Sports Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, November 3, 2011
Guilderland upset by Shaker in Class AA
Lady Dutch soccer season ends 3 to 2 on penalty kicks
By Jordan J. Michael
SCHENECTADY –– It’s tough to see a well-played soccer game come down to penalty kicks. With the ball placed 12 yards from the goal, keepers don’t really stand a chance.
After going down, 2 to 0, to Shaker in the first half of the Class AA quarterfinals in Schenectady on Tuesday, the Guilderland girls fought back in the second-half to tie the game at 2 to 2. The two Suburban Council teams played 30 minutes of overtime, but that wasn’t enough.
A feeling of dread came over the turf field as Guilderland and Shaker got ready and picked shooters for the penalty-kick round.
“It’s a crapshoot. Goalies are in a no-win situation,” Dutch Head Coach Curtis Snyder said after his team suffered the painful loss. Guilderland had high playoff hopes after winning its division this season.
Just before the proceedings, Blue Bison Head Coach Tara O’Keefe told a group of rowdy Shaker fans to “show some respect” after a few of the kids from the group had called the Lady Dutch a “bunch of losers.” During the second half, one of the referees stopped play to speak with the same group of boisterous Bison fans for similar comments.
The Blue Bison tied the Dutch in an earlier game this year. O’Keefe told The Enterprise that her team was prepared for penalty kicks after taking opponents “to the brink” over the last few weeks. “We’ve been doing penalty kicks in practice,” she said.
Guilderland had the advantage at the goalkeeper position with Jenna Cubello. Shaker’s goalie, senior Anne Morrison, was a back-up.
The intense penalty-kick round started out evenly with both Shaker’s Emma Torncello and Guilderland’s Jessica Capone finding the net. Then, Cubello made a fanatic stop on the Bisons’ second kick from Jean Mary Chakmakas. But, Kara Carman put the Dutch’s second attempt wide left.
Shaker took the advantage when Erica Vallecorsa, who played an excellent game on defense, put a shot past Cubello. Morrison made a save on Marissa Cubillos’s strike and Cubello followed that up with a save on Justine Tiger.
Senior Michaela Maybee had a chance to tie the round at 2 to 2, but her shot flew high over the crossbar. The Bison iced the match when Stephanie Church netted a quick low shot to the far right corner.
Guilderland’s pain was Shaker’s jubilation. Bison fans stormed the field. It was an upset.
“Scoring is the name of the game and we couldn’t do it,” Snyder said. “That got us into some trouble and Shaker stepped up and played tough.”
The Lady Dutch proved itself during the regular season by beating Bethlehem twice, and O’Keefe felt Guilderland was the top team to beat in Class AA. “They’re so fast,” she said. “A great team.”
Kim Weinberg, one of 11 Guilderland seniors, was displeased with how Tuesday’s game was decided. “We’re the better team,” she said. “I hate that it came down to this.”
Even after such an agonizing ending to the season, the Lady Dutch can be proud of what it contributed to the bigger picture. It’s a new era for Guilderland soccer.
“I know that these girls wanted a lot more, but they eliminated any mediocrity that used to be here,” said Snyder. “Guilderland is ready to win from now on.”