BLUE STREAKS MOVE FORWARD AGAINST BH-BL
First varsity goals for Jack Donnelly, Tyler Clute propel Saratoga to 7-2 win
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Coming off a tough road overtime loss on Saturday the Saratoga Springs boys varsity soccer squad didn’t leave anything to chance and quickly put visiting Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake in a two-goal hole courtesy of two rookie goals by sophomore Jack Donnelly. The Blue Streaks then saw its heavy hitters continue to apply pressure on its way to a 7-2 Suburban Council win Tuesday afternoon.
“We had a tough overtime loss to Albany Saturday night, but we played very well in that match and we were excited about the manner in which we played,” Saratoga Springs head coach Jeff Geller said. “We knew Burnt Hills would come in and work hard, push us and we said to stick to the way that we play and if he team buys into that style of play good things are going to happen and today it happened.”
Donnelly scored his first varsity goal 10 minute into the contest and his second 10 minutes later to give the Blue Streaks the 2-0 lead midway through the opening half.
“It felt so good to get the first two goals, I just couldn’t stop smiling and it was just the great support of the team, the chance to play up, I just saw space and I took it,” Jack Donnelly said. “I just got open, Aidan (Rice) played me a ball through and Luke (Clark) played me a ball through and thankfully I scored.”
Once the rookie had himself a day, the veterans took over as senior Evan Farr scored 22 minutes in before senior captain Aidan Rice scored twice, one minute apart against the Spartans for a commanding 5-1 halftime lead.
“We got the ball from the back, looked for our midfielders and thankfully our midfielders had time to turn and I was able to find space behind the defenders,” Aidan Rice said about his early pair of goals. “I have great players behind me to feed me the ball and also to play me to the space.”
Burnt Hills put a dent in the opening Saratoga scoring wen Owen Muller was able to put the ball just over the outstretched fingertips of Blue Streak goalie Alex Henderson at the midway point. Teammate Park Scott pulled the Spartans to within three goals when he beat newly inserted Saratoga goalie, Conor Chivers in the opening minute of the second half, 5-2. He would turn back everything else after that, finishing with seven saves in the win.
Rice immediately answered with his hat trick goal two minutes later to regain the four-goal lead before another celebratory goal came in for another first-time scorer in Tyler Clute with 14 minutes left in the contest.
“We’re very happy for them, big varsity goals, it’s big for them,” Rice said. “The first year on varsity I got pulled up for sectionals and I managed to score in the first game.
“It was probably one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. It was just amazing, with the fan support and also the players to support you as well is just incredible.”
The first-time goals for both players were more celebratory than a relief.
“There wasn’t too much pressure because my teammates are so great and they don’t put too much pressure on you,” Donnelly said. “You just do your best and sometimes it comes through as a goal, sometimes it doesn’t but thankfully today it did and it felt so good to get the two goals.
“It’s great, Tyler’s not usually a starter, but he just comes in and plays and makes up a deeper team and more of a threat to other teams.”
The Saratoga offensive pressure was constant and quick, each player using one or two touches before sending it consistently forward Tuesday afternoon.
“I’ve been coaching a long time, I love possession more than anything and then there is possession with a purpose and we have some very talented players up top,” Geller said. “In previous years where I thought we had to work the ball from the backs to the middle to the forwards, now we’re able, with the skilled players we have, get the ball forward immediately.
“We’re playing our big target guys and then we have guys running off the ball, some may say it’s direct, but any good player/ coach knows when you get the ball the first thing is to always look forward. If you can get it forward, you better play it.”