When asked to assess the boys soccer season as we sit at the halfway point Monday afternoon, coach Craig Carvin kept it simple.

"I want our team to make the LVC playoffs," he said. "I want our program to be top-four in the league.

"If we really want to make the leap and be an elite team in the district we have to get back to the league playoffs, and then do more in districts. I don't want to be one and done this year. We have to begin to do more work with the limited preparation time we have."

The boys lost one and won two games last week as Northampton sits at 6-2 overall, and 4-1 in league play with two important matches this week. The boys will play host to Freedom Tuesday afternoon and then travel to the Lehigh County Fields Thursday for a match with Allentown Central Catholic.

Northampton lost a tough game last Monday versus Nazareth 2-1 in overtime. They lost with six minutes remaining in the second overtime on a goal by Nazareth's Gino Pambianchi. The result stung as Northampton played well all of the game and seemed to be in control all day. Sam Gaye, who is on his way to having a great season with potential all-conference recognition, had the only goal for the Kids in the first half. Tim Kelly had four good shots on goal but none good enough to tie the match. The loss put Northampton in a tie for the division lead in the LVC North.

The team managed to put the past behind them on Wednesday, beating up on Dieruff at home 7-0.

Julian Santos scored 47 seconds into the match off a long pass from Dave Hornyak. Santos would return the favor a few moments later as he fed Hornyak as Dave scored a goal to give the Kids a 2-0 halftime lead.

Emphasizing getting back to the basics of soccer, Northampton came out in the second half connecting passes and netted five goals for the win. Santos would net his second of the afternoon. AJ Schroettner scored twice. Matt Mottau and Gaelen Campbell would also score their first varsity goals.

Ian Miller, Cameron Peploe, Campbell, and Hornyak would assist on goals in the second half. The Dieruff match gave the entire team some much needed playing time and the chance to rest starters in the second half.

Friday afternoon the team played a pesky Bethlehem Catholic squad that gave it their all but came away on the short end.

Northampton got a second straight shutout victory 3-0. Tim Kelly got the Kids on the board with 14 minutes remaining in the half. AJ Schroettner fed John Yeaw, who fed Kelly and Kelly dribbled into the box and buried the shot under Becahi's keeper diving arm.

Matt Mottau got the next goal after he received a pass from Same Gaye and buried the shot near post. With five minutes remaining Cameron Peploe scored off a pass from Gaelen Campbell and the 3-0 final.

"We have a critical week coming with Freedom and Central on deck. If we win both, we're in the driver seat. If we lose both, we got a long road ahead of us," Carvin said Monday.

JV

The JV team also lost one and won two last week, improving their overall record to 4-3.

They lost to Nazareth and beat Dieruff and Becahi. They got 7 goals versus Dieruff and beat Becahi 3-1. The team has been playing great team soccer and now have won four of their last five matches.

Dante Kintz, Troy Adams, and Luke Minnich all scored for Northampton in the Becahi game.

"Coming out and playing hard, not giving up, and believing in one another is helping us play at a high level," said coach Jason Melniszyn. "We have to keep up the intensity on game days."