The delay in their answer said more than most words could.

The question put to Bethel Park boys' soccer coach Mike Galietta and to Anthony Caruso was: How could Caruso improve on his game?

"Anthony?" Galietta questioned back. Then after a long pause, "That's a tough question."

Caruso paused, too, trying to think of an aspect of his game -- one that has yielded a team-high 32 goals this season -- that could use work.

"Probably I would say, some small things here and there," Caruso, a senior forward, replied after considerable thought.

As tough as it is for Caruso to improve upon his game, it might be tougher for Bethel Park to improve on its season, including a 12-0 mark in Section 4-AAA.

The Black Hawks (21-1) defeated Pine-Richland, 2-1, in two overtimes Tuesday in the WPIAL Class AAA semifinals. They will face Peters Township (20-1-2) in the title game Saturday at Elizabeth Forward. (The time was undetermined when this edition went to press.)

Their lone loss was at Butler Area, 2-1. They have shut out 14 opponents and scored nine or more goals seven times.

"[Caruso] is massively important," Galietta said. "The team will tell you, if you talk to any of them, it's team first. But our two forwards, Anthony especially, do their job. I can't say enough about them."

Senior Kyle Young also has 20-plus goals.

"[Young] helps a lot," Caruso said. "Teams always are aware of me, but they know there's another forward who is a threat. He is a very good player. It takes pressure off me and it's another person [for the midfield)] to feed the ball to."

Young was the one feeding the ball in a first-round playoff win against Upper St. Clair. Even with his team as the top seed in the AAA field, Caruso knows what the playoffs can be like.

In his sophomore year, Bethel was the No. 2 seed, but was ousted in the first round of the tournament.

This year in the first round, in overtime, Young collected the ball on the left side of the field and sent an angled ball in to Caruso. No defender stepped up on him and he sent a 25-yard strike that skimmed off the inside post for the winner.

"His confidence [has improved]. He believes he can get it done, and he does get it done," Galietta said. "His other strength is playing with his back to the goal. There are not a lot of kids in high school who are as confident as he is receiving the ball with his back to the goal and still being able to make things happen."

Caruso hopes he will be able to continue to make things happen deep into the state playoffs and next year at the collegiate level. He is leaning toward Duquesne University. He has a spot on the soccer team there if he chooses, but what really interests Caruso is the school's pharmacy program.

A wiry 6-foot-2, 170-pounder, Caruso has the size that is essential for when he plays with his back to the net. Galietta said that Caruso is a force in that phase of the game despite constantly being physically guarded.

"One or two guys are constantly hitting him, but he is able to stand up and take it," Galietta said. "He is not going to quit; he will keep coming at you.

"Almost every big game, he has been a factor. Other teams constantly know where he is and double-team him, but he keeps fighting through and manages to get it done."

In the regular-season finale against Mt. Lebanon, playing "as sick as a dog," Caruso netted a hat trick in a 3-0 win. He scored three at Baldwin, too. In the lone Bethel loss this season, Caruso scored his team's only goal.

Behind Caruso and Young, the midfield has been led by seniors Andy Clifford and Ethan Talbot.

On defense, Colin Deep, Joe DeMarco and Jordan Walsh have not only done a good job of shutting down opponents, but have combined for nearly 20 goals.