Two nonleague games and two wins has Kelly Backenstoe "hoping the Konkrete Kids will be a leader" as Northampton begins Lehigh Valley Conference field hockey play.

Victories (4-2 over Catasauqua and 7-1 over Pleasant Valley) have Backenstoe "excited" about her team's chances in the LVC and especially in the league's tough North Division.

The Kids began LVC play Wednesday night, after Press deadlines, at Whitehall and entertain Parkland Friday for their first home game of the season. Northampton travels to Nazareth next Tuesday to complete the Kids' first round in the LVC's North Division.

"We were really awesome on the turf (at Pleasant Valley) and I hope we'll do just as well at Whitehall," Backenstoe said after practice Tuesday.

"On offense I'm excited about the girls' teamwork and passing. We had high quality shots against both Catty and Pleasant Valley," the sixth-year coach added.

"On defense are backs are strong and helping our goalkeepers," Backenstoe said.

Backenstoe is excited about the play of the goalies Shannon Dalton (as a sophomore) and Ashley Kunsman (a freshman). Each has shared duties in both games.

Northampton outshot Catty 19-9 on Friday with Makenna Marhefka scoring two goals and Kate Fehnel and Megan Wiest each adding one. Wiest also had an assist.

Then Saturday morning at Pleasant Valley, Wiest (a junior) knocked in four goals as the Kids outshot the host Bears 9-1. Amber Saylor, Brianna Dalton, and Fehnel also scored. Rachel Heimbach, Marhefka, Wiest, and Fehnel had assists.

"We got our nervousness out of the way and we had a lot of contribution from our offense," Backenstoe proudly asserted. "Defensively, Brianna was strong and Madison Gogal and Ashley Schell were impressive."