After winning Section 3 title, Bethel Park boys look forward to postseason run

By: Ray Fisher
Saturday, October 21, 2023 | 11:01 AM

Previous Next

Bethel Park didn’t lose a section game in boys soccer this season.

The Black Hawks rang up a 13-0-1 mark in Section 3-3A to narrowly finish first ahead of runner-up Thomas Jefferson (12-1-1).

And perhaps most impressive, Bethel Park allowed just seven goals in 14 section games with seven shutouts and seven one-goal games defensively. The Black Hawks held a 55-7 edge in goals scored in section play.

“Our team has had a great regular season, and I’m proud of the boys for their accomplishments,” coach Doug Fink said. “Our goal when the season started was to make the playoff, and we achieved that. In the playoffs, anything can happen so we will try our best to make a long run.”

With one nonsection game remaining against Class 4A Canon-McMillan, the Black Hawks were 15-1-1 overall with 15 wins and one tie in their last 16 games.

“Our starting lineup has been consistent throughout most of the season,” Fink said, “and our substitutes off the bench have provided us with energy and some timely goals. I feel we can still improve in our ability to possess the ball.”

Sophomore standout Luke Rubican is the Black Hawks’ starting goalkeeper. He is flanked by two sets of brothers on defense — senior Dylan DeClair, sophomore Gavin DeClair, senior Carmin Yimin and freshman Luke Yimin.

Rubican had seven shutouts with two clean sheets against Uniontown and one against Trinity (nonsection), Connellsville, Thomas Jefferson, Albert Gallatin and Laurel Highlands.

“Luke has made some tremendous saves to keep our team in matches,” said Fink earlier this year, “and our back line has done a great job.

“I believe our ability to defend has been our biggest strength and, of course, we’ve had some luck along the way. I hope the luck and success continues for this group because it is a great group of young men.”

The Black Hawks held a 69-11 overall scoring advantage with senior midfielder/defender Henry Gaston leading the team offensively with 12 goals.

Gaston was named co-player of the year in the section along with Thomas Jefferson’s Brayden Miller.

“It’s been about as good of a senior season as we could have asked for,” Gaston said. “The team has really come together as a group, and I think we are peaking at just the right time. It is very exciting to have won the section for the first time in 10 years.

“We are looking forward to the postseason and are hoping to make a deep run in the playoffs. We have gotten even more comfortable playing together as a group, and I think a lot of the guys are really starting to thrive.”

The versatile Gaston and teammate Adam Thompson, another senior midfielder/defender, have played multiple positions.

“At the beginning of the season, we had a meeting with the seniors and one of our goals was to win the section championship,” Thompson said. “We knew going in that it would be tough, but by working together and helping each other we were confident we could get the job done.

“My season has been great. We are having a lot of team success by working together and helping one another. Our expectations for the postseason are very high. Our goal is to make a run in the playoffs.”

Sophomore forwards Xavier Jackson and Youssef Benrabia provide offensive punch for the Black Hawks, as do junior midfielders Ethan Varley, Devin Palombia and Jackson Friday.

Gaston, Thompson and Friday were honored as all-section selections this year.

“Adam Thompson and Jackson Friday, in particular, have been great all year,” Gaston said, “but have really made a big impact in the second half of our season. We are really excited to make a run at the playoffs.”

Other team members who made significant contributions this season are senior defenders Tommy Bova and Arpan Gurung; juniors Max LeMessurier (MF), Colin Hewes (F), Ali Yasin (F), along with Evan Chichwak, Nate Disori and Michael Taylor on defense; sophomores Tyler Benlock (MF), Cooper Kicinski (MF), Jacob Coffield (GK), Josh Pantin (F), Brady McCarthy (D) and Jonah Stearman (D); and freshmen Owen Bileck (F) and Aaden McClelland (MF).

Bova, who along with Gaston and Dylan DeClair are co-captains, said scoring a goal on senior night in his team’s 11-0 win Oct. 5 against Uniontown was a thrill for him.

“My season has gone well so far,” he said, “from scoring on senior night to going undefeated in the section. I’m incredibly proud of our team for winning the section for the first time in 10 years and can’t believe the progress some guys have made just from last season.

“I believe we can go far in the postseason.”

Two of Bethel Park’s most important games of the season were a home-and-away series with Thomas Jefferson. The Black Hawks won 2-1 at home Aug. 29 and played to a 0-0 tie in double overtime Sept. 21 at TJ.

It has been a season of achievements for the Black Hawks in 2023.

“I would like to thank (assistant) coach Jay Zeminski, (assistant) coach Josh Kicinski and our fans for making this a memorable season,” Fink said.

Tags: Bethel Park