dutchmen are 11-3-1 overall and 7-3-1 in the Suburban Council.

On Saturday, the Dutchmen played well with the unbeaten Plainsmen. The Dutch kept the contest scoreless in the first half and didn’t give up any great scoring chances.

Also the Dutchmen did not get any great scoring opportunities of their own in the first half though they had a couple of direct kicks that they didn’t put on goal.

Shen finally got on the board midway through the second half.

The Plainsmen were awarded a corner kick though the ball seemed to go over the goal line off a Shen defender. So, instead of a Guilderland goal kick, Shen got another scoring chance.

Luke Popolizio struck the ball well and it was headed into the upper part of the goal by teammate Jim Santamarina.

The call and the subsequent goal drew the ire of Kinnally and Assistant Coach Arn Armstrong.

Shen scored again with 15:58 left in the game. This time, the blunder was by the Guilderland defense.

Plainsman T.J. Popolizio served the ball from right wing into the penalty area and teammate E.J. Reutemann got to the ball and kicked it into the goal to give Shen a 2-0 lead.

Reutemann was unmarked and wide open in front of the goal.

"Up and down"

Though the Dutch lost by two goals, Kinnally was pleased with the way his team played. He also saw things that his team needs to work on.
"It should have been 1-0," Kinnally said. "The first goal was a total gift. For the most part, we executed. The second goal was a breakdown. And we had six free kicks. They are a good team and you have to finish those."

The two best scoring chances for Guilderland did not come on free kicks, but on great one-versus-goalie opportunities.

Senior captain Frank Campagnano had two great chances against Shen goalie Ryan Jones after getting the ball on good serves. Campagnano fired the ball on goal each time, but Jones made point-blank saves to keep the Dutchmen off the scoreboard.
"We were up and down," Kinnally said, "but we battled well."

It was the first time this season the Dutchmen have been shut out in a game.

Jones made four saves to keep the ball out of his net for Shen. Devin Bailey made seven saves to keep the game close for the Dutchmen.

The Plainsmen held a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks in the game.
"They have not lost a game in three years at their place," Kinnally said of Shen during the regular season. "They are a great team, but we had some great opportunities. Sometimes you come up here and think that you are going to get the same opportunities that you do against other teams. I think they are better than last year."

Last year’s Shen soccer team was knocked out of the Section II playoffs in the quarterfinal round. Guilderland beat the top-seeded Plainsmen on penalty kicks to advance to the Class AA semifinals.
"We have not been playing well in the back," Kinnally said of his defense on Saturday. "Today we did pretty well. It’s unfortunate that we gave up two goals. I would love to play them again."

"We’re back"

Kinnally sees this game as another stepping-stone for the Dutchmen in returning to its tradition of being a top contender in the Suburban Council year in and year out.

With just five seniors and a good junior varsity team, Kinnally thought his team would be a top contender next year. But this year, he thinks his team can finish in the top four in the league.

The seniors on the Dutch roster are captains Campagnano; Justin Sedefian, a defender; and defender Karl Mohr. Midfielder Zakary Duguay and goalie Scott Vincent are the other seniors on the squad.
"Our goal is not to play for one year," Kinnally said. "And it’s not to be just good because we have 15 seniors. We want to be in the top four in the Suburban Council year in and year out. And, in a bad year, maybe be the fifth seed."

After the Dutchmen hosted Colonie Wednesday night, they have just two more games before the Section II playoffs start. The Dutchmen are hoping to get a home game for the first round of the sectionals and will work toward that goal with games against Ballston Spa on Friday night at Union College. It will be Senior Night for the Dutchmen.

The Dutchmen wrap up the regular season with a date with Saratoga.
"I think we’re back," Kinnally said. "And I want to stay there. We’ve won too many games now, and I’m starting to like it."