PLAYING UP
Mechanicville taking on Suburban Council squads to build post-season resume
MECHANICVILLE, N.Y. >> When Mechanicville boys soccer coach Mike Ciulla was playing for the Red Raiders more than a decade ago, the thought of facing a Suburban Council team were probably a pipe dream.
Now that dream has become a reality and the goal is to make his Class B Red Raiders better throughout the 2019 campaign.
On Saturday, Guilderland traveled to Mechanicville and handed the Red Raiders a 4-0 shutout loss and some lessons along with it for Ciulla and his squad.
“I think there was much more quicker play, they knew where they were going, they had an idea to be three steps ahead of us, a few steps behind us if we were going to head the ball they were there to back off, drop and receive it,” Mechanicville senior captain Justin Pugliese said. “They knew where the balls were going; they were quicker with their feet, just a different type of ball.”
The Dutchmen (2-2 Suburban Council, 3-2 overall) scored twice early in the first half when David Talone found
sophomore Quinn Tynan early before freshman Illia Tykus scored from an assist from junior Martin Madina for the 2-0 lead.
“I believe everyone shook off the nerves within the first 15 minutes, everyone started to realize all these guys are just playing soccer,” Pugliese said. “We kind of caught on quickly, took advantage, played our game and held them to a 2-0 lead.”
The Red Raiders (1-0 Wasaren League, 2-2 overall) already have a Suburban Council win under their belt, 3-2 versus Schenectady with a date with Colonie set for Oct. 1.
“The league dealt us nine games this year and that’s it, they got rid of the two divisions, 10 teams in the league so you can only play everybody once,” Coach Mike Ciulla said. “They said go out and get seven nonleague games.”
As one of two Class B schools in the Class C-filled Wasaren League, Mechanicville’s non-league slate Mechanicville sophomore Wyqie Aguda looks to hit the brakes in front of Guilderland goalkeeper Ryan Kirchoff late in the second half Saturday in a non-league tilt. also includes an opening tilt versus Class B Schuylerville, a 1-0 loss followed by Class A tilts versus Scotia on Sept. 21 and South Glens Falls Sept. 28 finishing with an extra contest versus Class B league opponent Tamarac on Oct. 15.
All created through contact from Ciulla.
“You look to the Colonial Council first, unfortunately the Colonial Council is full this year, they have a full schedule within the league, then you go Suburban, you go Foothills, whatever you can get to build that resume,” Ciulla said. “Some schools are, obviously the ones we have on the schedule were receptive to play, other schools don’t respond for unknown reasons. Maybe they’re full, maybe they don’t want to play you.”
Mechanicville came out strong in the second half, but later on the Dutchmen were able to continue to press and counter attack, getting goals from junior Bugra Karaca from Tynan and senior Caden Rosenblatt scoring from an assist from Peyton Septer as Ciulla then starting inserting his reserves.
“I think that first 10 minutes you’re really getting acclimated,” Ciulla said. “Playing in the Wasaren League you have some soccer players and you have athletes. It’s the same in Mechanicville; you have three-sport athletes. Now (versus Guilderland) you have eight, nine, 10 soccer players and that’s an adjustment.”
Disappointed in the outcome, Ciulla continued to stress why he and assistant coach Steve Ciulla looked to create a challenging nonleague schedule.
“We do this for two reasons, better competition and to build the resume and to show the sectional seeding committee,” Ciulla said. “‘O.K. Mechanicville went out and beat a Schenectady.’ Now you have to root for Schenectady to do well in the Suburban, Guilderland, now see who they beat and all that comes through the meeting and they look at it that Mechanicville has some type of resume that we can use.”