JV Game Summaries 2025

Away vs. Colonie Win 2-1

October 14, 2025

The junior Eagles traveled to Colonie to take on the Wolfpack on the dreary Tuesday afternoon of October 14 for the penultimate game of the 2025 season.  The field conditions had an immediate impact on the game as the long wet grass slowed the pace of play considerably.  The guests were first to solve the challenge of the day when Skyler JVR slotted a ball from the midfield to Luke Tatro who took it in stride 12 yards from goal.  Luke’s first touch set up a shot that he calmly put past the Colonie netminder in the 9th minute.  True to the old cliché of the most dangerous time to defend is immediately following a goal, Colonie played a fast break down the right side, ending with a cross from the endline that found a willing recipient in the box to even the score a minute later.  The two side played an evenly matched contest for most of the remaining time of the first half.

The second stanza picked up where the first left off, with the teams evenly matched.  As the match progressed however, the Eagles grew more comfortable in the attack, with center backs Albert Zhang and Bradley Middendorf making several forward runs with the ball to set up the attack.  It proved fruitful, with Bethlehem getting of 4 shots in the final 6 minutes of the game.  The Eagles left it late, and were able to take home the victory in the 88th minute when a shot from outside of the box deflected off the unaware Hattak, and to the grateful foot of Jake Kane, for the late game heroics!  With the win Bethlehem improves to 5 wins, 2 draws and 4 losses on the season. 

Home vs. Columbia Win 3-0

October 10, 2025

Away vs. Shen Loss 3-0

October 9, 2025

Home vs. Shaker Loss 4-2

October 7, 2025

Bethlehem renewed its rivalry with Shaker on Oct 7, in a hotly contested battle.  Both teams were feeling the intensity of affair, testing the referees whistle early and often.  The visiting Bison had the first opportunity of the match in the 13th minutes, with what looked to be a promising through ball, but keeper Charlie Gerencir was able to come off his line and cut off the attack.  However, 3 minutes later he wouldn’t be so fortunate as the guest were able to beat him to open the scoring.  The foul count began to add up with Shaker’s #5 receiving the first yellow card of the game in the 30th minute, as well as Rashad Hattak’s name being put in the book at the same time.  On the ensuing restart Will Phelps sent a ball over the top of the defense, into the path of Manchun Hueston who out hustled the last defender and slotted the ball around the keeper to even the score.  The first half finished with the teams even.

The Eagles took the lead early in the 2nd half, off a PK taken by Hattak.  The spot kick was earned after Luke Tatro was taken out by the Shaker defender when he attempted a header in the box.  Shaker was able to tie things up 10 minutes later when the ball bounced around the penalty area to a fortunate #9 all alone at the penalty spot for the easy goal.  The physicality of the game really  amped up at this point and both teams wanted to take home all 3 points.  Between the 26th minute and 35th minute 2 shaker players as well as Tatro and Mathias Romero were shown yellows for aggressive play and consistent infringement. 

Tatro had another foul after his card that led to Shaker taking a free kick that wrapped around the wall and into the net.  The guest were able to put in one more goal before the end of the game to hand the Eagles a 4-2 defeat. 

Home vs Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Draw 1-1

September 18, 2025

The Eagles traveled up the Northway to visit the Spartans of Burnt Hills – Ballston Spa on Saturday October 4, under a blazing autumnal sun.  The two teams proved to be evenly matched in a very entertaining 1-1 draw, Bethlehem’s second of the season.  

The guests packed their shooting boots for the road trip, managing to get off 13 shots, 6 of them testing an able netminder.  Mathias Romero accounted for over ½ of the efforts, but was stymied on all of them, 2 by the woodwork.  In a game that was played at a very physical level, Bethlehem were able to take advantage of BH-BL foul in the 30th minute.  Midfielder Rashad Hattak placed a lofted ball into the area from 38 yards,  which was met on the far post by Noah Bughrara, who headed it back across the goal to beat the keeper and open the scoring.

The hosts were able to even the score early in the second half, when a shot from distance took an unexpectedly high bounce on the hard playing surface and went over the Eagles keeper’s outstretched hands and into the goal.  This was an unfortunate blemish on an otherwise outstanding performance by Robert Lloyd in net.  Robert was also helped by a strong defensive squad that only allowed 4 shots to be placed on net.  Defensive midfielder Will Phelps and all of the back line really stepped up the aggression in this match.  A particular shout out to Abe Pastore, Eddie Liu and Gabe Bernal for their excellent play.

As the game went on, frustration for the Eagles offense grew, with Luke Tatro displaying a very physical style of play that eventually led to him being shown a yellow card for persistent infringement in the 31st minute. 

With just 3 seconds left to play, the game looked sure to be a draw, when Skyler Janse Van Renburg  let loose a curling effort from 25 yards that was destined to the upper left corner.   All in attendance waited with baited breath to celebrate; but alas the Spartan netminder was able to just get a fingertip on the ball and direct it around the upright. 

