The Bethlehem boys’ soccer team achieved a historic milestone by winning its first state championship with a 5-0 victory over Vestal at Middletown High School.
The Eagles dominated the Class AA state final from the opening whistle, finishing their season with a record of 18-0-3, according to Yahoo Sports.
Senior Lennon Mane played a pivotal role in the victory, scoring one goal and providing two assists for teammate Ayaz Sajid.
Sajid, who also scored twice, praised his teammate by noting, “He’s one of my favorite players I’ve ever played with.”
Following goals from Ishan Chatur and Luke Tatro in the second half, the Eagles solidified their lead.
The defensive effort was anchored by junior goalkeeper Parker Mooney, who helped the team secure its seventh consecutive shutout.
This performance marked the program’s 16th clean sheet of the season, as reported by local outlets.
The Eagles held a significant 21-2 advantage in shots throughout the match.
Coach Brian Spina reflected on the team’s growth after they previously suffered a semifinal loss on the same field two years ago.
Spina stated, “It’s the most we could win, you know?”
He added that the victory made all the time spent on and off the field worth it for the players.
Sajid echoed this sentiment, describing the championship win as the best moment of his career.
The team entered the final after a narrow 1-0 semifinal win against Churchville-Chili.
Mane had secured that previous win with a golden goal in double overtime.
Heading into the final, Spina challenged his senior players to decide if they were satisfied with their previous success or if they wanted more.
Mane responded by telling his coach, “I’m not done.”
The Eagles ultimately proved that resolve by closing out their high school careers with a dominant state title performance.