STRONGER TOGETHER
After delayed start to season, Shen boys soccer is finding success
CLIFTON PARK, NY » Instead of beginning their season in early October like the rest of the Suburban Council, the Shenendehowa boys soccer team had just been told a word nobody wanted to hear: quarantine.
“Wewere all devastated when we learned that we weren’t going to be able to play for the first week of the season,” said junior goalkeeper Noah Flint.
Their isolation was finished up in time to begin the season on October 10, 2020 against Columbia and the Plainsmen made themost of their first time back on the field since the New York State Final Four, on November 16, 2019.
“I’m just glad that we can play because I didn’t even think that we’d be able to have a season,” said senior Sahil Arora. “We’re just going to give it our all in the short season that we have. Every practice and every game that we have, we’re going to give our best and to try to win every game.”
Flint and Arora have stood out in each of Shen’s first five games to begin the season, with Arora scoring three goals and an assist during the span. Flint has only allowed one goal to get past him to begin the season as well.
Each were quick to pass along credit to their teammates.
“I have amazing teammates playing alongside me. We have great forwards and great midfielders so that really helps. I honestly didn’t do a lot,” Arora said of his scoring opportunities. “My teammates were giving me perfect balls and that’s helped me score. It’s the motivation from not being able to play the first week from being in quarantine that has motivated us, to show that we didn’t need that extra time to prepare and that we are here to be the best.”
So far in the 2020 campaign, Shen has only allowed one opposing goal and that was to Shaker during a 3-1 victory. The Plainsmen shut out Columbia, Colonie, Albany and CBA, although the Albany game went down as a scoreless tie.
“I take a lot of pride in being able to maintain just one goal in five games, but it’s not justme. My defense is the main factor,” Flint said. “They are able to keep it down to a limited number of shots and those shots that do get to me are ones that I’mable to save. I’m just thankful for my defense.”
The pair have each begun to look ahead to the next steps in their soccer careers, although with Arora being a senior, his decisions are much more imminent. With club soccer having been cut short in the spring, he is hoping to use the school season to help finalize his search, and he definitely isn’t the only one.
“I’m definitely thankful that it’s still my junior year and hopefully won’t have to deal with quarantining next year,” Flint said of his aspirations to play college soccer. “For the seniors this year, I feel bad for the position that they’ve been put in, but I’m still completely honored to be able to play with them.”
Flint, who has amassed 25 saves in the first five games of the season, knows that there is still a lotmore work to do and if they are going to achieve their goals, they will have to do it together.
“I was ecstatic when we finally got back on the field,” he said. “I’m so happy to be playing with this group of guys and amazing players. The team chemistry this year is through the roof.”