Usually when a team holds a 1-0 lead in soccer, especially in a playoff game, there’s a little bit of nail-biting going on, but that’s not the case with Parkland. Their nails are in no danger of being chewed off, because they simply don’t play nervous soccer even with a one-goal lead. That’s how Parkland, 19-1 overall, staved off Nazareth to win 1-0 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference semifinals at J. Birney Crum Stadium Tuesday night.

In fact, Parkland has a strategy of working to get the first goal and then just shutting down their opponent. That strategy works well for two reasons: First, they focus on primarily on defense; and second, they haven’t given up a goal in 16 straight games now, so playing 1-0 is almost as good as a win.

“Our attitude about how to defend and defending is what we build our teams off of and we spend weeks defending before we ever go to a goal,” said Parkland head coach Al Haddad, whose teams has allowed just two goals all season. “In fact, our first week of practice, we never went to goal, it was all defending because that has to be the attitude and we’re very confident that once we get one in, the zero’s going to stay on the board. That’s their goal and they don’t want to give up another goal.”

Chelsea Hudson, who has a knack for getting goals at key points, delivered a ball into the net on a textbook play of how to score in soccer. Brooke Schutter took a pass at midfield and drove through the defense before making a terrific pass to Hudson, who didn’t look to do too much, preferring to just take a nice, easy kick that got the ball past Nazareth goalkeeper Caitlyn Lazzanni for the only score of the game.

“As a team, we look for the unselfish play and we had our intentions right in that moment and Brooke played the perfect ball and I finished it,” Hudson said. “It all starts from our backs. They play it through and play it up and we just know what to do with it.”

“It was a great transition ball that we played through the midfield,” said Haddad. “It was a great ball into Brooke and Brooke played an outstanding ball with the outside of her foot that curled behind the defense and away from the goalkeeper, and Chelsea did a great job of just settling the ball one time and placing it in the back of the net. There was no power behind it. It was just shooting the ball correctly and that’s what she did.”

For Parkland, the emphasis on keeping opponents off the board isn’t just about giving up goals. It starts well before teams get close to being able to deliver a shot on goal in the game. It’s also not just about the defenders making plays, but everyone on the team being aware of how to play defense.

“Our focus, besides not giving up goals, is not allowing shots and not giving up any corners,” Haddad said. “Set plays are dangerous. Not fouling, because even set plays from 30 or 40 yards out are giving the other team an opportunity to put another ball in your box, so we pummel Regan [goalkeeper Regan Allsop] in goal at practice, so we know she’s going to be ready when the time comes and we’re happy with that.”

Allsop had to make just four saves against Nazareth. The Lady Trojans will now face Pleasant Valley (13-7) in the EPC championship Thursday night at 5:30 p.m. at Nazareth. Parkland’s boys team will play for a league title in the nightcap.

For teams that may run up against Parkland further down the postseason road, there’s a possible Halloween scare in store. The team that’s been cutting through opponents and hasn’t lost a game since falling to Governor Mifflin 2-1 in early September might not be as good as it will be as it continues through the postseason.

“We’ve gotten much better from where we were in the beginning of the season, but there’s room for improvement,” said Hudson. “It sounds weird, but that’s what we want. We want to peak in districts and states this year, not now.”