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When Blanson Bihizi returned to Putnam Science Academy’s campus in early September, it was with the idea that he was going to play basketball again this year.
But as the open gyms went on, Bihizi, who played on both the Elite and Varsity teams last year, started thinking more and more about playing soccer.
“I just believe I’m more skilled at (soccer),” he said recently. “But I love both, and that’s the problem.”
Bihizi’s decision got a little bit easier – or maybe it is harder – last Monday after he made his debut with PSA’s Elite soccer team…and scored a goal in the process, helping PSA to a 3-1 home win over Hoosac.
The goal came off a free kick as Carlos Paniagua delivered a ball in front of the net. Rafa Altarriba got his foot on it first but his volley shot was knocked away by the keeper and right onto Bihizi’s foot. From there, it was like riding a bike as he put the ball into the back of the net.
The team-wide celebration included some big smiles and laughs.
“I was in the right place at the right time for sure, but words can’t even describe how I’m feeling,” Bihizi said. “Scoring a debut goal after playing for the first time in five years...it really means a lot to me. I’m 18 years old. The last time I scored a goal in a serious game, I was 12 or 13. It’s been a long time.”
While Bihizi’s goal finished the scoring for PSA, Assa Mora got it started in the first minute of the game, connecting off a corner kick, again delivered perfectly by Paniagua. Shemeza Rubeya added a goal – his third in the last two games – in the second half.
“We’re always happy to score early, but the problem is after we score, we get a bit complacent,” coach Kurt Lunzmann said. “We need to be consistent for as long as we can.”
That happened again Thursday as PSA traveled to St. Thomas More and came away with a 2-2- draw. Rubeya scored another goal in the eighth minute, but that was it for PSA until the game’s 90th and final minute when Anton Lemos connected for the equalizer just seconds before the whistle blew.
“The team showed character to fight back, and continued to play hard,” Lunzmann said. “Lessons must be learned though from naïve game management when going up 1-0 so early.”
As for Bihizi, Lunzmann is glad to have him aboard.
“He’s my type of player,” Lunzmaan said. “He listens, he sacrifices. No matter how good you are, if you can’t sacrifice your skills to help the team, it means nothing. Blanson automatically has that. (When he scored) I was happy for him. I think he now feels more part of the group. Coming from basketball, people were wondering what’s going on. Now he’s come and shown he can play - he’s not a bad player.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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