GUILDERLAND — The Guilderland lacrosse team has gone unbeaten in its first four games including wins over a couple of rivals.

The Lady Dutch beat long-time nemesis Bethlehem, 12-11, last Thursday to bump their record to 4-0. Guilderland was the first Section II team to beat Bethlehem since 2001.

Guilderland beat Niskayuna, 11-3, to continue their unbeaten mark.

The Lady Dutch opened the season with wins over Queensbury, Baldwinsville of Section III, and another Suburban Council rival, Saratoga.
"We’re doing okay," said Guilderland Coach Gary Chatnik. "We’ve had a real good start. Hopefully we can keep it going. Baldwinsville and Saratoga are good teams. I’m happy with the start right now."

In Thursday’s game against Bethlehem, senior Jen Mihok scored the game-winning goal with 38 seconds left in regulation. Val Feldman assisted on the tally.

Guilderland was up 7-1 at halftime, but Chatnik watched Bethlehem roar back and take the lead in the second half.
"It was great we jumped out to a big lead," Chatnik said. "But they came back and took the lead twice. The last three minutes, we scored three goals to tie, tie, tie, and then go ahead.
"We played an excellent first half," Chatnik added. "They took us in the second half and we lost the lead. But the kids responded by coming back. They really showed a lot of grit."

Bethlehem outscored the Lady Dutch, 10-5, in the second half.

Seniors Kayla Best, Molly Daley, and Feldman each had three goals to lead the Lady Dutch.

Best also had two assists and Feldman had one. Nikki Branchini and Abbey Fashouer also scored for Guilderland.

Tee Ladauceur led Bethlehem with five goals. Kayleigh Hynes and Halley Quillinan each added three goals.

Jen Kaye made nine saves for Guilderland and Emily Szelest made four for Bethlehem.

What has pushed the Lady Dutch over the top against their rivals is experience.
"We return 16 varsity players," Chatnik said. "And that has made a big difference. They have meshed with the new kids and they are playing well as a team."

"No waltzing"

Chatnik credited his newcomers — especially Branchine, Fashouer, Danielle Tetreault, and Amanda Best — for stepping into their roles.

But the seniors are providing leadership to help along their younger counterparts.
"We have a good core group of returners," Chatnik said. "They have a lot of talent. Kayla Best, Molly Daley, Val Feldman, Kaitlyn Vennard, and Jen Mihok have done a good job of teaching the younger players. They’ve come out and showed a lot. The juniors have played excellent. Devon Rosenberry, Ashley Buck, and Lynn Tran have been excellent on defense."

The win over a team like Bethlehem will give his team confidence for the season, Chatnik said.
"It’s good but at this time is hard to gauge," he went on. "These are steps in a long process and you don’t know what will end up happening. Every game is a real challenge and we have to push through. We beat two really good teams but there are a lot of teams of the same caliber. We have to show up each time and play each game up to our ability. And I think the kids realize they have to do it. There is no waltzing through anybody."

Beating Bethlehem gives the Dutch confidence that the mighty Eagles can be beat.
"They are on top until somebody beats them," Chatnik said. "It’s been what seems like 10 years. No one has beaten them in that long. You don’t know if you can until you do it."

The Dutch will play Saratoga again on April 25 at home and will travel to Bethlehem on May 2. Until then, Guilderland will play at Shenendehowa on Thursday and at Fayetteville-Manlius of the Syracuse area on Saturday. The Lady Dutch then host Colonie on Wednesday.
"We’ll see them in a couple of weeks and probably somewhere in the sectionals." Chatnik said of Bethlehem. "We want to keep ourselves going. We’ve got some momentum and we don’t want to lose it. We want to be consistently improving. I think we will and we’re going to be real good. This group has a lot of potential.
"The kids know they can do it," Chatnik said. "But they also know it won’t be given to them. We are confident enough to get us where we want to go, but we are not overconfident."