Summaries

Record: 2-4-1

Away vs Guilderland    Loss 6-2

Friday, October 13

Friday the 13th proved unlucky for the the Bethlehem Mod 7/8 team as they dropped a tough road decision to Guilderland.

The visitors got off to a slow start, as the Dutchmen netted three goals in the opening twelve minutes, continually testing Eagles keeper Charlie Gerencier. But the Eagles showed tremendous resilience, working the ball downfield and getting a dangerous shot on goal from Landon Spain in the 12th minute. And, in the 27th minute, it began to look as if Bethlehem might stage a comeback when Evan Doyle played a pass across the goal box to Royal Bannister for a tap in. That pass failed to arrive as a Guilderland defender preempted Bannister’s shot with a Guilderland own goal to make it 3-1 Dutchmen.

The remainder of the half saw energetic performances from both sides as they traded possession and chances. The Bethlehem defense got standout performances from Ryan Barton, Etka Yazici, Max Fitzsimons, Luke Bodnar and Walker Prusik to hold Guilderland scoreless for the remainder of the half.

The second half saw yet another barrage by a relentless Dutchmen attack as they launched eleven straight shots on the Eagles, including two goals. But keepers Gerencier and Sully Dzekciorius stemmed the bleeding by making several key saves and Bethlehem showed tremendous perseverance, winning the ball through the feisty play of Denys Kuchera and Aiden Downs and counterattacking through the creativity of Emir Omeroglu, Bozdemir Asad and Kai White.

Bethlehem’s work was finally rewarded 27 minutes into the half when an Eddie Liu corner resulted in a scramble in the box, and an alert Ahment Dagli fired it home. The goal gave the Eagles life, and the resulting surge resulted in opportunities for Che Bruno, Beckett Shwartz and Caleb Hamilton. But by the time promising shots by Bannister and Noah Bughrara failed to find the back of the net, the Eagles had conceded the loss.

6-2 was the final. Eagles managed a 53%-47% advantage in possession. Guilderland had 13 shots on goal to Bethlehem’s six and recorded four corners to Bethlehem’s two. Guilderland was called for four fouls and Bethlehem for three. Keepers Dzekciorius and Gerencir combined for a 54% save percentage. The win gives the Eagles a 2-4-1 record on the season. The boys are back in action Wednesday, October 18, away vs. Niskayuna.

Away vs Columbia   Draw 1-1

Wednesday, October 11, 2023

A 60-minute battle between perennial Suburban Council powers resulted in a 1-1 draw Wednesday, as Bethlehem MOD 7/8 faced a tough Columbia team on the road.

Both sides traded scoring chances early, with the Eagles getting promising shots from Landon Spain, Emier Omeroglu and Eddie Liu. The Blue Devils thought they had taken the lead in the 12th minute goal, only to have it called back for offside. But it was Liu who broke the scoreless tie in the 18th minute, launching a free kick in from outside the box that the Columbia keeper failed to deal with.

The Eagles were solid in defense, anchored by Walker Prusik, Etka Yazici and Ahmet Dagli while Beckett Schwartz, Aiden Downs, Max Fitzsimons and Ryan Barton stifled the Columbia attack. Keepers Charlie Gerencier and Sully Dzekciorius prevented the Blue Devils from finding the net, and the half ended 1-0.

Columbia would ratchet the pressure up in the second half, generating several offensive chances. In the 23rd minute they made the most of a soft penalty call, converting the resulting penalty kick to make the score 1-1. And the scoring might have continued for Columbia had it not been for the heroic performance of Bethlehem keeper Dzekciorius, who stopped every shot he faced in open play, including an acrobatic diving save to deflect a dangerous Columbia shot wide.  

Bethlehem regained control and dominated possession late in the game. The Eagles attack continued to pressure the Blue Devils, with Royal Bannister and Kai White among those getting nice touches on the ball and Caleb Hamilton, Esad Bozdemir and Omeroglu logging second half shots. But neither side could find the net again and the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Bethlehem held a 57%-43% advantage in possession. The Eagles had ten shots on goal to Columbia’s eight, and the teams were equal on corner kicks with four apiece. Columbia was called for six fouls while Bethlehem recorded two. The win gives the Eagles a 2-3-1 record on the season. The boys are back in action Friday, October 13, on the road at Guilderland.

