Advance To Regionals After Penalty Kicks vs. Shaker
COLONIE – Officially, it was a scoreless tie, but this game was so much more.
Tied after regulation. Tied after two 15-minute overtimes. Momentum swinging back and forth; neither side able to capitalize on their chances. The Section II, Class AA boy’s soccer final between undefeated Ballston Spa and Shaker, on Monday, November 2, would come down to penalty kicks.
This tie after overtime meant that both squads would share the Class AA title – but at stake was a single berth in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association regional against Cicero-North Syracuse this weekend. In that shootout, the Scotties were perfect, scoring five times in succession (by Connor DeFilippis, Griffen MacWatters, Thomas Preece, Ethan Thomas and Noah Grenier). A single miss by Colonie allowed Grenier to notch the clincher, 5-3, enabling Ballston Spa to advance and sending their throng of fans, who had ventured down to Colonie Central High School, onto the field to celebrate.
Throughout regulation and the overtime periods, the Scotties exhibited superior midfield play by Schuyler Mann and MacWatters, and though Shaker had a few heart-stopping chances, goalkeeper Rylie Hall came through when called upon. The final box credited each side with 10 shots; each with 7 corner kicks, and both Hall and his Shaker counterpart, Keegan Flaherty, with 10 saves. As even as even can be – until the shootout.
For Ballston Spa, the dream season continues. But it rightfully can be said that two champions left the field on this day.
