Dutchmen soccer gets by Bethlehem in season opener
The Enterprise — Jordan J. Michael
Hip check: Guilderland’s Matthew Schiller gets thwarted by a Bethlehem player during Tuesday’s game in Guilderland. It was the season-opening game for the Suburban Council rivals, and the Dutchmen won, 1 to 0, on a late head ball by Schiller.
The Enterprise — Jordan J. Michael
Using his head to send the ball forward is Guilderland sophomore Tyler Landry, left, as Bethlehem’s Simrit Dhinsa looks on during Tuesday’s game in Guilderland. The Dutch won, 1 to 0.
The Enterprise — Jordan J. Michael
Watch out! The Suburban Council soccer season opened on Tuesday with an interesting match between Guilderland and Bethlehem in Guilderland. Here, David Septer of the Dutch, right, battles an Eagles’ player for the ball.
GUILDERLAND — The third shot was the charm for the Dutchmen soccer team on Tuesday.
With four minutes remaining in regulation play against Bethlehem, senior Matt Mesiti sent a free kick from 30 yards toward the far post of the Eagles’ goal, and senior Matt Schiller leapt high to head in the game-winning score for Guilderland.
Mesiti said after the 1-to-0 victory that he’s typically looking for Schiller on crosses or free kicks because he’ll get every ball in the air.
Brendan McGee, Guilderland’s tallest player at 6 feet, 4 inches, will also be a target for Mesiti.
“I want to place the ball around the penalty kick line and the six-inch line,” Mesiti said. “If I find them, they’ll probably put it away.”
Last season, Guilderland scored a majority of its goals on free kicks and corner kicks, which helped the team make the state semifinals. Mesiti said that set pieces are still important for the Dutchmen’s scoring prowess this year, even though the line up is being rebuilt.
“We have some skillful juniors in the midfield,” said Mesiti. “They’re technical players, and Coach [Mike Kinnally] always talks about passing well.”
Bethlehem was playing with three forwards, which is unusual, Kinnally said, but he liked how the Dutch played on defense. Opening the season on Tuesday, many Guilderland players hadn’t ever started a varsity game.
“They had some jitters, but I’m proud that they didn’t make many mistakes due to the anxiety,” said Kinnally. “Some of the guys were questioning their ability level.”
But Guilderland overcame some butterflies while shutting out Bethlehem.
“That’s a good day,” Kinnally concluded.