Albany High Hopes For Continued Success Through Boys Soccer Sectionals

The Albany High boys soccer team wants to make a lot of noise in the Section II Tournament which begins on Wednesday.

Albany captured the Big 10 boys title with a 12-1-1 record and finished the regular season at 12-3-1. It marks the Falcons second league championship under head coach David Weiss.

"The season has been very successful. We have played a very high quality brand of attacking soccer and achieved our goals thus far. We are confident in our ability and look forward to surpassing the success of 2007in sectionals (semifinalists)," said Weiss.

Albany, top seed in the Big 10, will meet Suburban Council ninth seed Saratoga Springs at Plumeri Sports Complex on the College of St. Rose campus on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.

Stefano Sainato leads the Falcons with 20 goals and seven assists, Kieran Stark has contributed six goals and nine assists, Tyler Stempsey six goals and three assists while Austin Villela has added four goals and four assists.

Keeper Lucas Phayre-Gonzalez has an 83 per cent save percentage with nine shutouts.

"We are looking forward to playing Saratoga. They are a quality side with a rich history who play the game the right way. We feel we match up well and are eager to test our side against some Suburban competition," said Weiss.

Albany was involved in two hard-fought Big 10 matches against Troy just prior to the sectionals.

Last Saturday, Albany worked overtime to clinch the Big 10 championship. Sainato connected on the lone goal in OT to give Albany a 1-0 victory.

It was a scoreless 80-minute first half before the teams got ready for two 10-minute OT periods. Seventeen minutes into the second OT, Sainato was played in behind the Troy defense by Grant Dias-Carlson and beat Troy's keeper Bobby Strang to the far post.

On Monday, the teams battled to a scoreless tie on a muddy and rain-soaked pitch at Bleecker Stadium.

Head coach Brian Henry will have the red-hot Broadalbin-Perth squad ready for Class B sectional play.

The Patriots earned top seed (first time in school history), drew a first round bye, and will host the Cairo-Durham at Schuylerville winner on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. in the quarterfinals. Cairo-Durham will visit Schuylerville on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Now in his 10th season, Henry picked up his 100th career win last week. B-P is one of three teams in Section II still undefeated (13-0-3). Bethlehem and Ichabod Crane are the others.

The Patriots, ranked ninth in the state Class B poll, were Foothills Council champions at 11-0-3. It's the second crown in the last three years where B-P is the only Class B school in a Class A dominated Foothills.

During the season, B-P won the Fulton County Cup, recorded 11 shutouts in 16 games. and only gave up seven goals. As a team, the Patriots raised almost $4,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation in the third Annual Patriot Pink Out soccer game.

Dominic Kwiatkowski stars for the Patriots with a Section II-leading 27 goals and eight assists while goalie Madison Wilcox is the reigning Class B Goalie of the Year.

"Despite the success we had during the regular season, we fully recognize that sectionals is an opportunity for new beginnings for many teams. My boys understand they have a target on their back, but embrace the chance of bringing home a second sectional title in three years. The Class B bracket is loaded with quality teams so it will be a tough challenge."

In Class AA, Shenendehowa earned the top seed for Suburban Council teams and will draw a first round bye. Albany Academy is the top seed in Class A, while Maple Hill in Class C and Fort Ann, Class D.

For complete boys soccer pairings visit www.capitalregionsoccer.com.

Girls soccer

Saratoga of the Suburban Council is the top seed for Class AA, Burnt Hills earned first seed in Class A, Schalmont for Class B, Hoosic Valley in Class C and Northville, Class D.

"I didn't realize how time-consuming this job (Section II girls soccer chairman) was," smiled Tom Husser, head coach of Hoosick Falls. "I thought it went pretty good. We do the best we can. I knew the C's would be tough because you have 20 schools. We try to make it where the best teams will be in the Final Four."

In Class C, Rensselaer enters the tournament with a 1-14-1 record and will face Cambridge in the opening round on Wednesday at 3 p.m.

"It's an open tournament so Rensselaer decided to compete. They have a nothing to lose attitude. Everybody is ready to go," said Husser.

Article by Mike Collar