By Jordan J. Michael

BERNE –– Berne-Knox-Westerlo and Duanesburg were both awarded penalty kicks in Wednesday’s inaugural soccer contest. Each team missed its chance, but the Bulldogs’ failure proved to be more costly.

With about 12 seconds left in regulation, and the Eagles clinging to a 1-to-0 lead, senior Corbin Repscher made a move towards the goal for BKW, only to be taken out in the box by Mike Gentile. The referee awarded the Bulldogs a penalty kick and senior Nathan Hayduke stepped up for a try at a tie game.

“Honestly, I was surprised by the ref’s call for a penalty kick,” said BKW Head Coach Jim Gillis, who screamed foul on the sideline when the penalty on Repscher was committed.

Hayduke, who had never taken a penalty kick in a game before, shot the ball directly at the middle of the goal and Eagles’ keeper, Neil Kwiatkowski, got a piece of it for the save. The rebound bounced right back to Hayduke, who booted it wide.

Game over. Missed opportunity. Done.

“I knew where I wanted to place it, but I couldn’t get it there because I was too nervous,” Hayduke said after the game. “I’m happy that my team had faith in me, but I let everyone down.”

It was Repscher’s kick, but Hayduke got the call. “He was on the run and ready,” said Repscher.

“As a goalie, you just have to guess a side to dive to,” Kwiatkowski said of penalty kick situations. “I moved late and made the save. It’s funny how things work out.”

In fact, Wednesday’s game in Berne was full of missed opportunities for both Western Athletic Conference teams. Duanesburg and BKW could have easily scored two goals each if they finished near the net.

The Eagles finally broke the nil-to-nil tie with 6:40 left in the second half when Brandon Preston sent a sweet cross to Kyle Mullen, who drilled the ball past Brett Flansburg.

Gillis told The Enterprise that BKW’s “lack of experience” is to blame for missed chances in front of the net. “We do with what we have,” he said. “We’ll keep working at it and get better.”

Seven players on the Bulldogs’ roster have had no previous varsity experience, but Gillis said that seniors Repscher, Hayduke, Brandon Kallner, Akeem Stewart, and Michael Galgay are all capable of putting goals in.