Sports Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, November 4, 2010
Lady Dutch team sent packing again by Bethlehem Eagles
By Jordan J. Michael
DELMAR –– The Lady Dutch soccer team continued to be tormented at the hands of the Bethlehem Eagles on Tuesday in the Class AA quarterfinals.
It was Guilderland’s third loss to Bethlehem this year and the third consecutive time the Eagles ended the Lady Dutch’s season in the playoffs. Guilderland hasn’t beaten its nemesis in over five years.
However, the Dutch had possibly its best chance to beat the Eagles on Tuesday. A questionable goal put Bethlehem ahead and left Guilderland steaming. The final score was 2 to 0.
After a scoreless first half, Kristie Link got the ball at her feet during a scrum in front of the Guilderland net and put in a goal for Bethlehem. Dutch sophomore Kara Carman was emotional after the play and received a yellow card from the referee.
Carman told The Enterprise after the game that Jenna Cubello, the goalkeeper for the Lady Dutch, was in the process of grabbing the ball before Bethlehem scored.
“They kicked the ball out from her hands,” Carman said. “Jenna definitely had the ball, but the referees were pretty awful.”
“I had some possession of the ball,” Cubello said later. “Also, I was sat on by a opposing player, so I couldn’t move. The officials should have been taking a closer look.”
When asked for his view of the call, Bethlehem Head Coach Tom Rogan said he had no comment.
Cubello said that the weird turn of events put Guilderland’s level down. “We were really upset and I yelled at the referee,” she said. “It hurt us, but I think it boosted our intensity, too.”
Guilderland’s frustration built, in search of a goal, as more time ran off the clock. The team got a few decent looks with less than five minutes to play in regulation, but the ball couldn’t get through.
“We have a hard time finishing once we get down,” Carman said. “It’s upsetting.”
Finally, Kristina Maksuti stole the ball for the Eagles and put the game sealer past Cubello.
Dutch Head Coach Barb Newton said that the “subjective” call on the first goal cost her team the game. “My players told me that Jenna was prevented from making a play on the ball,” she said. “We can’t go home feeling good and honest about this one.”
“The tension and energy of this game was amazing,” said Jess Marini. “But, things were a little lopsided.”
“We can’t necessarily blame the referee, but what’s most frustrating,” added Kyra Malamood, “is that it kept us off our game. We couldn’t focus.”
Rivalry?
Rogan said that every game against Guilderland is a “battle,” even though the Eagles always come out on top.
“We’ve been fortunate to beat them as much as we have,” said Rogan. “My team has a lot of talent and they’re always ready for their rival.”
Newton hesitated in calling Bethlehem a rival. “I don’t really feel that,” she said. “I think it’s more of a scheduling issue. We see them every time in sectionals. There has to be a way around this.”
Cubello, who was new in net this year and set a team record with 18 goals against, mentioned that Marini even wrote down a special message for Guilderland.
It was a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote that each Lady Dutch player stuffed in her sock before Tuesday’s game: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
“Everyone really thought this was the year we would beat the Eagles,” Cubello said. “We wanted it so bad.”