Through two games this fall, the Emmaus boys’ soccer team has yet to score a goal. Despite that scoreless stretch of 180 minutes, it’s hard to imagine that head coach John Cari isn’t a bit satisfied with his team’s start.

In the season opener against rival Parkland last Friday, Emmaus played to a draw against the host Trojans in the teams’ first of two Red Card Cancer games that help raise funds and awareness for those dealing with the disease. It’s the fourth year Emmaus and Parkland have joined together for the cause.

“It was a brand new defense we put out there, and they held a shutout,” Cari said after the Parkland match. “They did a great job on the road against their rival. You can’t ask for more than that. The offense will come. We had to shuffle some kids around to make this work, but they did a great job tonight.”

In a joint effort between the two schools, the cancer awareness matches continue to be a positive, generous partnership that benefits members of the community. The second match will be at Emmaus in early October.

“It’s a real positive thing I think to give our contribution of time to someone who is in need of it,” Cari said. “Patrick Birns and I, we’re friends and he used to be on my coaching staff, so there’s no animosity there and I’m glad we’re able to come out here and do this.”

A day after that draw to the Trojans, Emmaus fought hard against Cumberland Valley, a team that entered the season ranked No. 3 in the state. One tally was all that stood between the two squads, as Emmaus fell 1-0 on their home turf.

In the season opener against Parkland, the chances were there for both squads, more particularly for Parkland in the second half and two overtime sessions. When the Hornets needed a big save, however, senior goalie Dylan Sosnow (12 saves) was there as a wall in goal.

“We went up against pretty good competition and didn’t let a goal in,” said Cari. “That’s a real positive. It’s a league game. It’s a division game. We didn’t give up any ground. On the road I’ll take it because we’ll get them with another chance at home, which is big.”

Parkland’s Dawson Berger opened the second half with a free kick from 25 yards deep. Sosnow, however, wasn’t having any of it. A few minutes later, the Trojans’ Peter Kwayke-Acklah juked one Hornet defender and had a one-on-one opportunity with Sosnow. But the Hornets’ leader on defense was there for another remarkable diving save.

“It was nerve-wracking, but you have to channel that and you can’t let that interfere with how you play,” Sosnow said. “If you do, you’re definitely going to end up giving one up and not feeling so well afterward.”

Sosnow’s biggest save might have come roughly 11 minutes later. Two Parkland shots were on target with less than 20 minutes to play in the second half, but Sosnow stopped the first with a diving attempt, while a Hornet defender stopped the second shot right in front of the goal line.

“Both goalkeepers I thought did great,” Cari said. “We said those were the two best players on the field today. They did a great job. Both made some huge saves and came up big, and that’s why the game finished as 0-0.”

Emmaus’ best opportunities came late in the second half. With less than nine minutes in regulation, CJ Semet took a cross out of the air with his right foot and blasted it at Trojan goalie Jake Varrato, who finished with 7 saves. Dakota Bauer’s free kick into the 18 was headed by another Hornet and trickled just wide left as time expired.

“I thought we were dangerous on our set pieces,” Cari said. “I thought that’s where we were really decent. It will come. I had some guys out of position, and I think our offense will come in the future.”

The best opportunity in overtime came from Parkland when its deep strike in the first period was just feet wide of sneaking in the top right corner of Emmaus’ goal.