BERNE — The Berne-Knox-Westerlo soccer team has allowed just three goals in 14 games this season. No other Section 2 team has given up fewer.

Two of those scores came via penalty kick. Also, BKW goalie Trevor Haack has saved two penalty kicks while breaking the school’s record for career shutouts (24) and shutouts in a season (11).

So far, a goal scored by Mayfield’s Taylor Madeiros on Sept. 24 stands as the only in game action tally against the Bulldogs in 2014. BKW (11-2-1) is well on its way to a second consecutive Western Athletic Conference Southern title.

“I wish we gave up none,” said Haack on Wednesday. It’s his fourth year playing goalie for BKW.

Scoring 25 goals, the Bulldogs have won four 1-to-0 contests, including Tuesday’s 1-to-0 victory over Sharon Springs on an overtime goal by senior Sam Abbott. On Monday, BKW played Mekeel Christian Academy, and Haack said he faced the most shots he had in a single game all season; three Mekeel shots hit the post.

“Some games, I don’t face many shots at all,” Haack said. “I never could have imaged us doing this well, but I’m glad. Guys are stepping up.”

Around Section 2, Greenville, Cairo-Durham, and Coxsackie-Athens have allowed four goals each, and Hoosic Valley, Fort Ann, and New Lebanon have each given up five. Including BKW, there are 16 teams that have allowed fewer than 10 goals to this point, and each team is either in first place in its respective conference or really close.

If a team isn’t giving up any goals, then it probably has a great chance of winning.

“These kids are confident, and truly believe that they won’t give up goals,” said first-year BKW coach Ryan Larson of his defense. “With their confident mentality, it’s going to be tough for the opponent to score. They stay in front of the ball and always contain. They never lunge.”

The Bulldogs’ defense is led by experienced seniors Thomas Fisher, Abbott, and Greg Gustafson, as well as sophomore Devin McGill. Larson says that they know how to clear the ball at the right moment, make good touches, communicate, and that they’re “loud.”

“Their getting to the ball first,” Haack said of his defense. “You don’t ever want anyone to score. We take it half by half, and contain the offense so they can’t score. Shots aren’t being let through.”

The BKW defense reads the opposing offenses very well, Larson said, and wins the 50/50 balls. “It’s a team effort,” he said. “They really work as one unit.”

The Bulldogs aren’t doing anything crazy on offense, and it may be easy to label the team as defensive minded. Larson said that the aggressive defense motivates the offense.

“Everyone is filling their roles, and I’m very pleased,” said Larson. “People are getting excited.”

BKW has two regular season games remaining, both at home, against Loudonville Christian (6-3-1) and Middleburgh (6-5-0). Middleburgh’s Brody Smith put a penalty kick past Haack on Sept. 15.

Haack is hoping not to encounter anymore penalty kicks this season. He said he’s been talking to his teammates more lately, reminding them to always contain, and to never give up on a play.

Can the Bulldogs continue to keep the ball out of the net as Class C sectionals approach?

“We haven’t collapsed yet,” Haack said. “But, it can just take one fast player to get by the defense.”