There’s a little-known fact about Humpty Dumpty: he would be able to coach the Parkland boys soccer team even in a conference final. At least that’s what assistant coach Scott Mang said about taking over the team for a game while head coach Patrick Birns served a one-game suspension. Mang did a solid job in leading Parkland to a 3-2 win over Pocono Mountain East and the fourth conference title in seven seasons for the Trojans.

“You don’t need a coach,” said Mang. “You could put Humpty Dumpty here, because the kids really responded. Peter [Kwakye-Ackah] scored for us and Byron [Derti] scored and played well and Ben Jago has been on a tear.”

The Trojans got some heroics from Kwakye-Ackah with 2:18 left to play and the game tied 2-2. A direct kick from Bryce Evans curved perfectly in front of Kwakye-Ackah, who headed the ball into the net for what would be the game-winning goal. The junior forward celebrated with an impressive back-flip on the side of the field as his teammates huddled around to watch.

“Last year, I did one and got taken out, because the coach said ‘you only do a back-flip when you score a winning goal,’” said Kwakye-Ackah with a laugh. “So this was the perfect time. Once I saw the goalie slide over to the other side, the ball just sort of curved in. Most importantly, my team kept pushing me. I just wanted to get in to cross the ball for a post, but God gave me [the goal].”

The heroics were set up by a big save from Varrato, just about a minute before the game-winner. Varrato dove in front of a shot to keep the game tied 2-2. That save seemed to rejuvenate Parkland as it looked for someone to step up.

“I just saw him cutting across the side,” said Varrato. “He made a nice move to cut to the middle and I just put my body out there and hoped that he would hit me. I thought he might be able to pop one home, but I was able to save it.

“I felt like we got motivated, but we were working hard all game. It was a team effort the whole game and I’m just glad to be on this team, it’s a good team.”

Parkland took a never-say-die attitude throughout the game, even when Pocono Mountain East took a quick lead. Just under five minutes into the game, Douglas Goitia broke down the middle of the field and put a shot past Varrato to put Pleasant Valley up 1-0. It would only take about six minutes for Parkland to respond when Byron Derti took a rebound off the Cardinal goalie and fired it past him to tie the game.

Ben Jago’s rocket from 35 yards out at 31:54 of the second half put Parkland up 2-1, but just as Parkland needed just six minutes to respond early in the game, it took just about six minutes for the Cardinals to respond when Ian Lake got an unassisted goal to tie the game.

Parkland came into the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference playoffs as the fifth-seed and beat number-four Freedom 4-3 before shutting out top-seeded Emmaus 2-0 and then downing Pocono Mountain East for the title.

Parkland will welcome back Birns for its run in the District 11 Class AAA playoffs. On Saturday, Parkland will host the winner of Wednesday’s Easton-Southern Lehigh game in the district quarterfinals. That game is set for noon on Saturday.

“Patrick was there for practice and this is absolutely Patrick’s team,” said Mang. “At this point in the year, it doesn’t really matter, because guys know where they’re playing. They know their roles and who’s subbing and it worked out well. They really could have gone and played without us.”