LOSSES BEGAN BEFORE SEASON.(Sports)

DELMAR -- Last Friday was the first day after the worst loss in more than 10 years for the Bethlehem girls' lacrosse team.

Without hesitation, Shirah Fudin, Michelle Primomo and Anna Gray -- Bethlehem's top two scorers and top defender -- all had the same response when asked if they thought this year's team could return to the sectional title game, where their season ended last May with a loss to a powerhouse Guilderland squad.

"Absolutely," all three girls said, each with the same matter-of-fact intonation in their voices.

It will take more than Thursday's crushing 19-6 loss to Niskayuna to deter this year's Eagles.

In fact, Bethlehem had …