Mikey Bonagura doesn’t always get to come forward onto the offensive side of the field.

But he came forward for corner kicks and delivered two goals in the Chapel Field boys’ soccer team’s 3-0 non-league victory over the Chester Hambletonians on Friday afternoon at the Maple Avenue Field in Chester.

“I love it,” Bonagura said. “Me and Jonah (McDuffie) just got that chemistry this year. I really didn’t go up that much last year, so it’s a good change.”

McDuffie and Bonagura connected for the first time in the game’s 19th minute. McDuffie sent a kick from the right side and Bonagura, camped out by the far post, headed the ball past Chester goalkeeper James Kelm for a 2-0 lead.

McDuffie had scored the first goal about five minutes earlier when he lofted a direct kick over the head of Kelm and just underneath the crossbar. Bonagura scored his second goal of the game, also off a corner kick, blasting the ball into the net for a 3-0 Chapel Field lead.

Since the graduation of leading scorer Noah Swart, the Lions have found an early answer in McDuffie and Bonagura.

“I think that’s three games in a row that he’s had two goals, and so that’s a pleasant surprise,” Chapel Field coach Brad McDuffie said. “We really didn’t know where our offense was going to come from this year, and so far, it’s mostly come from I think Mikey and Jonah. I said to the guys on the bench that’s three heading goals for Mikey in three games. I think that’s more than Chapel Field’s entire history.”

Through three games, the Lions, who are the defending Section 9 Class D champions, are unbeaten.

At about this time last year, the Lions were struggling for numbers. This year, the Lions had a crew of freshman and sophomores on their roster adding to the team’s depth, allowing coach McDuffie to substitute more than in the past and keep his players fresh.

They’re also going to play in a much thinner Class D. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association has increased to six classifications. The Lions and Eldred yellowjackets are the only Class D schools in Section 9.

They’ve learned a lot since then.

“We weren’t passing well; we were playing kickball last year,” Bonagura said. “We didn’t have the passers, so we were kicking it up and hoping for a fast break. This year, we have all the guys do it.”

The Lions have already beaten Eldred, 6-0, on September 11. They’ll see the Yellow Jackets again on October 4. They’ve also beaten S.S. Seward to start the season on September. 7.

“It’s good to have early success and I think we can (do well) this season,” Bonagura said. “I am fully confident that we can.”