Northampton's boys soccer team had a big win over Whitehall recently, shutting out the Zephs 2-0.

The win was Northampton's fourth straight and was helped by senior Tyler Davis, who scored a goal and assisted on another.

Both squads seemed flat to start the match. There was a lot of play in the midfield for both teams but neither could really get the shots coming.

The Kids caught the first break with five minutes remaining in the first half. The defense cleared the ball out of their end and found Davis at the midfield. He dribbled into the Whitehall back third and chipped a ball over the defense and right to Romeo Gaye. Gaye took one touch and fired the shot over Whitehall keeper Jake Pesarcik's head for the 1-0 lead.

Coach Carvin's halftime speech emphasized keeping things simple and to play "our brand of soccer." Eight minutes into the second half Northampton got a goal from Davis, who finished a rebound shot off of a corner kick taken by Nick Stewart. Julian Santos tried to get a shot off but fed Brad Klucsartis instead, who fed off to Davis and rifled the ball past Pesarcik and the final of 2-0.

Keeper Kory DeCesaris pitched his second straight shutout, stopping all 12 Whitehall shots.

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NHS would fall to Freedom by the same 2-0 score.

The Freedom boys soccer team won four games last year then imploded. A new coach by way of Lehigh University, Michael O'Connell, has come in and cleaned up the mess as Freedom is the surprise team of the LVC in 2012.

Freedom scored eight minutes into the match with a goal from Nigel Long. Long finished a ball off a through ball assisted by Baidy Ba eight minutes into the match, played at Freedom. Coach Craig Carvin credits Freedom's aggressive play, as well as his team's pedestrian start to the game as reasons why Freedom got the win.

"I'm not sure why but we played a slower game today," Carvin said. "Freedom was aggressive in their warmups and they brought it right to the pitch. They took it to us."

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The Kids also tied Central 1-1

Stephen Gabor scored from Brendan Kaulius 1:52 into the second half thanks to a turnover from the Kids defense.

With a win, Northampton would have won its 5th game in a row. The Kids offense could only muster up seven shots on goal.

Romeo Gaye had the best attempt of the match when he ripped a shot that sailed just over the crossbar with five minutes remaining in the match.

Allentown Central Catholic and Northampton played a spirited soccer match that was marred with penalties and cards. At the time, the 1-1 final left Northampton at the top of the LVC wild-card standings at the halfway point of the regular season.

Central scored in the first half, with Matthew Wagner finishing a ball right in front of the net with ten minutes to play. Again, the Kids defense struggled to clear the ball out which led to the chance for CCHS.

Northampton would tie it with 16 minutes remaining when AJ Schroettner took a great pass from Gaye, dribbled across the 18 box and buried a shot low into the near post. Marcus Morris did a great job of generating the attack on this play when he saved the ball from going out of bounds and then fed Gaye, who fed Schroettner.

Questionable officiatings for both teams led to the chippy play. Every team scrapped for every ball trying to get the advantage of playing in the other teams end, but it came with a price. One red card and seven yellow cards where handed out due to over-aggressive play between the teams.

Playing a man down, Northampton still seemed to have the momentum going into overtime. Tim Kelly nearly scored from Gaye in the first overtime. Kelly slipped the ball under the Central keeper, but the ball just missed the open frame and rolled wide.

Northampton will go into next week playing at Allen and at Easton on Tuesday and Thursday, respectively. Both games are big for the LVC wild-card picture. There is no rest for the weary for the boys soccer team.