Shen shuts out Shaker 2-0 in AA semis
Organized. Skilled. Efficient.
The Shenendehowa varsity boys soccer team was all those things and more in a 2-0 Section II Class AA semifinal victory over Shaker Friday night at Colonie High School.
The victory puts the Plainsmen into the Class AA final with a chance to win their 20th Section II title. Shenendehowa (13-3-1) will play Christian Brothers Academy (13-3-1), who advanced past Saratoga Springs in penalty kicks, Monday in a 7 p.m. contest under the lights at Colonie.
The Plainsmen scored one goal in each half. Nick Evans had the first off an assist from Alex Bruno. Jaylin Sykes sealed the win by heading in a second half goal after Shaker goalkeeper Keegan Flaherty made a nice save on Eric Makhatadze’s free kick.
The goals were more than enough for the Plainsmen’s sturdy back line and goalkeeper Greg Monroe, who came out to shut down several dangerous balls into the box before they could reach Blue Bison attackers.
“Defensively they played very, very well tonight,” Shen coach Jon Bain said. “The back four Jim Alexander, Nick Kokkinides, Alex Bruno and Ethan Behan were great. Alex actually had the assist on the first goal so they (were contributing) on both sides of the ball.”
Evans’ goal 16 minutes into the contest put early pressure on Shaker to respond.
“I waited for the ball, took it across my right foot and just put it upper 90,” Evans said. “The momentum was with us ever since then. Before the goal I felt we were kind of slow. After we got the momentum it picked up our pace.”
Blue Bison coach Dan Fountain began to move players around in the second half. Ryan Egan was pushed forward, Hassan Alfadhil dropped back to the midfield and — with about 20 minutes left — center back Ethan Snyder pushed up front.
“It was 1-0, we had everyone pushed forward,” Fountain said. “You’ve got to go for it when you’re losing by one and my boys played hard ‘til the end.”
As Shaker put numbers forward, space began to open for the Sykes, Shen’s speedy sophomore striker.
Sykes got to a 50-50 ball first, took it himself down the left flank then cut it back to his right foot. The sophomore’s curling shot beat Flaherty, but hit off the right post and bounced out.
With just under eight mintues to play, Makhatadze ripped a free kick on targed from outside the box on the left side of the goal. Flaherty did well to parry the ball away but Sykes was on the doorstep to head home into an open goal.
“Every single time Eric has a free kick I always follow up,” Sykes said. “He always hits it on target. I’m there to clean it up.”
Shaker put some desperation balls into the box late in the contest but couldn’t direct anything on goal.
It was only the third loss of the season for Shaker (133-2) who will lose five seniors to graduation next summer but return a talented core for the 2018 season.
“When the hurt wears off in a few days the seniors especially will realize what a good, fun year it was,” Fountain said. “They’ll be missed but everyone else we said remember this moment and we’ll hope to make it further next year.” SARDELLA’S HARNESS SELECTIONS