From 0-3 to champions: Shaker boys' soccer captures Class AAA title

Shaker celebrates after beating Guilderland for the Section 2, Class AAA title on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at LaSalle Institute in Troy, NY. (Jim Franco/Times Union) (Jim Franco/Times Union) TROY – Shaker lost its captain to an injury, its lead to a short-handed opponent and a player to a red card Saturday.But just as they've done all season, the Blue Bison kept finding answers.Sami Terra scored a hat trick as top-seeded Shaker defeated No. 3 Guilderland, the defending co-champion, 3-1 in Saturday's Section 2 Class AAA boys' soccer final at La Salle High School.Shaker opened the season with three losses before an eight-game winning streak helped put the Blue Bison on course for their first sectional title since 2024."I think they learned that if they played scared, if they played nervous, if they played hesitant (that) they were going to lose, anyway," Shaker coach Dan Fountain said.Captain Avery Subik left with an injury about midway through the first half and Terra's free kick gave Shaker the lead at the break. Down a player, Guilderland's Dylan Pirri scored to briefly tie the game, but Terra - with Shaker also down a player - soon restored his team's lead and later completed the hat trick with just under 20 minutes left."They all said they were going to run for me, and I knew they would," said Subik, who did not return to the field and was on crutches after the game. "I knew they would get that win for us as a team."Key momentShaker's response to Guilderland's equalizer came before the Dutchmen could build on it.Guilderland had lost a player to a red card with 28:04 remaining, but Pirri scored about two minutes later to erase Shaker's 1-0 lead. Then, the Blue Bison lost a player to a red card, leaving both teams with 10 players.With about 24 minutes remaining, Liam Gregory delivered a free kick and Terra rose to head it home, restoring Shaker's lead."It was going to be a dogfight once we got that red card," Terra said. "Then, I just stayed with my man, jumped up for the header, banged it in. It kept us in the game, brought our heads back up."Star of the gameTerra delivered a hat trick in Shaker's biggest game of the season, beginning with a free kick that beat the halftime clock by 4.3 seconds.His second goal, a header off Gregory's free-kick delivery, restored the lead. His third came on a breakaway with just under 20 minutes left.For Fountain, the performance was one to remember."A hat trick in a sectional final," the coach said. "That's what memories are made of."Numbers to know10: Players on the field for each team after a pair of red cards were handed out.4.3: Seconds remaining in the first half when Terra's free kick gave Shaker a 1-0 lead.4: Combined goals scored by Terra in the sectional semifinal and final. The senior scored once in Shaker's 2-0 win over Saratoga Springs and three times against Guilderland.What's nextGuilderland: The Dutchmen (12-4-3) finish their season as Section 2 Class AAA runner-up.Shaker: The Blue Bison (13-5) advance to the state regionals.SubscribeThere’s more to Albany with the Times Union. Subscribe today for just 25¢.This article originally published at From 0-3 to champions: Shaker boys' soccer captures Class AAA title.