SARATOGA SPRINGS — After starting the season 1-2, the Saratoga Springs girls varsity soccer team has rattled off 11 straight victories.
Most recently, the Blue Streaks (12-2) took down Shenendehowa (12-2) on Thursday, 1-0. Sarah Covell’s lone goal was the difference, as Saratoga Springs claimed their current spot atop the Suburban Council, tied with Shen with two regular season games remaining.
The Blue Streaks’ last loss was exactly one month before the Shen win—a 6-1 loss to the same team.
“We weren’t quite ready the first couple games,” said head coach Adrienne Dannehy. “We had some stuff to get together.”
Heading into the season, the team lost their senior starting goalkeeper Carley Slade, who tore her ACL last spring, and their three starting forwards had never played with one another before
In the first three games, Saratoga was outscored 13-3, including a 6-0 opening-game loss to Niskayuna.
Since starting 1-2, Saratoga has not given up more than two goals in a game, while outscoring opponents 39-9 in the 10-game span.
Sophomore goalkeeper Julia McDonald settled into her role, starting with helping secure three shutouts in the team’s next four games after the loss, and the three forwards began to develop some chemistry.
Led by senior Ellery Bianco, the front attack for the Blue Streaks (11-2) also includes sophomores Ya’nique “YaYa” Van Ness and Covell.
“They’re a triple threat right now and I think every team is having a nightmare trying to figure out who they should be concentrating on,” Dannehy said. “They’re just running the show right now and doing great. Now that they’re working together and know where everyone is going—it’s still a work in progress—they’re sometimes a little disconnected, but they know where they should be and now they’re just going. It’s nice to watch.”
Bianco leads the team with 14 goals and 19 points, followed by Van Ness (12 goals, 17 points) and Covell (8 goals, 11 points).
Aside from Thursday’s win, no game may have provided more evidence of the Blue Streaks’ turnaround than the Oct. 2 matchup at Niskayuna. Saratoga avenged the first loss of the season by going on the road and taking down the Silver Warriors, 2-1.
McDonald had 13 saves in the statement win.
“She’s come on real strong,” Dannehy said. “Every game she improves and she’s coming up with these amazing saves. It gets the girls going and it rejuvenates their confidence in each other to say, ‘We can play with any team we play against.’”
Covell punched both goals into the back of the net for the Streaks that day.
“I think the girls wanted some redemption,” Dannehy said. “The 6-0 loss to Nisky and the 6-1 loss to Shen didn’t really say how we played. We were just a little disorganized in the back and my keeper was getting her feet under her. The girls knew they could play with Shen and Nisky. We just needed to keep believing it and get organized.”
Dannehy added that another key piece this season has been senior co-captain and center back Kennedy Cocozzo keeping things organized on the back end.
With just two regular season games left before Class AA sectionals begin, Dannehy had one word to describe this year’s team: exciting.
“We want to go for a win every game and peak right at sectional time and we’re right on our way to do that,” Dannehy said. “We make a few mistakes every game, but we work on it. As far as I’m concerned, we fix what’s broken each game and they’re getting better and better. Hopefully, by the time we hit sectional play, there’s no mistakes and we go all the way.”
