Seniors take over for Eagles
First five goals come from honorees at Bethlehem’s unusual senior night
The signs of support along with orange and black balloons for 11 seniors lined the fence surrounding the field Tuesday night at Bethlehem High School. None of those players or their parents ever envisioned Senior Night activities for the 2020 boys’ soccer season would take place in April under a Fall Season II format and against an opponent from the Foothills Council.
When Bethlehem and Ballston Spa both decided to forego competing during the fall in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, it left the two programs in the unenviable position of having to find new opponents to compete against after the rest of the Suburban Council played. The Foothills Council, of six leagues competing in the Fall Season II format, opened its schedules to include the Eagles and Scotties.
On an evening when Bethlehem honored its departing players, seniors Ryan Browne and Kiran Sood made the most of the special evening. Browne scored the game’s first three goals and Sood also tallied three goals as the Eagles’ opening seven goals were authored by 12th graders in a 9-1 victory against Amsterdam.
Bethlehem improved to 7-0-1 overall with Tuesday’s triumph. Veteran coach Phil Ridgway, who
hopes to add a game or two to the 12 games already scheduled, shuffled players in and out throughout the entire game.
“The alternative is there would have been no season at all, so it is good that they gave us a chance to play,” Browne said. “It is too bad we couldn’t have played in the fall.”
“I am very grateful that they are letting us have games. I was convinced for quite a while that we wouldn’t have any season at all,” Sood said.
“We are just appreciative for the Foothills to help us out and let us have some games. It may not be the games we want, but we’re playing,” Ridgway said. “The kids appreciate that. I appreciate that. The parents appreciate that. It is great.”
Browne put together an impressive display in notching the natural hat trick. His first goal, on an assist from senior Keith Winne, came in the 10th minute. Sam Cooper set up Browne for his second goal three minutes later, but it was the third goal from the senior midfielder that proved the tally of the night. Browne took the ball 25 yards away from the goal and sliced through five defenders before scoring with 19:42 remaining in the first half.
“It was just sort of spur of the moment,” Browne said regarding his fifth goal this season. “I just decided to keep going.”
“I think he went past like nine guys in that box. That was crazy,” Sood said.
“He’s had a great year,” Ridgway said of Browne. “He didn’t play much last year, but he has really turned it on. He is very quick, makes quick touches and really sees the game, which is fantastic. He is really having a great year.”
Sood scored twice, both on setups from senior striker Aidan Mccaffrey, to make it 5-0. Cooper kept the senior theme rolling on a tally with 14:13 left. Michael Maloney, junior, added two more goals for the Eagles sandwiched around a score by Amsterdam sophomore Brodie Mcneil.
“The seniors have been playing a lot to together over the years. It is fun to go out there and win,” Sood said.
“We are just using this as a developmental period. It is going to help us, being just a few months away from August,” Ridgway said. “I usually don’t take freshman and we took up two for this thing. We’re developing them and we have some younger guys.”
The Eagles own a win and a tie against Ballston Spa. The two teams will meet for a third time April 24.
“They play us tough every year,” Ridgway said of the Scotties. “It is always a good fight with them.”