Shen scores late to win Class AA final
Behan matchwinner secures Plainsmen 20th Section II crown
ALBANY, N.Y. » One team entered Monday’s final the looking for a 20th Section II title, while the other was playing for its first.
In this contest between David vs. Goliath, the giant of Section II boys soccer came out on top.
The Shenendehowa varsity boys soccer team earned its 20th Section II title after beating CBA 2-1 in the Class AA final at Colonie High School.
While all plaques count the same in the trophy case, this one had a different feel for the Plainsmen than the one they earned a year ago. In 2016, a tie with Bethlehem earned both teams the title of co-champs, but Shen lost the penalty shootout that decided which team would move on to the state tournament.
“I took a video of that last PK on my phone and I just watched it over and over the last year,” Shen goalkeeper Greg Monroe said. “(Last year) was kind of tough on us. This feels so good.”
No shootout was needed Monday after Shen’s Ethan Behan snuck the ball into the near post after a scramble in the box in the 69th minute. Jaylin Sykes, who scored the first Plainsmen goal, got a foot to the ball during a scramble in the box and Behan was in position to score.
“Jaylin stuck with it, kicked it to me and I just put it bottom corner,” Behan said. “I just kicked it. I didn’t know if it going in.
“(Winning) has been a dream of ours. We’ve been playing soccer since we’re 9-10 years old. It just became a reality.”
The winning goal wasn’t a work of art, but it was enough to nose Shen in front.
“I always say to the boys the game is won and lost in both boxes,” Plainsmen coach Jon Bain said. “Whoever can win those balls in the box is going to advance. Particularly at this level.”
After Shen took the lead it still had to keep CBA’s potent attack at bay for the final 10 minutes of the contest.
CBA had clawed back to tie the game on two different occasions against Saratoga Springs in the semifinals before advancing in a penalty kick shootout. The Brothers did it again in the first half Monday night when leading scorer Brady Van Epps finished a breakaway just before the half to cancel out Sykes’ opening goal.
“You can’t continue to fall behind and survive,” CBA coach Steve Freeman said. “Total credit to Shen. Hopefully the way the season turned out this year will be motivation for the kids to stay hungry.”
The Brothers won two corner kicks in the final minutes but both were cleared by the Plainsmen. Rafael Enrique Holguin had CBA’s best chance to score in the final minutes when he volleyed a shot in close range on target, however Monroe was there to make one of his four saves for Shen. Dan Kelly was credited with three saves for the Brothers.
As time ran out, the Shen bench and student section stormed the field to celebrate another Plainsmen sectional title.
“This team has been hard-working all year,” Bain said. “It’s always been about the team. It’s never been about one individual player. The work they put in all season paid off today. All these players that were on the team last year who played, or even came in off the bench, have been huge for us this year.”
Shen advances to play the winner of the Section III Championship Saturday in the quarterfinal round of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association bracket.