The match was as physical and evenly played as advertised, but for long stretches it was Beekmantown (6-1 overall, 5-0 in Northern League Play) dictating terms. The Eagles looked sharp on the ball, pushing possession wide and keeping Peru’s (5-1, 2-1) dangerous attackers from getting into rhythm.

“Our tactical analysis coming in was to take advantage of the outsides,” Brown explained. “We knew thought we could get an advantage on their right and left backs, so if we got it to the wings on our wider field, we’d get more chances. That was the plan — use the wings and get crosses in.”

That approach showed early. Sophomore Ryan Dubrey and junior Edward Sweenor repeatedly worked the flanks, while Brown and fellow attackers created pressure around the box. Hamza Fakir nearly struck in the first half, slipping his defender and ripping a shot just over the bar with 11 minutes left before halftime.

Peru, however, had their moments. They finished the first half with a 4–1 edge in shots, including a flurry in the closing minutes that required Burdo to punch away back-to-back attempts. Still, the senior keeper felt in control.

“For a goalkeeper, it all comes down to preparation and positioning,” said Burdo, who finished with seven saves. “If you’re in the right spot, you don’t have to move much. Stay on your toes, get your hands down, and be ready for the rebound. That’s what I focused on tonight.”

Beekmantown came out stronger in the second half. The midfield, anchored by Sweenor and Jackson Goodwin, began winning more 50-50 balls. On the back line, Braden Nephew shut down multiple Peru counters, while Troy Demarse’s hustle kept the Eagles pressing.

With 5:33 left, the breakthrough came. Senior Evan Latinville was tripped inside the box, and Brown calmly stepped to the spot.

“I just told myself not to overcomplicate it,” Brown said. “Pick out a spot, zone everything else out, and focus on the ball.”

He buried it, giving Beekmantown the 1–0 lead. Just a minute later, Burdo preserved it with a diving punch save — one of his best on a night full of them.

“We keyed on their two big guys, Seanan (Edwards) and Jordan (Osborne), but the bigger thing was winning battles in the midfield,” Eagles Head Coach Ryan Loucy said. “In the second half, I felt we were a bit quicker, more confident, and used the sidelines like we planned. That allowed us to tilt the field.”

He also highlighted his team’s growth in leadership, especially for Senior Dylan Brown.

“A couple years ago, I would’ve had to run on the field and almost push Dylan (Brown) to take that penalty,” Loucy said. “Tonight he just stepped right up without a word. Make it or miss it, that shows maturity and leadership.”

Sweenor’s gritty midfield work and Nephew’s defensive stops earned praise as “unsung” keys to the win. But Loucy emphasized it was the whole squad.

“Peru’s a great team, but we were able to sub and stay fresher late,” he said. “That showed. Our guys kept the pressure on, and it turned into a full team win.”

For the Eagles, the result wasn’t just another league victory.

“Honestly, this is a preview for the sectional final,” Burdo said. “We treated it like win-or-die, and that energy carried us. A win like this sets the tone for the rest of our season.”

Beekmantown returns to action on Thursday night when they will host Salmon River (6:30pm).

(Note: PSN stories are drafted with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence and coach questionnaires, but all factual reporting, onsite observations, insight into what happened and why, interviews, and final editing is provided by Potassium Sports Network staff. For post-game video interviews, athletes are asked for their consent and coaches confirm participation. For more details, please visit https://potassiumsportsnetwork.com/about-psn).