This brings the Eagles to 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses on the season.

Home vs Niskayuna   Loss 2-0

September 30, 2025

Bethlehem JV played host to Niskayuna  to finish out September, and suffered a 0-2 loss.  

Despite an evenly balance first 18 minutes, the visitors were able to break the deadlock with a well-timed attack.  A quick goal kick following a high shot by Rashad Hattak, led to a ball over the entirety of the Eagle defense to an attacker just crossing the centerline to stay onside.  Center back Bradley Middendorf was able to track down the runner and make a risky slide tackle in the penalty box to stop the attack.  Unfortunately the ball did not go out of bounds and was played to a trail runner who was all alone in front of goal for the easy tap in.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 61st minutes when a low shot made its way from the top of the penalty area through a mass of bodies to trickle past a seemingly unaware keeper, who did not expect the ball to make it beyond the last defender.   The last 15 minutes of the game saw a renewed effort by the host, with 2 shots by Hattak and 1 by Mathias Romero, but they could not find their way to the back of the net.

Home vs Albany   Win 2-1

September 18, 2025

The JV Eagles faced off with the Falcons of Albany High on the dry dusty pitch at Bethlehem High on Thursday, September 18.  The first half was dominated by the hosts, with possession of the ball spending most of the time in the guests' defensive third. The hosts looked to be off to a strong, winning a corner kick in the third minute.  Albany defended the initial approach, but Rashad Hattak handled the clearance in at the top of the area and sent it across the goal to the far panel to open the scoring.  Bethlehem continued to dominate play for the majority of the half, with another opportunity coming in the 27th minute, when Aditya Kalam showed some speed on a breakaway. But the ball ran too fast on the bumpy pitch and got to the keeper before he could get a shot off.  Albany was finally able to test the keeper in the last minute of the half for their only shot of the half. 

The second half continued the pressure being put on by the hosts.  Unfortunately, the numerous corners and free kicks that the Eagles took found no one on the business end of the approach.  The Eagle were able to double the lead in the second half when Will Phelps, in his first game back from injury, intercepted a clearance at the top of the D and blasted it directly over the keepers head into the top center of the net.  The Falcons were finally able to muster some attack in the 35th minute of the second half, with a through ball that found a lone runner bearing down on the goal.  Netminder Robert Lloyd showed bravery in rushing the oncoming attacker, cutting down the angle, and forcing a poor shot that went well wide of the net.  Unfortunately, a minute later Bethlehem committed a push in the back inside the penalty area, setting up a spot kick.  The Albany shooter was able to sneak it past Lloyd to add some excitement to the last 5 minutes of the game. The Eagles defense was able to keep the ball well away from goal from then on out to see out a 2-1 victory.

Away vs Averill Park   Win 3-2

September 11, 2025

Home vs Guilderland   Draw 0-0

September 9, 2025

JV Eagles Draw with Dutchmen

Bethlehem played host to the Dutchmen of Guilderland under a clear blue sky on Tuesday, September 9.  The 2 teams traded near equal possession in the first half, with the Eagles having the majority of chances.  The host were able to test the Guilderland netminder with 3 shots on frame in the half, attempted by Luke Tatro, Rashad Hattak and Jake Kane.  Unfortunately for the host the keeper was up to the test all 3 times and keep the score nil – nil at the break.

The second half was much the same, with the same 3 players again being the only ones to find the net, but once again, unable to get it by the goalie.  The Eagles goal keeping duo of Charlie Gerencir and Robert Lloyd successfully stopped the 2 shots that the guest were able to place on frame.  The difficulty of the Dutchman can be chalked up to outstanding defensive play by Albert Zhang, who showed strong for the second game in a row. 

The officials were also active participants in the game, handing out 3 yellows.  First to Tatro for persistent infringement.  Then Hattak was shown a yellow in what I believe to be a case of mistaken identity when a Guilderland player was loudly imploring the referee for a foul.  The third was awarded to a Guilderland player who made an overzealous retaliatory tackle late in the game.

After the full time whistle, the teams proved to be an even match, with no goals scored.

Home vs. Saratoga  Loss 5-0

October 17, 2024

Eagles Fall to Blue Streaks in Home Opener

The Junior Varsity Eagles started their season by hosting Saratoga Friday, August 28, for a non-league match.  

The hosts came out strong, earning a corner and several free kicks in the first 15 minutes of the game. Saratoga then shook off the rust of the off-season and started to press with a strong attack.  The guests put on continuous pressure for the rest of the half, but the Eagles defense held strong, anchored by the center back pairing of Bradley Middendorf and Alber Zhang. The Falcons came out flying high in the second half, working their way through the Eagles defense to score 3 times in the first 10 minutes.  Despite the best efforts of the coach, and moving some players around, the hosts proved to be no match for Saratoga, allowing 2 more goals in the half to finish with a 5 to 0 loss in the opening game.