By Jordan J. Michael

GUILDERLAND –– It’s tough to win a sectional soccer game and even tougher to win a game against Bethlehem.

The Lady Dutch team beat Amsterdam, 2-1, in double overtime at home on Monday in the first round of the Class AA playoffs. Guilderland’s reward was playing the top-seeded Eagles on Wednesday, a team that rarely loses.

Dutch Head Coach Barb Newton said after Wednesday’s 4-to-0 loss that it has been “at least five years” since Guilderland beat Bethlehem. “We talked about that before the game,” she said. “It’s been way too long.”

The Eagles beat the Lady Dutch by scores of 3 to 1, and 5 to 1 during the 2009 regular season. The outcomes don’t give credit to how hard Guilderland tries to overcome its Suburban Council nemesis.

 Wednesday’s Class AA quarterfinal was scoreless until Marjana Maksuti scored with seven minutes left in the first half. “We had another great first half against them,” said Newton. “A defensive blunder led to the goal.”

 Kristina Maksuti scored the second goal for the Eagles and Mariana Maksuti added another for the third. Adriana Schaffer netted the fourth and final tally. Lady Dutch senior keeper Erin Kelly had 10 saves.

 “We started making some mistakes after the first goal and Bethlehem capitalizes on every mistake,” Newton said. “I thought we played very well but we got caught off guard. They didn’t score any easy goals. We’re disappointed to be eliminated, but will work harder for a better seed next year.”

“The game completely changed when Amsterdam scored,” said Newton after the game. “We panicked, started rushing passes, and our shot selection wasn’t good enough.”

The Lady Dutch had plenty of chances on goal after the Rams scored, but none of them could find the netting. Jackie Brassard shot one wide and Kara Carman made a decent cross that was snatched by goalie Janine Sajdak.

Around the 19-minute mark of the first half, Marissa Cubillos made a break towards goal, but Sajdak came out to challenge. Minutes later, Cubillos served up a cross to Michaela Maybee, but she decided not to use her head on the ball and it bounced away.

“We didn’t play up to our normal level,” Newton said. “Better composed we are.”

Guilderland came out firing again in the second half and Maybee made a low hard shot that was robbed by Sajdak to keep the Lady Dutch scoreless. Brassard has two more shots that were saved yet again.

“We heard that Sajdak was a good keeper and she showed us that today,” said Newton. “She really made us work for everything.”

With 12:47 remaining in regulation, Guilderland got a corner-kick opportunity and Cubillos rose high to head the ball in for the tying goal. The last 10 minutes were feisty and the game headed into overtime.

The first 10-minute overtime was played mostly in the middle of the field and the match would need a second overtime.

Within the first minute, Angela Damiano of Amsterdam ripped a high shot that was snagged by Kelly. Carman netted the game-winner minutes later when she served a cross that sailed over Sajdak’s stretched arms and into the goal. Guilderland’s season would continue to Wednesday.

“I wanted someone to score but I didn’t think that cross was going to go in,” said Carman after the game. “We worked too hard as a team to lose in the first round and I’m glad that shot snuck in.”

The Lady Dutch finished the season 9-6-1 after the loss to Bethlehem and both Cubillos and Carman led the team in scoring with six goals each. Senior goalies Kelly and Marissa Page leave the net unoccupied for next season.

“We’ll have to find a goalie for next year and hope for a better seed,” said Newton. “As for this season, I think the girls played well. There wasn’t a lot of stress on the team and the girls were supportive of each other on and off the field.”