Colden Harrison buried the golden goal in overtime on Monday, giving Schuylerville a wild 1-0 victory over Broadalbin-Perth to snag the Section 2 Class B boys’ soccer championship. This was no easy win either, with the No. 2 Black Horses grinding out the single score against the No. 4 Patriots at Bethlehem High School in Delmar. For a team that lost a huge chunk of last year’s squad to graduation, this title was absolutely massive and frankly, not even on their radar when the season kicked off.
The Header That Sealed History
With only 9:45 left in the first overtime session, junior forward Thomas Tyler lined up a corner kick that looked like it was drawn up in a dream. Junior midfielder Colden Harrison, already a playoff beast, rose up and headed that ball straight into the back of the net. That’s it. One goal. Game over. “It came off Tyler’s foot perfect, and I saw Harrison lining up and I just knew it was in from there,” said senior goalie Ethan Spodnick, and honestly, you can practically hear the relief and pure joy in that quote. Coach David Gauci wasn’t shy about it either, talking about “a lot of things to figure out from last year to this year” and how “young kids coming into the program… stepped up and made huge strides.” Harrison himself summed it up best: “It’s really special. I love this group of boys. Really grateful to have them. I’m proud of them.” This wasn’t just any win, folks, it was Schuylerville’s first sectional title since 2019. Talk about earning it!
Spodnick’s Crossbar Kiss and Unstoppable Shutouts
Before Harrison’s heroics, the game was a defensive clinic, especially for Schuylerville. The most heart-stopping moment? With just 2:20 remaining in regulation, Broadalbin-Perth launched a shot, Spodnick deflected it, and then it CLANGED off the crossbar. He scooped up the ball, keeping the game knotted at zero. “I’d like to kiss that crossbar, honestly,” Spodnick confessed, “It came off my hand and I saw it hit that crossbar and I was like, ‘Thank the Lord.’ It was beautiful.” Coach Gauci didn’t mince words: “He was incredible. That one save he made saved our season. He’s done that all year. He’s got a good demeanor about him and he’s a good kid to be around.” Spodnick has been a brick wall this season, racking up an unbelievable 11 shutouts. And it’s not just him: the Black Horses have been on a roll, snatching 7 wins in their last nine games. Meanwhile, Broadalbin-Perth’s defense was stout too, only allowing one goal in the entire postseason before this. That shows you the level of play in this championship.
Harrison’s Heater Keeps Rolling
Colden Harrison was named the star of the game, and for good reason. He came into the final with 14 goals on the season, a huge number for any player. But in the postseason? The kid turned it up to eleven, with his championship winner being his fifth goal in just three playoff games. Fifth! “We knew he can do it. He’s done it before,” Gauci said, adding that Harrison “knows how to find the goal.” Yeah, coach, he certainly does. This young squad, currently sitting at 14-3-2, has some serious momentum heading into the next round.
The Black Horses are riding high, bringing their 14-3-2 record into a regional final showdown. They’re set to meet Section 7 champion Saranac at 2 p.m. Saturday at La Salle Institute. Broadalbin-Perth ends their season with a tough 14-5-1 record, marking their sixth trip to a sectional final.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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