Record: 10-1-2

Home vs. Shaker Win 2-1

Saturday, Oct 14, 2023

Bethlehem hosted Shaker and won, 2-1, in the regular season finale for both teams. Bethlehem got on the board 10 minutes into the game when Muamer Kanic opened the scoring after beating a defender and firing a shot into the top corner. A minute later, Kanic almost added a spectacular backheeled goal after Ned Reynolds played him in, but Shaker defender Dylan Carron made a clutch goal-line clearance. In the 26th minute, Bethlehem scored its second goal when a Marcello Michel free kick glanced off the underside of the crossbar and bounced just over the goal line. A minute later, Shaker’s Nathan Chung made an outstanding block of a goal-bound shot from Bethlehem’s Nate Smith. Shaker pulled one back eleven minutes after halftime when a Bethlehem defender accidentally steered home a Spencer Subik corner. Both teams pressed for another goal, but none was forthcoming and the game ended 2-1. Bethlehem's fantastic centerbacks were able to keep Shaker off the board for an equalizer to see out the victory. 

Away vs. Saratoga Loss 1-4

Thursday, Oct 12, 2023

Saratoga defeated Bethlehem, 4-1, on Thursday afternoon. The Blue Streaks looked certain to open the scoring in the 15th minute, but Nando Febus made a seemingly impossible save, smothering the shot at the last second. However, in the 28th minute Saratoga made the breakthrough when Jake Paro played an outstanding cross from the left corner and Xavier Ruscio rose imperiously to head home. One minute before the interval, the Blue Streaks doubled their lead. Owen Winter dribbled into the box and was fouled. Ryan Farr scored the spot kick to make it 2-0. Bethlehem came out strong after halftime. In the 57th minute, Muamer Kanic sent a splendid free kick just inside the post from 25 yards to halve the deficit. The Eagles seemed on the verge of an equalizer,but Saratoga put the game out of reach with two very late goals. In the 79th minute, Andre Culpepper-Wehr assisted Owen Winter, and one minute later Ryan Farr pounced on a loose ball to complete the scoring. 

Away vs. Columbia Tie 2-2

Tuesday, Oct 10, 2023

The BC Eagles and Columbia Blue Devils played an exciting 2-2 draw on Tuesday night at Columbia. Columbia scored first in the 8th minute. Cameron Mingle played an excellent through ball and Cody Hamilton finished decisively. Nando Febus had several excellent saves for the Eagles to keep the score at 1-0, but in the 32nd minute Columbia scored again. A Cameron Mingle free kick bounced up off the crossbar; when it came down, Aiden Graber headed it home. Three minutes before halftime, Bethlehem pulled one back. A high kick by Columbia led to an unusual Bethlehem indirect free kick inside the Blue Devils’ area. Dylan Rowe took the free kick and assisted Marcello Michel, who scored into the bottom left of the goal. The second half was a back and forth affair. In the 72nd minute, Columbia appeared to have won it but the Eagles’ Brian Filarecki was there to head the ball off the line. Six minutes later the Eagles were level. Ned Reynolds assisted Colin NeJame, who blasted his shot in under the crossbar. After a frantic final 120 seconds, the game ended 2-2. 

Away vs. Niskayuna Win 4-3

Saturday, Sept 30, 2023

Niskayuna got off to a sharp start off and nearly pulled off a huge comeback today at home. Patrick Terry started the scoring in the 10th minute for Nisky when he sent a free kick around the wall and into the top of the net. Bethlehem would soon get back on level terms when Ned Reynolds fended off defenders and drilled a shot past the Nisky keeper. Ned would soon help BC take the lead on an assist from Dylan Rowe, and he added an assist of his own with a lovely threaded ball to Muamer Kanic who finished calmly before the half. Reynolds picked up his hat trick midway through the 2nd half to make it 4-1 before Nisky came storming back. After a corner made it 4-2, Patrick Terry hammered another free kick just under the bar to make it 4-3. After a frenetic finish, Bethlehem held on for the 4-3 win. 

