Hassan Mohsini exploded for three goals in a 12-minute span of the second half Thursday night to lead the Albany High School boys’ soccer team to a 5-1 win over Colonie in the first round of the Section 2 Class AA playoffs.
Tuyshime Gefasha also had four assists as the seventh-seeded Falcons (7-6-3) advanced to meet No. 2 Shaker in the quarterfinals Monday at Shaker. Game time is 7 p.m. The Bison (12-1-2) are ranked No. 10 in the state and beat Albany High 2-0 during the regular season.
Although the Falcons dominated possession for much of the night against Colonie (3-12-2), the teams were tied 1-1 midway through the second half on Dylan Mariscal-Dreby’s goal 15 minutes into the game and the Raiders’ equalizer against the run of play a minute before halftime.
Mohsini broke the tie with an unassisted effort with just over 20 minutes remaining, splitting two defenders and surging in on goal to fire home from 10 yards out.
Gefasha sent Mohsini in again just over two minutes later, and the senior calmly slotted home past the sliding goalie into the far corner to make it 3-1 with 18:05 left.
Eight minutes later, Gefasha burst out of the Falcons’ defensive end with a 30-yard run before setting up Mohsini a third time to complete the hat trick and make it 4-1 with 10:06 to play. Mohsini now has 17 goals on the season.
Denis Lubila completed the scoring with 8:01 remaining, with Gefasha getting the assist.
