Pizza's on Hall after big victory

BETHLEHEM TWP. | Bethlehem Catholic senior goalkeeper Drew Hall sat out last year with an injury. On Tuesday night, he hosted a pizza party at his house to celebrate his and the Golden Hawks' resurgence as well as the school's first trip to the district playoffs in 12 years.

Nick Alderiso scored a pair of goals and Massimiliano Longo contributed three assists to lead the Hawks to a 4-1 victory over Freedom in a Lehigh Valley Conference boys soccer match.

Junior midfielder John Kelly added a goal and assist and freshman midfielder Michael Kokosky finished the scoring for the Golden Hawks, who qualified for the District 11 Class AA playoffs for the first time since losing to Southern Lehigh in the 1995 semifinals.

"This is amazing. The greatest feeling in the world," said Longo, a four-year starter and one of the best playmakers in the region. "We've been waiting for this for two years now. We thought we were going to make districts last year. It was a team effort. When we play together we can play pretty well."

The victory over Freedom was just the Golden Hawks' second over the Patriots since 1990 (2-22-3).

"This feels good. I know it was a long time coming," said third-year Becahi coach George Andriko of the district berth.

"The school is going to be happy about it. We're a small school, only 700-odd kids, and playing in the LVC makes it tough. We thought we'd be there last year but Drew got hurt. We lost six games this year by a goal (seven, actually) and we outplayed most of those teams. I knew things had to start falling our way."

Alderiso, a senior forward who has 17 goals on the season and 34 for his career, gave Becahi a 1-0 lead with 6:42 left in the half before the flood gates opened after intermission.

Kelly and Anderiso scored eight minutes apart for a 3-0 lead before Patriots junior midfielder Pat Letourneau broke up Hall's shutout bid with his 20th goal of the season.

Freedom (11-4-3, 9-3-2), enjoying its best season since going 19-4 in 1994, saw its final hopes of a division title end.

Bethlehem Catholic (10-8, 7-7) needs one more regular season win to clinch its first winning season since 1990 (12-5-1). The Hawks finish with Nazareth and Easton.

The Golden Hawks should make some noise in the district playoffs. Unbeaten Southern Lehigh of the Colonial League probably will be the No. 1 seed.

Freedom (11-4-3, 8-4-2) 0 1--1

Beth. Catholic (10-8, 7-7) 1 3--4

First half -- BC, Nick Alderiso, 16th (John Kelly), 34th minute.

Second half -- BC, Kelly, 4th (Massimiliano Longo), 50th minute; BC, Alderiso, 17th (Longo), 58th minute; F, Pat Letourneau, 20th (Collin Costello), 59th minute; BC, Michael Kokosky, 3rd (Longo), 77th minute.

Shots -- Freedom 11; Bethlehem Catholic 14.

Saves -- Graeme Davis 4 (F); Drew Hall 5 (BC).

Easton-Nazareth ppd.

Easton and Nazareth played 18 minutes before lightning stopped the match at the Red Rovers' complex in Palmer Township.

The game will pick up where it left off 7 p.m. tonight if Easton's field is playable. If not, the game will be resumed at 7 p.m. Friday.

Easton had the better of the play early on and had a goal by Anderson Zuleta nullified after the referee ruled goalkeeper Adam Franczak had possession of the ball before an Easton player knocked it loose. The Rovers had three other excellent opportunities to score.

The Blue Eagles (12-5, 10-3) began the night one game behind Liberty in the Northampton Division while Easton (8-7-1, 7-5-1) still needs a win, or possibly two, in its last four matches in order to extend its school record of consecutive district appearances to nine.

Tom Mugavero can be reached at 800-360-3601 or by e-mail at sports@express-times.com