Away vs. Albany Win 4-0

Thursday, Sept 28, 2023

The BC Eagles defeated the Albany Falcons, 4-0, on Thursday night at Albany High School. The Eagles’ imperious defense, which has conceded only one goal in league play this season, repelled the determined attacks by the Falcons, which were orchestrated in the first half by midfielder Cristian Bermejo. In the 10th minute, BC took the lead when Colin NeJame headed home a corner by Muamer Kanic. Then, nine minutes before the interval, Oliver Reichman scored, assisted by Ben Imbriaco. Ten minutes into the second half, NeJame scored a second, finishing decisively from a goalmouth scramble. Finally, one minute from time, Ned Reynolds scored unassisted for the Eagles to complete the scoring.  

Home vs. Averill Park Win 4-0

Tuesday, Sept 26, 2023

Bethlehem defeated Averill Park, 4-0, on Senior Night for BC’s 12 Seniors. The Eagles took a quick lead in the 2nd minute when Ned Reynolds scored from a tight angle after an assist by Ryan Fenlon. The Warriors defended tenaciously, but in the 28th minute, Muamer Kanic played a ball across the face of goal that Marcello Michel bundled home. Three minutes after halftime, Ryan Sood won a corner and headed home the ensuing corner kick to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead. Finally, two minutes from time, Reynolds scored again from an incisive through ball by Ryan Acosta. 

Home vs. Guilderland Win 2-0

Saturday, Sept 23, 2023

Bethlehem bested Guilderland 2-0 in an intense rivalry matchup Saturday morning at Guilderland. The Dutchmen had two early chances within the first five minutes, but the Eagles’ defense cleared both. The teams broke for halftime in a 0-0 draw, with the game finely poised to go either way. BC drew first blood in the 58th minute; when the ball bounced free in front of the goal after a free kick, Colin NeJame was there to slot it home. Six minutes later, Marcello Michel scored the second and final goal with a looping shot from outside the box. 

Home vs. Schenectady Win 11-1

Thursday, Sept 21, 2023

The BC Eagles defeated Schenectady, 11-1, at Bethlehem Thursday evening. Eric Metcalf led the Eagles with a hat trick, including a splendid volleyed finish. James Nalbone notched a hat trick of assists as provider for all three of Metcalf’s goals. Colin NeJame and Oliver Reichman each scored twice. The Eagles’ other scorers were Muamer Kanic, Ned Reynolds, Nalbone, and Ian NeJame. Schenectady scored early in the second half after intensively pressing the Bethlehem defense. 

Home vs. Shenendehowa Tie 0-0

Tuesday, Sept 19, 2023

Bethlehem and Shen played a scintillating 0-0 draw under the lights at BCHS on Tuesday night. It was a wide open game played with great intensity. Both goalies (Nando Febus and Sam Tymeson) distinguished themselves with several excellent saves, and the defenses were also outstanding. It seemed that Bethlehem might have secured a late winner when Ned Reynolds was fouled in the box, but Colin NeJame’s penalty went just wide of the post. Febus then saved a goal-bound shot from Anthony Caputo at the very end. 

Away vs. Burnt Hills Win 4-0

Thursday, Sept 14, 2023

The BCHS Eagles defeated Burnt Hills- Ballston Lake, 4-0, at BH-BL High School on Thursday afternoon. The first goal came in the 16th minute, when Muamer Kanic slotted home the rebound from a save by Spartan keeper Adam Yerina. In the 36th minute, Marcello Michel doubled the Eagles’ lead, scoring from an assist by Ryan Fenlon. In the 63rd minute, Michel scored again, assisted by Kanic; four minutes later Kanic scored again, with an assist by Oliver Reichman. Bethlehem’s Ned Reynolds won two penalties in the game, one in each half, but both times Yerina artfully saved his spot kicks. 

