Every year, no matter what the sport, a team looks for that signature moment. The hope is it’s a time when a team can look back and point to and say that’s what defined our season.

For the Whitehall boys soccer team, that moment may be a recent, 2-1 win over Parkland, a rival and a team also ahead of them in the standings. The Trojans only other EPC loss was a crazy, 5-4, opening day defeat at Northampton.

While there should be plenty of excitement for the Whitehall boys, head coach Chris Malone wants to keep things in perspective.

“I’m certainly happy for the boys and proud of the way they competed, but there’s still a lot of work to be done,” Malone said. “This was a great result against a quality, well-run Parkland program, and our guys followed the game plan and gave us everything they had.”

And while any coach doesn’t want to see his team get too high from a moment like this, Malone admits it meant something to him as well.

“It’s also a pretty special result for me personally, knowing this was the first time Whitehall has beaten Parkland since the 2008-09 season. I was a sophomore on that team, so to now be on the other side of it as a coach is something I really appreciate,” he said.

Now the reality for Whitehall is an important week ahead that could determine how the league standings fall when all is said and done.

“We have a big week ahead with three games that could determine a lot for us in terms of the league standings,” Malone said. “I think being in the league playoffs is important because it helps avoid a long layoff heading into the district playoffs. So while we’re going to enjoy this win, our focus has already shifted to what’s ahead. We have a lot more work to do.”

Emmaus remains a top the standings this season. Pleasant Valley has dropped a few spots since last week. There are nine teams battling for eight spots at this point of the season. Whitehall is looking to stay in the mix and at least earn the seven or eight seed. The Zephs are 6-2-4 and Nazareth is 6-3-3 as of Monday. Those teams would be the seven and eight seeds. Easton is sitting at 6-5-1 and is the current ninth seed - on the outside looking in.

“This should be a really interesting playoff this year,” Malone said. “I think the top six teams are all capable of beating each other under the right circumstances. There’s not a lot separating those teams, and I think that makes every game meaningful heading into the postseason.”

NOTES ... According to the District 11 site, the Zephs have clinched a berth and they sit at 7-2-4 overall in the seven seed ... WHS can make some hay with three games: Pocono East, Central, and Pocono West. Getting wins there will be key as the boys close out the season at Emmaus on Oct. 12, and home against Northampton on Oct. 14 ... The Kids only loss this year was to Emmaus ... It will be tough to catch Pleasant Valley, despite the Bears dropping recent games to Emmaus and Northampton. PV will play Dieruff, Easton, Freedom, Eastburg South and Stroudsburg. PV defeated WHS on Sept. 17, 2-0 ... It seems likely Whitehall will have to play a top-three team in the opening round at this point if they make the EPC playoffs ... Parkland actually has three loses this year, they dropped a nonleague game to Conestoga from District 1 on Sept. 26 and they are currently in fourth place in the district as a result, behind Emmaus, Northampton and Freedom ... Rivals Liberty and Freedom could be on course for a first round matchup and play each other on Oct. 14. The teams already met on Sept. 5 with Freedom scoring a late goal to win 1-0.

EPC Boys Soccer

Standings

As of Oct. 5

Emmaus 12-0-1

Northampton 10-1-1

Parkland 10-2-0

Freedom 9-1-2

Liberty 8-3-2

Pleasant Valley 8-3-1

Whitehall 6-2-4

Nazareth 6-3-3

Easton 6-5-1

Stroudsburg 4-6-2

PM East 3-6-2

ES South 3-7-2

Allen 2-7-3

CCHS 2-7-2

PM West 2-7-2

Dieruff 1-11-0

ES North 0-10-1

Becahi 0-11-1