Bethlehem Catholic will have an opportunity to show where they stand as a team this weekend with a marquee showdown at Notre Dame Green Pond Saturday night.

The 7 p.m. showdown pits the undefeated Crusaders (7-0) against an underdog Bethlehem Catholic (6-1) squad. It’s a unique position for the Hawks to be an underdog to the Colonial League stalwarts, but in a showdown against two of the state’s top teams, anything will go on Saturday night.

“Notre Dame will be that opportunity,” said Hawks’ head coach Mike Cole. “I’m excited. I believe we are clearly the underdog given our current lineups. If our entire team steps up, we will come out of there showing we are all getting better (win or lose). And more importantly, our wrestlers come out of there showing their commitment to compete for their team.”

The matchup will be an opportunity to see how much the Hawks have grown since losing to Easton 30-26 on January 10. Becahi had little trouble dispatching Northampton 44-18 over the weekend in their toughest challenge since the meet with the Rovers, but Cole knows this weekend’s test will be different.

“For the most part I thought we wrestled well against Northampton,” he said. “There are a couple individual places where we need to improve, but the biggest takeaway is to just stay the course we are on.

“I think the team has responded well since Easton. Losing stinks but losing is a fabulous tool if used appropriately.

We are trying our best to use that tool with the team. I’m not sure yet if that loss motivated the team. I’m looking for signs and I see some, but the real test will come the next time we are in adversity as a team. Some individuals were clearly motivated at Escape the Rock (such as Marco Frinzi), but I want to see that as a team effort in a dual under stress.”

Becahi’s other match this week comes against Dieruff on Wednesday.