BERNE — One of Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr’s most frequently quoted epigrams is “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” In 2014, this 19th-century epigram could apply to the Berne-Knox-Westerlo soccer team.

The Bulldogs have a new head coach, Ryan Larson, after being coached by Jim Gillis for 22 years, but the team still played with the same mixture of aggression and brains against Mekeel Christian Academy on Monday.

And despite having some new players in the line-up with some veteran players in new positions, BKW is still staunch on defense, getting two shutout wins to start the 2014 season.

Larson, 26, who also teaches physical education and coaches junior-varsity basketball at BKW, said that the varsity soccer team has benefited a great deal from Gillis. In 2013, the Bulldogs won a Western Athletic Conference Southern title and allowed only 18 goals in 18 games.

“They’ve taken the transition very well,” Larson said of the BKW players after a 2-to-0 win over Mekeel Christian Academy on Monday. “You can tell.”

BKW was led by the relentless hustle and ball skills of senior captains Sam Abbott and Nick Nagengast, while senior defensive sweeper Thomas Fisher voiced directions and support from his back position.

Gillis had always been the loudest voice of the Bulldogs, but now it’s Fisher, who scored the first goal on Monday on a head ball off of Abbott’s corner kick. “I was never very vocal until this year, but it’s a big part of the game,” said Fisher. “I try to yell positive things; we’re not getting on each other.”

There are nine seniors playing for BKW, and Fisher, a senior himself, told The Enterprise that it is their duty to take charge of the team.

“We really need some direction right now and it’s starting to pay off,” said Fisher. “We don’t get too many opportunities [to score] so it’s important to not give up goals. We’ve got to be focused at all times.”

Larson, who previously coached modified soccer at Argyle and was an assistant for the Hudson Falls’ varsity team, said that he couldn’t ask for anything more as the new coach for BKW because the players are working extremely hard. Against Mekeel, BKW clearly wanted to win the game more as it controlled most of the possession.

“Once it comes to game time, these kids are absolutely prepared,” said Larson. “I was a familiar face coming in, so they understand my philosophy.”

Concentrating on ball possession, Fisher said, BKW’s objective is to tire out the opponent. “We try to be physical like Berne has always been,” he said. “We’re trying to play less kickball in our league. The ball needs to move on the ground.”

After Nagengast gave the Bulldogs a 2-to-0 lead with a nice left foot shot from 18 yards, Mekeel gained more urgency to score, but BKW’s defense kept the edge. The players listened to Fisher, and stayed in front of the soccer ball.

“When the other team is getting a little frustrated, it can get physical,” Larson said. “Of course, I want them to play physical — BKW is known for that — but I don’t want them fouling.”

Minutes away from securing the win over Mekeel, Larson called out for his players to be aggressive, but smart. Actually, the Bulldogs had been playing that way for the entire contest.

“We’re not pulling jerseys or pushing kids down from behind,” Fisher said. “We’re not diving on defense, we’re containing, and slowing the game down, which gives us a break.”