Sports Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, September 22, 2011
Lady Bulldogs on a roll, tied for first place
By Jordan J. Michael
BERNE –– Thirteen girls sat, intently, on the bench for the Berne-Knox-Westerlo soccer team on Friday. Each time a teammate would come off for a substitution, the girls would stand up, cheering in unison.
The Bulldogs’ opponent, Mekeel Christian Academy, which recently changed its name from Schenectady Christian to honor a deceased minister, had only one girl on its bench. She was unable to play because she had a cast on her foot.
BKW has an enormous team and some of the girls won’t play very much. Bill Dergosits, the new head coach, told The Enterprise that he didn’t cut any players because BKW no longer has a junior-varsity squad.
“All these girls are great and they’re thrilled to be part of something,” Dergosits said after the 3-to-1 win at home on Friday. “We’re trying to build a program. The school has been very supportive, giving us extra gear.”
Sophomore Delaney Martin scored both goals for the Lady Bulldogs in the first half, and added another in the second half to complete her hat trick. Martin almost found the net four times, but Mekeel goalkeeper Emily Taplin robbed her with a diving save.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Martin, who is new to the varsity team. “Just being able to play soccer is awesome.”
Martin feels the warmth from her teammates. “We’re a family,” she said. “We play for each other.”
After Tropical Storm Irene, BKW scrambled to make its first game, against Duanesburg, which was a 1-to-1 tie. The Bulldogs haven’t lost since and sit at the top of the Western Athletic Conference North with a 3-0-1 record. The team played at Canajoharie on Wednesday.
“Soccer is big around here,” Dergosits said. “We put our best team out there, but the main things are togetherness and fun. Everyone is on board and it makes our team that much better.”
Junior goalkeeper Liz Harvey has a 93-percent save rate, but she barely touched the ball against Mekeel on Friday. Martin and Makayla McCormick each have four goals on the season.
Seniors Carlie Bassler, Anna Crounse, Chelsea Hannan, Faith Sisson, Abby Swint, and Tori Villeneuve each have two years of experience for BKW. Dergosits said that some players on the team help run the Knox Soccer Program.
“We’re trying to get things going,” said Dergosits. “It’s nice to see the excitement.”