DELMAR – Despite an undefeated regular season, getting through the final stages of the Section 2 Class AA playoffs was a bit of a slog for the Bethlehem boys’ soccer team.
In the semifinals, the Eagles were held to a scoreless draw after 110 minutes against a Niskayuna team they’d beaten by nine goals a month earlier, but advanced on penalty kicks. The championship game was settled in regulation, a 1-0 win over Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, but beating the Spartans was no easy task either.
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But when Bethlehem got out of Section 2 this past weekend for a NYSPHSAA regional final against Section 3’s Watertown, everything seemed to click back into place in a 2-0 win over a previously undefeated team that entered the game ranked first in the state.
“We played the way we wanted to, and we played up to our standard,” said senior Ayaz Sajid, who scored both goals in the win that clinched the Eagles’ berth in the state semifinals, where they’ll face Section 5’s Churchville-Chili on Saturday at 10:45 a.m. at Middletown High School.
Bethlehem (16-0-3 overall) coach Brian Spina believes that getting to face a less familiar opponent allowed the Eagles to play their game with more freedom and comfort.
“I think it’s easier to play teams you haven’t played before, in some respects — or teams from out of the area — because they don’t really know your guys as much,” Spina said. “Our guys, growing up playing club around this area, they’ve played against all these teams from our section a lot. I think our guys being able to go out of section, we were able to find some moments that they weren’t able to find in the past few games.”
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For the most part this season, the Eagles have been head-and-shoulders above their competition. Nine of their 16 wins this season have come by at least three goals, and the Bethlehem defense has surrendered just eight goals all season, with 14 shutouts.
Bethlehem’s win over Watertown also handed the No. 1 state ranking in Class AA to the Eagles, but that’s an afterthought for a team set on leaving Middletown this weekend having proved on the pitch that they’re the state’s No. 1 team.
Many of Bethlehem’s players were part of the Eagles squad that reached the state final four in 2024, only to be bounced 2-0 by Clarence in the semifinals despite largely controlling the run of play.
“We had a really good game (against Clarence),” Spina said. “To be honest, it was just a matter of not finishing our chances. … We just couldn’t finish. I think the lesson we took from it is, ‘Don’t take anything for granted.’ Even if you’re outplaying an opponent, make sure to put the ball away. Soccer can be a cruel sport. It’s not always the best team that wins, because there’s not a lot of scoring.”
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For seniors like Sajid and defender Ian NeJame, returning to states has been a two-year journey.
“It’s been our goal since two years ago,” NeJame said. “Just to make it back is a big thing for our team.”
“I’ve been looking forward to this ever since that game (against Clarence),” Sajid said. “It was really frustrating to lose in the way that we did, and I’ve been looking forward to this ever since.”
Spina said the Eagles are heading to Middletown this weekend trying to play with the same spirit they did against Watertown, as they remain determined to take advantage of the moment that’s at hand.
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“Obviously, there’s excitement, but I don’t think we’re taking anything for granted,” he said. “We’re always looking forward. People keep telling us we’ve had a great season and we’re like, ‘Alright, we’re not done yet.’
“We would like to keep going, you know? So we’re taking it super serious.”
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This article originally published at Top-ranked Bethlehem boys’ soccer has state championship in its sights.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
