GUILDERLAND — The Guilderland girls’ soccer team used a total team effort to get by Albany in the first round of the playoffs on Friday.

The Lady Dutch won their first game in the Class AA Section II playoffs, 2-0, over the Falcons but were defeated in the quarterfinals by powerhouse Shenendehowa, 4-2, on Tuesday night. The Dutch had the game tied, 2-2, before Shen scored two second-half goals. Hannah Rosen and Danielle Tetreault scored for Guilderland.
"Compared to last year’s sectionals this was a much better experience for us," said Guilderland Coach Barb Newton after Friday’s game. "It was kind of a weird game. The goals we scored were great goals and we dominated more than Albany. But we were able to set up more chances that we couldn’t put away. We kept the game close for too long."

The Lady Dutch scored one goal in each half en route to the win over Albany.

Abby Fashouer scored the first goal of the game with just over 31 minutes into the half. Jackie DeLuise passed a ball through a couple of Albany defenders and Fashouer was able to kick the ball into the goal for the tally.

The goal finally put the Dutch ahead as they had plenty of opportunities to score in the first half.

Tetreault missed a header and DeLuise missed three great opportunities, including one shot that hit the post.

Rosen and Katie Murdock also had good shots on goal.

Guilderland added an insurance goal at the 7:10 mark of the second half.

Tetreault finally got a shot to go into the goal on a nice volley off a pass from Amanda Best.

The Guilderland defense also played a solid game, allowing Albany to get only three shots. Julie Malkowski made three saves in the goal. Guilderland took 11 shots in the contest.
"I’m happy with our play," Newton said after the game on Friday. "I look at our learning curve and we did some good things. We got some good offensive runs from our forwards. We still have a tough time switching fields. At this point of the season, we try to do the same thing as our first game.
"But this was a good performance by the whole team," Newton added. "No one really stood out. But we’ll need much more next week."

Newton was impressed with the play of Albany, a team Guilderland hasn’t played in a long time.
"Albany did a nice job today," the coach said on Friday. "It looks like they have progressed since the last time we played them, which was years ago."

The Lady Dutch finished 8-8-2 in the Suburban Council during the regular season, a big accomplishment for a team that has been battling injuries all season.
"We’re almost healthy," Newton said. "We still have a couple limping. But we’re improving still. We’re further ahead right now. We’re young."

On its 19-player roster, the team has just five seniors — captains Lynn Tran, Katie Murdock, Devon Rosenberry, Francesca Pezze, and Malkowski.
"Katie Murdock has done an outstanding job in the back," Newton said of her defender. "She’s marking the other team’s number-one striker. Julie Malkowski has done a great job in goal. She’s made some key saves in the last five games.
"Devon’s healthy again and that has helped us," Newton added. "She’s fighting for the ball better than anyone else on the team. And Lynn Tran has been battling injuries all year. But she is great on counterattacks."

The season exceeded any expectations that Newton had coming into the campaign.
"I was not sure if we would make sectionals," Newton said. "We needed to have a .500 mark to go. I had no clue where we would finish."