The Parkland girls soccer team has reached the point in the season where they are either going to finish the year undefeated as state champions or fall in a season-ending loss.

For now, the hope of the undefeated season remains alive. Parkland heads to the District 11 4A finals after a 2-0 win over Nazareth in the semifinals Tuesday night at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown.

Only one team from District 11 qualifies for the PIAA tournament, so it’s win or go home for the Lady Trojans.

Senior Aristea Gougoustamos and sophomore Ellie Kocher were the stars against Nazareth as Parkland moved to 21-0-1 on the season with the win.

Defensively, Parkland was always a step ahead of Nazareth and closed down the passing lanes, limiting the opportunities for clear looks at the goal. In the 10th minute of the game, Kocher sent a pass to the middle of the field where Gougoustamos took the ball, made a move around a defender, and fired a shot past goalie Kaitlyn Henchy to open the scoring.

“Ellie and I have a great connection and I saw she was able to beat her defender and I just timed my run and took a touch, got around a defender and just placed it in,” said Gougoustamos.

Nazareth figured out a few things during halftime and came out being more aggressive and used a better passing scheme to get around Parkland for some higher percentage opportunities.

Parkland still found opportunities, including seeing Kocher make a nice move on a run down the field only to see her shot go over the crossbar. Later, Henchy tipped a shot by Lauren Ervin over the crossbar and then made a save on a header by Kocher. On a direct kick, Dani Marsteller put a shot just over the crossbar.

“I was definitely frustrated to have missed a couple opportunities, but you miss 100-percent of the shots that you don’t take,” said the freshman Kocher. “It’s important to just keep your head up and keep taking shots.”

There was one opportunity that the Trojans converted, and it involved a little scheming between Kocher and Marsteller. On an indirect free kick from close range, Marsteller moved to take the shot, but pushed the ball backward slightly to Kocher, who lifted the ball to the far side of the net and just under the crossbar for some insurance with a 2-0 lead.

“We practice a lot of free kicks but mostly from further out and this one was really close,” said Kocher. “Dani and I just decided what we were going to do, and it worked out.”

Trojan head coach Al Haddad has been impressed with Kocher and credits her work ethic and competitive approach to the game for her success.

“She’s a different kid,” he said. “She has ridiculous technical skills, lightning speed and a burning desire to compete. Today was a great picture of what she can do. When Laney [Delaney Chilcote] was hurt she recognized without us saying anything that the outside back was hurt, and she sprinted 55 yards to cover for it in a game that’s already 2-0. That’s just the type of player that she is.”

Parkland will meet rival Emmaus (16-5-1) in the finals Thursday night back at J. Birney Crum Stadium to play for the district championship. Emmaus defeated Easton 1-0 in the other semifinal game.

Parkland has beaten Emmaus in both of the teams’ two meetings this season, including a 3-1 win on Oct. 11 in their regular season finale and a 6-0 drubbing seven days later in the East Penn Conference semifinal.

The Trojans have won three straight District 11 titles, including beating Emmaus in double overtime in last year’s final.