The Parkland boys soccer team is half way through its schedule. And the Trojans seem to be in midseason form just at the right time.

Parkland improved to 9-2 overall and 7-1 in the Lehigh Valley Conference with a win Monday over Bethlehem Catholic.

The Trojans got a pair of goals from sophomore forward Byron Derti to pull out to a 2-0 lead. Charles Kile, Oliver Guerra and Paul Khalil added a goal each in the win.

"First half was really, really sloppy," said Parkland head coach Patirck Birns. "Second half we were moving off the ball a lot better, we started talking a little bit better.

"We're starting to come together. We're a young team that likes to get forward. We're working on the defensive aspect of things."

Parkland is coming off its best week of the season. Last Tuesday, the Trojans beat Emmaus by a record score of 7-0.

There are no medals awarded or trophies handed out for regular season wins, but Parkland's players felt like champions after putting that kind of number on their biggest rival and one of the best teams in the area.

"It was thrilling," said junior center back/defensive midfielder Jon Kleinhenz. "It was awesome. There was nothing like it. Apparently it's a record to get seven goals against them. We were so hyped. It was a feeling like no other."

It was a win the team will surely build off and one that gives a young roster a boost of confidence as it heads into important late-season games.

But it is still just a regular season win.

"Emmaus definitely pumped us up, winning 7-0," said senior midfielder Belal Mohamed. "Next practice coach told us to forget about it. Last year we got them 4-0, but then they got us in the playoffs."

Like any coach, Birns is always looking forward. He enjoyed the win over Emmaus, but knows that the teams will likely meet again in the postseason.

"I told the boys we didn't win any medals that night," he said. "Unfortunately, we probably woke up a giant. They're probably going to be fired up the second time they play us.

The win over Emmaus gave the Trojans confidence before they traveled to Conestoga Valley on Saturday to face the No. 3 ranked team in the state. Parkland lost that game 1-0 on a goal with 22 seconds left.

It was one of the few games this year in which Parkland had any trouble scoring goals.

"We do a great job of attacking as a group," said Birns. "We throw numbers at people. These kids are really dynamic off the ball and like to go forward.

"Defensively, we don't really defend well as a team. We defend one guy on the ball, but other don't fill in and help out and cover. That's one thing we work on when we do get to practice."

Parkland has come a long way through one month of the season. A roster that includes 13 juniors and sophomores along with nine seniors has meshed into a solid team with talent and depth. That can only benefit the team in the later part of the season and the playoffs.

"Before the season started we only had a starting 11 and a few players on the bench," said Mohamed. "Now we're definitely 22 players deep. We can play whoever we want and we'll still get the result."

Parkland is one of four LVC team with one loss this season. Easton (7-1) and Emmaus (7-1) lead the West and East divisions, respectively. The Trojans are battling Northampton (7-1) for the North Division title. Liberty (6-2) is a game behind those four leaders for the wild card playoff berth.

Parkland meets Northampton in the penultimate game of the season, Monday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. in Orefield.

Parkland's senior night features another big match up, a meeting with Easton next Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m.

If Parkland can keeps progressing the way it has been, it will have every chance to win some postseason titles this year.

"I think we can be a very good team in the playoffs as long as we work together," said Kleinhenz.