Senior-heavy Bethel Park boys soccer off to strong start

By: Ray Fisher
Saturday, September 20, 2025 | 11:01 AM

The Bethel Park boys soccer team responded to a season-opening loss by going unbeaten in its next five games.

As a result, the two-time defending Section 2-3A champions found themselves in a tie for first with rival Thomas Jefferson in the section at 4-0-1.

Bethel Park and TJ staged six tough tug-of-war type games in section competition the past three seasons.

The teams split decisions in 2022, and Bethel Park won 2-1 and played to a scoreless tie in 2023. TJ swept the two-game set last season, winning by 2-0 and 2-1 scores, while the teams staged a 1-1 tie in two overtimes earlier this year.

There are 28 players listed on Bethel Park’s varsity roster; a whopping 18 are seniors.

“So far, I have been pleased with our team’s performance in the first half of the season,” Bethel Park coach Doug Fink said. “We lost to Peters Township in a nonsection game and tied Thomas Jefferson in our section. We’ve scored 27 goals and allowed five, with three of those to Peters Township.

“I have high expectations for this year’s team as we have 18 seniors on our roster. Many of those players have varsity experience so our team goals are to try to win our section and make a deep run in the playoffs. As we approach the business end of the season, we need to continue to improve on defending as a unit and keeping clean sheets.”

Senior forward Xavier Jackson and senior midfielder Jason Koerbel scored a goal apiece to lift the Black Hawks past Trinity, 2-1, in a key Section 2-3A game earlier in September.

Along with Jackson, an All-WPIAL selection, and Koerbel, others typically in the team’s starting lineup include senior Youssef Benrabia at forward; juniors Pravis Dahal and Tommy Opferman, seniors Jason Koerbel and Josh Pantin, and sophomores Julian Kountz and Ellis Stearman at midfield; with seniors Gavin DeClair, Jonah Stearman and Cooper Kicinski and junior Aaden McClelland on defense.

A pair of seniors, Luke Rubican and Jacob Coffield, handle the goaltending duties.

“Our starting lineup has changed a few times due to injuries, said Fink, now in his eighth year at the helm.

Jackson, DeClair and senior defender Jacob Lang are serving as co-captains in 2025.

“I’d say overall we’ve been a pretty solid team but far from where we need to be,” Jackson said. “If we want to achieve something great and accomplish our goal, we’re going to have to clean up some things and make some adjustments.

“Our expectations for the rest of the season are to concede as little goals as possible while scoring a ton, resulting in us winning the section title and taking us far in the postseason.”

Jackson, aka the X-Man, believes as a captain he must make sacrifices for the benefit of the team.

“My duties are to be a leader and make sacrifices,” he said. “As a senior, having the ability to help others with my four years of experience in high school is a main goal that brings the team up as a whole. Doing whatever is necessary is the sacrifice I’m always willing to make regardless for the team.”

Jackson goes non-stop at Bethel Park. He also is a kicking specialist on the football team and a sprinter in indoor and outdoor track.

“For as much sacrifice as I make, I can’t thank others enough — whether it’s my coaches, teammates or the fans that come to games — for all they do to make the years I’ve been here the best experience.”

DeClair’s focus is and has been strictly on soccer.

“I think our performance thus far has been quite good, but there is still much room for improvement,” DeClair said. “Our team chemistry is definitely a strength and it will no doubt play a role in the outcome of the season. We have skill on our team, but I think it is the hard work and determination that separates us from our opponents.

“Last season, we had a great squad that made a deep run into playoffs, ultimately losing in the (WPIAL) semifinals. We need to build on that and use the experience we gained to win it all. I think our coaches and every player on the team knows that if we are going to win it all, this is the year to do it. We have the quality and drive, but it is up to us to make it happen.”

DeClair believes in leading by example both on and off the pitch.

“As a captain, my duty is to keep the team levelheaded,” he said. “Lifting the team morale when times are tough is what you need to do as a captain.

“There may only be three captains on this team but there are a lot of players who are natural leaders, as well, so we all have a role that is more than just playing the game.”

Bethel Park surrendered just five goals in its first five games and posted three shutouts behind the Rubican-Coffield netminding tandem and a defensive corps captained by Lang.

“We’ve started off strong so far,” Lang said. “We’re possessing the ball well and have a very solid defense. I think we are solid contenders to win the section as well as the WPIAL playoffs.

“As a captain, I try to use my leadership role to set a high morale for the team.”

Lang usually comes off the bench as a top substitute for the Black Hawks.

“Jacob is a great leader and has earned the respect of his teammates and coaches,” Fink said.

Bethel Park advanced to the WPIAL semifinal round in 2024 by defeating Montour, 3-2, and Latrobe, 2-1 in two overtimes. The Black Hawks ended the season 13-8 overall with seven shutouts and were 11-3 in Section 2-3A.

And Jackson, the team’s top offensive threat in ‘24, was at his best a year ago in the postseason.

“Xavier really hit top form in the playoffs, scoring some massive goals for our team,” Fink said. “Xavier is a force.”

Bethel Park went back and forth with TJ atop the section in both 2023 and 2024.

The Black Hawks were section winners in ‘23 with a 13-0-1 record; TJ was 12-1-1. Bethel Park was shocked by Indiana, 1-0, via a penalty-kick shootout in the first round of the playoffs and finished 15-3-1.

“I would really like to thank my other coaches, Jay Zeminski, Josh Kicinski, Mike Stearman and Josh Woodman,” Fink said. “These guys bring a wealth of knowledge to our program.

“They also help our student-athletes become better soccer players and better young men in our community. I couldn’t do this job without them.”

Tags: Bethel Park