Ballston Spa Girls’ Soccer Beats Shenendehowa, “It’s Been Such a Long Time”

Girls’ soccer Suburban Council contender Ballston Spa bested rival Shenendehowa at home on Tuesday night. In head coach Tom Rogan’s second season with the Scotties, the goal is to win the Suburban council for the first time in program history. 

A 2-0 scoreline to Ballston Spa conceals the fact that Shenendehowa played a large part of the game in their opponent’s half, creating scoring opportunities that would find the back of the net on another day. 

The deadlock stood for over an hour into the game until captain Leah Szmarz struck a free kick 25 yards from goal under the jumping wall of Shen, finding Meave McLoughlin with only the goalkeeper to beat at the back post. 

Minutes later with Shen pushing for an equalizing goal, the ball was cleared to Szmarz, who found enough time and space at the top of the box to turn the last defender. Her dribble took her to the right of the goal, favoring the goalkeeper. However, a crisp knee-height shot caused the goalkeeper to parry the ball into the path of crashing Abby Werner. 

Ballston Spa was then able to manage the ever-running clock by congesting their defense and chasing long balls to the opposing corner flag until the final whistle from the referee. 

The Scotties currently have a perfect 2-0 record and are second in the Suburban Council. 

Still, Coach Rogan advised caution in his postgame team talk. 

“It’s a wonderful win, but the suburban council is an incredibly deep and difficult league,” Rogan said. “We have to play Shaker on Thursday and if you go down there and you’re enjoying the win too much, Shaker will beat you.”  

The team was apt to receive this message from their coach, who boasts nine section titles over 26 seasons with Bethlehem and was inducted into the New York State High School Girls’ Soccer Hall of Fame prior to the season.

For captain Abby Werner, this win is an indication of progress and possibility. “Shen is obviously a very good team, and we ourselves are also very good,” she said. “It feels really good to win since it’s been such a long time since we’ve been able to pull through with this win. It makes me really excited to see what our team can do during sectionals and hopefully move on towards a state championship.”