For the second time in one week, Freedom's boys soccer game under the lights at BASD Stadium yielded winning results, when the Patriots defeated Dieruff 6-2 last Wednesday night.

"They played us tough last year. It was a great opportunity for me to see how we would respond. I didn't really see any intensity in us in the first 20 minutes, but then we got six out of ten players involved in that first goal," said Freedom coach Michael O'Connell.

That first goal was scored by Nigel Long after Diego Hernandez played the ball across on a pass from Quinn Ackerman.

"Dieruff has a lot of good pieces. You have to play them straight up. We brought the better of the play, and the score reflected that," Long said.

Ackerman scored the second goal before Long scored the third when Freedom goalkeeper, Josh Wasilik, put the ball in the box. Long played it across, Hernandez shot, and Long put it in.

Wasilik was making his return to the team after being sidelined with a concussion.

"It was a long couple days. [Tonight] I felt like we dominated most of the game. Our defense was pretty strong," said Wasilik.

Also scoring for the Patriots were Jake Banas, Alex Thomas, and John Morales.

Days later, Freedom lost to an undefeated Pleasant Valley team 2-1, and Emmaus 6-0. Victor Gonzalez scored a goal for the Patriots in the second period, and Wasilik had nine saves against Pleasant Valley.

The Pates had been hoping to challenge both the Bears and the Hornets.

"We have a little bit of momentum. Pleasant Valley never dealt with a loss. We came from the ground up. We're fighting for that district seed," Long said.

Last week, Liberty defeated Nazareth 2-1, and Bethlehem Catholic also defeated the Huskies 9-2.