For the Whitehall’s boys’ soccer team this season, it wasn’t the final outcome, but the journey to get there.

The Zephyrs finished the season with an overall 8-9-2 mark and it ended in a hard-fought, 2-1 overtime loss to Pleasant Valley in the opening round of the PIAA District 11 Class 3A playoffs.

However, this year’s squad was only the third in school history to qualify for the playoffs.

It was a year filled with high future expectations built from a progressive present.

“It was a really good game,” said energetic second-year head coach Chris Bastidas. “We played really well. This was a good game for us and we attacked them throughout. I really felt we outplayed them.

“We outshot them, but they got their goals at the opportune time. Still, we are very proud about how we played in the game and throughout the season.”

Still, there was some misapprehension along the way that should create more positives down the road.

“We had a great season, but I think we could have done even better,” noted Bastidas. “I think we could have had a couple of more wins. But the younger players will definitely learn from this year.”

The Zephyrs had high hopes as they began the season with a solid core of 16 seniors, led by returning leading scorer Javaughn Hussett.

“Javaughn (Hussett) was our MVP this season,” said Bastidas. “He was solid for us all season leading us on and off the field. But all of our seniors did a great job for us all season. They were all very excited to begin the season.

“We had a good feel for the season since the summer and it really carried through for us all season. It will be difficult without having them next year because they were such a large and great unit.

“We set the tone for the season with an opening win against Dieruff (4-0) and we really never looked back.”

“But it will be a challenge for us to replace the seniors.”

Yet, Bastidas believes the transition can be a smooth one.

Bastidas will serve as the middle school boys’ soccer coach and is confident he can develop a pipeline of potential players as well as continue to solidify the program.

“We have a number of good young players,” said Bastidas. “We will have a good number of players coming back. It will be a transition year for us. But we have a good foundation for the future.”