Colonie, N.Y. (WRGB) — Championship week has arrived in the Section 2 boys soccer playoffs, and two Class AA semifinal matchups at Colonie High School on Monday set the stage for next weekend’s title game.
In the first Class AA semifinal, Burnt Hills knocked off reigning sectional champion Columbia, 4-1, to advance to the championship.
Burnt Hills struck early while already leading 1-0, earning a penalty about 10 minutes in. Senior Dylan Geren converted to make it 2-0. Columbia pulled within a goal before halftime, but Burnt Hills answered late in the first half on a corner kick when Columbia couldn’t clear the ball from the box and Maxum Nafus headed home a goal to send the Spartans into the break up 3-1.
Burnt Hills extended the lead in the second half, led by two goals from Colby North, to close out the 4-1 win and eliminate the reigning champs.
In the night’s second semifinal at Colonie, top-seeded and nationally ranked Bethlehem faced Niskayuna with a championship berth on the line. Bethlehem beat Niskayuna 9-0 in the regular season, but the semifinal was scoreless through regulation and two overtime periods.
The match went to penalty kicks, where it remained tied through five rounds before moving to sudden death. Bethlehem’s Kaleb Murray scored to put the Eagles ahead 6-5, and goalkeeper Parker Mooney then made a save on Niskayuna freshman Sam Gaspari to end it.
Bethlehem advanced to the championship after winning the penalty kick shootout, 6-5.