The Albany High School boys’ soccer team waited 11 months for this, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Harrison Leon’s curling strike off a free kick in the second half punctuated the Falcons’ 3-1 home win over Niskayuna during the Sept. 26 rematch of the teams’ memorable – and, for the Falcons, heartbreaking – Section 2 Class AA quarterfinal meeting in 2018.
In that game last October, Albany High rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the second half to force overtime. Just seconds from heading to penalty kicks at the end of the second extra period, Niskayuna scored the winner on a brilliant shot that ended the Falcons’ season in stunning fashion.
On the night of Sept. 26, it was the Falcons opening a 2-0 lead thanks to first-half goals from Hser Nay Wah and Muiz Bayewu. Leon assisted on Hser Nay Wah’s opener and then made it 3-0 with his perfectly placed free kick after halftime.
The goal secured a badly needed win that ended a three-game winless streak for Albany High.
The win kept the Falcons (6-3-1) in first place in the Suburban Council Gray Division, and also denied the Silver Warriors (6-2-1) a chance to move into a first-place tie with CBA and Shenendehowa in the Suburban Blue.
