Two determined teams could produce only one winner last week when Bethlehem Catholic’s boys’ soccer team faced off against Dieruff in a back-and-forth game that ended with the Hawks scoring a 4-3 victory in the final minutes at Becahi.

“I thought our offense was playing really well and really determined, but Dieruff’s a good team, and they always fight really hard, and their defense was no exception,” said Becahi midfielder Michael Spirk, whose header put the Hawks on the scoreboard first.

“It was a great cross [by Connor Aitken], whipped it so well I didn’t have to do much but get my head to it to get it in,” Spirk said.

Dieruff players Eslyn and Jarius (first names unavailable) scored a goal apiece, and the Hawks trailed 2-1 at halftime.

“We made a few mistakes in the first half, which is what led to [their] two goals, and we had a lot of missed opportunities right inside the 18,” said Becahi defender Nick Cenek. “In the second half, we talked a little more. We got more people to push up so we could get the other team offsides.”

Spirk tied the game on a header, assisted by Avery Moody, and Becahi goalkeeper Tom Corley made a big save soon after.

“[In the first half] we were not going into tackles hard enough. They were beating us to every ball, so we really worked as a team in the second half,” Aitken said.

With 12 minutes left, Becahi forward Anderson Bento found himself open on a pass from Colton Drexler.

“It was just me, defender, and the goalie. I saw the ball, and I had a moment almost, and I knew I had to go for it. I knew it,” said Bento, who put the Hawks ahead 3-2. “I’ve just been playing determined, trying to prove a point.”

The Huskies tied the game, but five minutes later, a penalty was called on Dieruff.

“Basically, [Teo Filingo] made a really good run all the way down the side of the field,” said Aitken. “I think he beat two players and crossed it right in the middle. I was going to kick it right away, but I had to take a touch and right when I did, a Dieruff player hit me from the side.”

That’s when Spirk converted on a penalty kick and the game was won by the Hawks.

“Our offense did the best they could and got the job done in the end for pressuring and disrupting play,” Spirk said.