There is just something about playing Parkland, and especially playing them on their field, that Northampton boys soccer head coach Adam Bastidas can’t figure out.

Yes, they are an East Penn Conference favorite year-in and year-out, but it is what they do on their field, and having to go out and outperform them that has gotten away from Bastidas.

“Parkland is a great team, they always have been even back when I played,” said Bastidas. “But there is something about coming here to play them. I just think our guys weren’t ready or weren’t focused enough for a playoff game against Parkland.”

Three first half goals helped fuel an offensive outburst, as the Trojans beat the Kids 4-0 last Saturday afternoon in the EPC quarterfinal round game at Parkland High School’s turf field. It was a matchup of the #2 seed (Parkland) against the #7 seed (Northampton).

Just four days prior, Northampton (13-6 overall, 11-5 EPC) fell to Parkland (15-1-2 overall, 14-0-2 EPC) 2-1 at home. But in mid-September, they lost to the very same team 4-0 on the road.

“There’s just something about playing Parkland on the road that is so difficult,” noted Bastidas. “I don’t know because I went to Catasauqua and we were never able to play them, even though I really wanted to. But they just play so well at home, and are such a smooth team. They moved the ball around really well today, and created a lot of scoring opportunities for themselves. We just couldn’t get much going to help ourselves out.”

Goals from Owen Iacobelli, Conley Hochstetler, and Dawson Berger highlighted a first half that saw a lot of things go right for the Trojans, and not as much for the Kids.

“We came in and we knew we were going to be dealing with some injuries, but so are they,” Bastidas added. “At this time of the year, everyone is banged up. It’s about going out there and giving it everything you have for the team. I’m proud of the effort, they just had more in the tank than us today.”

Northampton had a chance to cut the deficit to two, but a penalty kick was saved off the line by Trojans goalie Jacob Varrato. Not to be outdone, Morgan Heffelfinger stopped a Parkland penalty kick on the other end, but the score remained 3-0 deep into the second half.

The Trojans tacked on a fourth goal when Andrew Luchansky found himself open inside the 18-yard box and ripped home a shot that had little chance of being saved.

Even in a loss, Bastidas saw a lot of positives out of the regular season.

“We qualified for leagues,” Bastidas stated. “That’s a huge accomplishment for a team that hasn’t seen the playoffs much lately. It’s tough losing the first game, but we have a full week off to prepare for districts next week. We’ll work on some things and get better.”

Northampton will wait and see who and where they will play when the District 11 tournament begins next week.