Home vs Troy High         Win 9-0

Friday, October 4, 2023

The Bethlehem Mod 7/8 team notched their second straight win Wednesday, defeating a visiting Troy High team by a score of 9-0

The Eagles got out in front early, when Emir Omeroglu sent a brilliant ball in from the left side to put Denys Kuchera one-on-one with the Troy keeper. Kuchera made no mistake, sending a low shot in to make it 1-0. Landon Spain would make it 2-0 with a great individual effort in the 13th minute, and Eddie Liu found the back of the next minutes later off a speculative shot from well outside the penalty area.

Che Bruno provided the assists on the next three goals, first slotting a pass to Noah Bughrara for a neat finish, and then crossing the ball in from the left side for a Henry Saunders goal to make it 5-0 heading into halftime.

The second half was defined largely by an impressive Eagles defensive display, as the feisty Troy attackers struggled to create opportunities in the final third. Among those logging notable defensive efforts were Bethlehem backs Oneroglu, Luke Bodnar, Walter Pruskik and Dagli Ahment.

But the offense also continued to thrive for Bethlehem in the second half. Bruno continued his assist streak, logging his third just two minutes into the half by squaring a ball to Evan Doyle, who tapped it in to make the score 6-0. Kuchera scored his second of the game three minutes later, once again capitalizing on an assist from Oneroglu, and Charles Gerencir would beat the Troy keeper in the ninth minute of the half following an individual effort. When Omerogu found the net with a strike of his own following a pass from Esad Bozdemir, Bethlehem’s day win complete.

Keepers Gerenier, Spain, Devin Illardi and Sully Dzekciorius were solid between the sticks to give the 7/8 Eagles their first clean sheet of the season. The Eagles held a 55%-45% advantage in possession. Bethlehem had 30 shots to Troy’s three, and the teams earned equal corner kicks, with one apiece. Troy was called for four fouls while Bethlehem recorded none. The win gives the Eagles a 2-3 record on the season. The boys are back in action Wednesday, October 11, on the road at Columbia High.

Away vs. Albany Win 3-2

Friday, Sept 29, 2023

The Bethlehem Mod 7/8 team stunned Albany High Friday, twice coming from behind to record an exciting 3-2 away victory at Myers Middle School. It was the first win of the season for a spirited but inexperienced Eagles squad that had previously struggled to find its style.

Both teams got off to an energetic start, trading possession and chances. It was the Falcons who would strike first, breaking through the Eagles defense for a breakaway in the eighth minute. But Bethlehem would ratchet up the pressure immediately following the goal, with Evan Doyle's shot being parried away by the Albany keeper. Just one minute later, Luke Bodnar played a penetrating pass to Landon Spain, who delivered a well-placed shot to the left-side netting to bring Bethlehem level.

Albany recorded several chances during the remainder of the first half, but Bethlehem keepers Charles Gerenier and Devin Ilardi were solid between the sticks to keep score 1-1 heading into halftime.

The Falcons sustained their pressure to begin the second half, and in the tenth minute they broke through the Eagles defense once again to take a 2-1 lead. But Bethlehem remained organized in defense, stifling the Albany offense for the remainder of the game and launching several counterattacks.

When Noah Bughrara converted a corner kick from Eddie Liu to tie the game for the second time, momentum had clearly shifted in favor of the Eagles. Bethlehem began to apply pressure on the Albany defense, with shots on goal from Bughrara, Liu and Kai White. Doyle was taken down outside the box in the 27th minute, and Liu seized the opportunity to launch the resulting free kick over the Albany keeper to give the Eagles their first lead of the game.

That turned out to be the only lead they would need, as the game ended in a 3-2 Bethlehem victory. The Eagles held a 55%-45% advantage in possession. Albany had nine shots on goal to Bethlehem’s seven, and recorded five corners to Bethlehem’s one. Albany was called for eight fouls and Bethlehem for three. Keepers Ilardi and Gerencir combined for a 78% save percentage. The win gives the Eagles a 1-3 record on the season. The boys are back in action Wednesday, October 4, at home vs. Troy High.

Home vs. Averill Park Loss 4-0

Wednesday, Sept 27, 2023

Home vs. Shenendehowa Loss 14-0

Wednesday, Sept 20, 2023

Away vs. Burnt Hills - Ballston Lake Loss 5-0

Monday, Sept 18, 2023