It was a tough loss especially since they thought they were better than the team that won.

The Becton boys soccer team had another good season for a program that is on the upswing, but it could have been better.

The Wildcats finished with a 12-4-2 record, but fell in the second round of the Group 1 North 1 state tournament to seventh -seeded Midland Park, 1-0.

"They were very disappointed because they put so much effort into the game," said Becton head coach Carlo Maucione. "Unfortunately they (Midland Park) got the bounces and we didn’t…We went up against a hot team."

The Wildcats got some solace since Midland Park would go on and win the Group 1 North 1 state sectional.

Despite the loss the Wildcats finished tied for second in the league with Harrison, a team that they had beaten for the first time in a decade. "Definitely in terms of the league, we made great strides," said Maucione. "We want to set the tone to win every year."

Becton defeated Harrison, 2-1, this year and was considered their best-played game, Maucione said. In the Oct. 22 game in East Rutherford, Walid El Alaoui had a pair of goals including his second in the second half that was the game-winner. Joe Kim and Damian Bziukiewicz had an assist each.

Ironically, Harrison would go on and beat Midland Park in the state tournament. "It was a great win and in past years, we would lose to them (Harrison), 5-0," said Maucione.

Of the four losses this season, they were all to quality teams including Harrison, Wallington and Midland Park. The Wildcats went 1-2-1 against both the Blue Tide and the Panthers.

With a great season and a great career behind him, senior goalkeeper Jeremy Liebeck was named to the first team All BCSL National and third team All Bergen County. Liebeck had nine shutouts for the season and a .75 goals against average.

"He just really became a leader and just got it in his head that he wasn’t going to give up a critical goal," said Maucione about Liebeck. "He tries to make a save on every shot. He had a little more edge to him this year."

In addition to Liebeck, Joe Kim and Adi Carney were named to the first team All BCSL National. Kim had six goals and six assists on the season while Carney had a goal and an assist.

Three players were placed on the second team All National in Gabe Gomez, El Alaoui and Christian Acosta. Matt Germann was named to the honorable mention all league team.

Acosta led the team in goals with 10 and had an additional four assists. El Alaoui had nine goals on the season while Gomez collected six goals and seven assists this season.

Omitted from the all league honors was a player that will be a big key for Becton’s future in freshman Bziukiewicz who led the team in points with 19, eight goals and 11 assists.