Bethlehem High School girls’ soccer clinched the Section 2 Class AA championship on Tuesday night, outlasting Ballston Spa in a penalty kick shootout after a grueling 1-1 draw. The match, held at Shaker High School, stretched to 110 minutes of regulation and overtime before the decisive kicks began. For the Eagles, the victory secures a coveted berth in the state tournament, capping a resilient 10-4-4 season for the No. 2 seed.
First-year coach’s relentless PK drills pay off as Eagles secure Class AA title
The turning point of the shootout arrived with the very first attempt, when junior goalkeeper Kinley Logsdon executed a diving save to deny Ballston Spa’s Abby Werner. This early momentum shift proved critical, as Bethlehem went on to convert their opportunities to win 4-2. Logsdon, facing her first high school penalty round, relied on experience from the club level to remain composed under intense pressure, setting the tone for her teammates’ confidence.
First-year head coach Scott Geis credited his team’s success to exhaustive preparation, noting that he drilled the players relentlessly to simulate high-stakes scenarios. “We practice it with me in the goal… I would shout, ‘Hey, this is the most important shot you’ve ever taken,'” Geis explained. His focus on managing pressure allowed the Eagles to breathe through the tension, resulting in the clinical execution that secured their state tournament spot.
Source: Yahoo Sports
