SCHUYLERVILLE — Heading into Thursday, both the boys and girls Schuylerville soccer teams were sitting atop the Wasaren League with undefeated league records.
“We’re both enjoying a good jump on the season,” said girls head coach David Mehan, who added he has been good friends with boys head coach Dave Gauci for years. “It’s great for the program. We both have had some really successful teams in the past on both sides.”
The girls, who were scheduled to play at Stillwater Thursday night, entered the game 8-0-0 in the league (9-1-0 overall), while the guys sit on a 7-0-1 Wasaren record (8-1-2) overall.
“I don’t want to speak for Dave, but neither one of us knew what our expectations would be in the league,” Mehan said. “On both sides it’s tough. Every game in the Wasaren is a battle. I’m very pleased for both teams on this point.”
On the girls side, the grind-it-out games can be seen from the box score—numerous one-goal games helped by the fact that the defense has only allowed two in-league goals.
“[The two teams] root for each other and they’re close too,” Gauci said. “It’s not like there’s a big divide between them and it’s good to see.”
Offensively, the girls bring a well-rounded arsenal of players like Madeline Nevins, Gabby Capobianco, Marissa McCarthy, Jordyn Rousselle and Natasha Capobianco.
“Offensively there’s not one go-to player,” Mehan said. “If I’m coaching against our team, there’s not really one name that pops out. It’s really a bunch of players who have hit the net at all different times.”
One player who did stand out in Tuesday’s convincing 6-0 win over Cambridge was Gabby. The junior contributed four assists.
“She can set up a lot of plays,” Mehan said. “She can play a variety of positions. That’s very convenient as a coach. She can play a high range of spots with a high skill level.”
With one of the key standouts for the girls being time of possession, it is still difficult for Mehan to say they have dominated the league.
“As far as dominance goes, I think our record does show that but I wouldn’t make light of the league,” he said. “I truly think the top four or five teams in the Wasaren, anything could go any way. I think we’re fortunate. We’ve had some breaks go our way and the girls have worked hard to make sure the breaks go our way. They’ve bought into the game plan and they’re executing it well. Even when we’re winning games they recognize what we need to work on to continue to get better.”
On the boys’ side, the Black Horses continued the push forward in Wednesday’s game at Stillwater.
Trailing 1-0 within the first five minutes of the game, Schuylerville kept their composure and came out on top with a 2-1 double-overtime victory after Jose Mendoza found the back of the net off a cross from Matt Saddlemire with seven minutes remaining.
Saddlemire and teammate Garrett Wysocki, who is leading the team in assists and points, have been a dynamic junior duo.
“[Garret and Matt] have played together growing up and they can run all day long, those two,” Gauci said.
The two have complimented senior Pat Castle, who verbally committed to Syracuse, well. Castle, who actually committed as a goalkeeper, has been playing sweeper for the Black Horses.
“It’s a tough decision, but he’ll whatever he can do to win,” Gauci said. “He’ll go wherever you want to go. He’s best utilized in the field because he organizes well and has a strong leg. He always asks me, ‘Can I get some goal time,’ but he’s fun to watch on the field.”
At the halfway point of the season, Gauci and the Black Horses know there’s a long way to go, but after losing a lot of starters from last year’s team, the season thus far has answered a lot of questions.
“We didn’t know what to expect coming into this year,” Gauci said. “We lost a lot of starters from last year’s squad but there was talent there. It was just a matter of how they played together. But they’re a tight-knit group and they support each other. They grit it out.”
