Experience will guide Bethel Park boys to soccer success
With 18 seniors on the roster, many of them with playing experience from last year’s 13-8 club, Bethel Park is preparing for a run at a WPIAL championship in boys soccer this fall.
“I have high expectations for our team,” said Bethel Park coach Doug Fink.
Even Fink is a seasoned veteran. After playing soccer at Duquesne University, he gained employment as a social studies teacher at the high school and joined the soccer coaching staff as an assistant under Mike Galietta. He enters his eighth season as the Hawks’ head coach and is assisted by Jay Zeminski, Josh Kicinski, Mike Stearman and Josh Woodman.
Fink says that like his team, the coaching staff works together as an entire unit in pursuit of BP’s objectives, which are to challenge for the section crown as well as get past the semifinals in the playoffs. Last year, the Hawks tied Thomas Jefferson for the section banner and lost to eventual WPIAL champion, Moon, 3-2, in overtime in the semifinals.
“Our team goal is to win the section and make a deep run in the playoffs,” Fink said. “If we stay healthy, our team can achieve those goals.”
The Hawks will rely upon Xavier Jackson as well as their other team captains Gavin DeClair and Jake Lang to spearhead that postseason run. “They will be a significant part of our team’s success,” Fink said.
Jackson led BP’s offensive with 22 goals. The senior striker was an All-WPIAL performer.
Luke Rubican headlines the defense. He was an all-section, honorable mention choice last year as a goalkeeper, racking up seven shutouts.
“I’m hoping that, in addition to experience, our team strengths will be our attack in scoring goals as well as in goal, preventing them because of Luke, but we need to improve on not conceding as many as we did last year.”
Fink has cause for concern because the Hawks lost their starting center back Luke Yimin, a junior, to a season-ending injury. “Therefore we need to sort out our back line and defend as a unit,” Fink said.
Among the key senior defenders will be DeClair and Lang along with Tyler Benlock, Aiden Good, Cooper Kicinski, Patrick Romito and Jonah Stearman. Jacob Coffield is also a senior goalkeeper.
While Benlock and Kicinski double as midfielders, the Hawks will also rely upon Rowan Darr, Jason Koerbel, Brady McCarthy and Josh Pantin to link the defense with the offense. All are seniors.
Seniors Youseff Benrabia, John Bussalacchi, Andrew Hughes and Eli McCullough complement Jackson up front on the forward line.
“This group of 18 seniors has varsity experience,” Fink stressed. “We do not have many newcomers, but I expect a total team effort and many of our players to make an impact.”
In addition to Yimin, the Hawks carry four additional juniors on the roster. Among them are Pravas Dahal, Aaden McClelland, Tommy Opferman and DeAngelo Williams.
Among the team’s sophomores are: PJ Gaefke, Jose Garcia, Liam Harderhan, Julian Koontz, Sajal Magar, Brandon Scanlon, Hunter Slavonic, Ellis Sterman and Rowan Turka.
Several freshmen are also listed on the roster. They include: Christian Baier, Kolton Batting, Adam Benrabia, Evan Canon, Ben Fowler, Evan Joslin, Jacob Schwartz and Will Yester.
In preparation for section action, which begins on Aug. 28, the Black Hawks faced stiff competition from Peters Township on Aug. 23. They will also host Mount Lebanon on Sept. 20, and Canon-McMillan on Oct. 15 in non-section competition this fall.
“These are quality programs and they will certainly prepare us for the playoffs. I feel like the teams in our section are all tough opponents and they prepare us for the playoffs, too,” Fink said.
After traveling to South Fayette on Aug. 26 for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff, Bethel Park opens section action hosting Thomas Jefferson at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 28.