Home vs. Colonie Win 2-0

Tuesday, Sept 12, 2023

Two second-half goals gave the BC Eagles a 2-0 home victory over a tenacious Colonie side. The tone of the game was set in the 28th minute when a shot from Muamer Kanic appeared certain to go in, only for Colonie to clear the ball centimeters before it crossed the line. Despite several good first half chances for Bethlehem, the game was scoreless at halftime. In the 57th minute, the Eagles’ Ned Reynolds dribbled into the penalty area; Reynolds’s shot rebounded off the near post, hit a Colonie defender, and went into the net to give BC a 1-0 advantage. Colonie pushed forward for an equalizer, and in the 75th minute, Dennis Pauze played a long ball over the top for Ben Imbriaco, who calmly controlled and decisively blasted home to assure the outcome. 

Away vs. CBA Win 1-0

Thursday, Sept 7, 2023

The BC Eagles defeated CBA, 1-0, in a hard-fought battle at CBA on Thursday evening. The game’s start time was initially delayed by 45 minutes to avoid the heat. Then, only two minutes after kickoff, the teams were forced to abandon the field due to lightning. The delay lasted for about an hour, and when the teams restarted they had moved to the turf field under the lights. The game’s lone goal came in the 36th minute when a communications mixup in the CBA defense, under pressure from the Eagles’ Nate Smith, saw a back pass roll into the Brothers’ net for an own goal. When thunder resumed at halftime, the referees called off the rest of the match, which went into the books as a 1-0 Bethlehem win. 

Home vs. Ballston Spa Win 6-0

Tuesday, Sept 5, 2023

The Eagles ran out comprehensive winners in the first league game ever played on the new turf field at BCHS. The Eagles’ stifling defense did not allow a shot on target all game. The scoreline would have been considerably more lopsided if not for several spectacular saves by the Scotties’ keeper. BC got on the board in the third minute when Ned Reynolds scored from an assist by Colin NeJame. The Eagles doubled their advantage one minute later when Marcello Michel scored, assisted by Denis Pauze.

In the eighth minute it was 3-0 as Michel turned provider for Reynolds to score again. Five minutes after halftime, Reynolds slotted home another Michel pass to make it 4-0. In the 58 th minute, Ballston Spa fouled Oliver Reichman in the box, but their keeper saved Muamer Kanic’s penalty. A minute later, Ryan Acosta scored from a pass by Colin NeJame. Seven minutes after that, it was Colin’s younger brother Ian who assisted another Acosta strike.

Pre-season Tournament
Monroe Woodbury High School

Eagles vs. Newburgh Free Academy Win 3-2
September 1, 2023

The pre-Covid tradition of a pre-season non-league tournament finally returned as the Eagles bused down for an overnight adventure in Orange County. The Friday night opener was against Newburgh Free Academy, a school some 2½ times the size of BCHS. NFA took the lead in the 7th minute with an unassisted goal by Henry Moran. Ryan Acosta equalized five minutes before halftime. Ned Reynolds played a ball over the top and Acosta took it around the keeper before sliding it home.

Just after the interval, in the 42nd minute, Reynolds was taken down in the penalty area. Marcelo Michel’s penalty was initially saved by the NFA keeper, but Michel scored the rebound for a 2-1 BCHS lead.

NFA scored a strong equalizer in the 58th minute, Moran assisting Justin Suravia’s strike. But Colin NeJame scored the winner from a corner just five minutes from time, assisted by Dylan Rowe.

Eagles vs. Arlington High School Loss 1-2
September 2, 2023

The second Orange County game was equally hard fought under bright sunny skies on Saturday morning. The opponent was another much larger school than BCHS, this time Arlington High School from Dutchess County. Arlington took the lead in the 6th minute when Dylan Manriquez fired an unsavable shot into the top right corner. Bethlehem had a penalty in the 24th minute when Ned Reynolds was pulled down in the box, but the Arlington keeper made a strong save to deny Marcello Michel’s spot kick.

In the 52nd minute, Manriquez was tripped in the Bethlehem area and Robert Sherman slotted home the penalty to double Arlington’s lead. The Eagles kept pressing for a comeback and got on the board five minutes from time when Reynolds headed home Michel’s left-footed cross. But although BC had several near-chances in the closing minutes, Arlington held on for the win.