With two early goals and dominant possession over the first 15 minutes, the Northampton boys soccer team got off to a perfect start against Whitehall in their season opener on Sept. 1.

Unfortunately for the K-Kids and Coach Adam Bastidas, the remaining 65 minutes did not go nearly as smooth.

Whitehall defeated Northampton 4-2 at the Zephyr Athletic Complex in each team’s opening game of the 2017 season. Sophomore Anthony Snyder and senior Jason Santos each scored early goals to give Northampton an early 2-0 lead, but Whitehall would respond with four unanswered goals for the victory.

“For the first 15 minutes, I thought that we really had it going. Obviously we had the two goals, but it was stuff besides that,” Bastidas said. “We were relentless in how we were attacking. We were relentless in fifth-fifty balls, and sort of every aspect of the game.”

“If we play like how we played in the first 15 minutes, it doesn’t really matter which team we play against. I would feel confident with us going toe-to-toe with any team if we can play like that.”

With only three seniors on the roster, Coach Bastidas knows that his team will likely take some youthful lumps early in the year.

But one spot where the K-Kids have the utmost confidence is at goalkeeper with sophomores Brady Rimple and Evan Parker.

With the game tied 2-2 in the second half, Rimple stopped a point-blank shot by Whitehall’s Kresstoph Whittick to keep the deadlock.

Despite not playing much as a freshman last season, Bastidas said Rimple has gained valuable goalkeeping experience through camps and club teams, and he also has a strong backup that is constantly pushing him.

“We are very confident in Brady. If, for whatever reason, Evan would have to go in we are still very confident,” Bastidas said. “We are good in terms of goalkeeping for a long time.”

Northampton hosts Parkland on Sept. 9 at Al Erdosy Stadium.

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The NHS girls soccer team split its first two games of the season. The team lost a hard-fought game to Whitehall 1-0 to open the season.

Kate Bonshak scored an early goal for the game’s lone tally.

The following day against Notre Dame Green Pond, the girls exploded for a 6-2 victory.

Abi Czarnecki led the way with three goals in the game while Domenica Lerch and Isabell Nota each added a goal.

Alexis DiSora and Emiliana Bowman each scored in the loss for the Crusaders.

The Kids were scheduled to travel to Emmaus on Sept. 5.