"I think we are living up to our expectations" is how Kelly Backenstoe rates her Northampton field hockey team.

The Konkrete Kids racked up two Lehigh Valley Conference shutouts this past weekend-blanking Dieruff 3-0 last Thursday and stopping Bethlehem Catholic 6-0 Monday.

With the twin shutouts Northampton is 6-1 overall and 4-1 in the LVC and "we're starting to jell on defense," says Backenstoe.

"We have a lot of girls contributing (eight different girls have goals this year) on offense and our defense has really stepped up," added Backenstoe, who is in her sixth year as the K-Kids' coach.

"Against Dieruff and Becahi we moved the ball well with great passing and a lot of give-and-go plays. We also scored on a few corners," adds Backenstoe.

Rachel Heimbach had two goals against Dieruff and Taylor Kerbacher a third with Bri Dalton, Kate Fehnel, and Autumn Klucsarits getting assists. Meanwhile, goalie Shannon Dalton (Bri's younger sister) kept Dieruff "out of the box."

Then against Becahi, Fehnel scored three goals with Heimbach, Kerbacher and Hannah Marth each adding one, while Shannon Dalton and Ashley Kunsman blanked the Golden Hawks.

For the season Northampton has 24 goals while allowing seven.

Megan Wiest leads the scoring with seven goals and two assists, while Fehnel has five goals and five assists. Their back follows with four goals and one assist and Makenna Marhefka has three goals and two assists. Kerbacher is next with two goals and four assists, while Amber Saylor, Bri Dalton and Marth have one goal apiece.

The Kids faced an "aggressive" Freedom team Wednesday and the coach says her team can't let down now that we're in the groove."

Northampton is back in action at 10 a.m. Saturday when the Kids face Central Catholic at Whitehall in an annual "Don Hunt Memorial LVC Play Day" game.

Next week's card has home games with Allen (Tuesday), Easton (Thursday) and Stroudsburg (Saturday).