Northampton senior Blake Turner experienced something Tuesday night that he won’t forget for a while.

He helped lead his team to a penalty kick win (1-0, 4-2) over longtime nemesis Emmaus, and watched his team advance to the District 11 Class 6A final against Parkland Thursday. The Konkrete Kids (19-2-1) also punched their ticket to the state tournament.

“Tonight was the happiest moment of my life,” beamed Turner. “Being a captain of the first Northampton boys soccer team to go to the state tournament is a dream that I’ve dreamed about since I was little.”

Head coach Chris Bastidas saw an all-around effort as the key.

“It was amazing. The players stuck to the game plan and executed it perfectly. Then we were extremely confident going into PKs because we all believe in (goalie) Ryan (Nahf). We have worked on PKs (penalty kicks) for weeks to be ready for the moment

“Additionally, the work rate and tenacity to keep Emmaus from scoring was incredible all game.”

Turner also played a different role in his team’s run.

“It was a different role for me being injured and not being out on the field,” added Turner. “I had to take on a different role almost as a coach to motivate the team and keep everyone pumped up keeping the bench engaged. Not being able to play hurt more than anyone could imagine but I have an amazing team around that got it done.”

Emmaus beat Northampton, 2-0, Sep. 15. It was the Kids’ lone loss, and Northampton responded with a 14-game unbeaten streak (13-0-1) before Parkland stopped them, 5-2, in an East Penn Conference semifinal game.

Parkland defeated Emmaus, 1-0, in the district championship last year. Northampton was knocked out by Liberty, 1-0, in a second-round district game last year.

With tight games, Emmaus beat Northampton, 1-0, in a regular-season game last year - there could be a rivalry brewing between the two teams. At the moment, Whitehall looms as the Kids’ biggest rival.

“I would say Whitehall is a bigger rival, but the games themselves have been one-sided since I started coaching at Northampton,” stated Bastidas. “The games with Emmaus have been evenly played and have been in huge playoff games over the last five years. So now there is a sense of familiarity and both teams have beaten each other in big moments, which creates a rivalry.”

Turner sees a rivalry with Emmaus on the horizon with an added incentive.

“I do see it as one,” said Turner in reference to a rivalry. “I look forward to playing them more than Whitehall because of their history, and wanting to knock them off their throne.”

Instead, Turner and his teammates will be looking to dethrone Parkland, another longtime nemesis, in the upcoming district title game Thursday night.

“It was incredible and definitely fulfilled a goal we had from the start of the season to make states and now we just have to get the job done in the finals,” boasted Jacob Fallenstein. “Everyone stepped up. We had one sub off the bench and they were out-subbing us. But everyone fought until the end and we were able to fulfill our game plan of letting them try to attack us and not over stepping, leading to letting in no goals.

“We’ve been practicing penalties all season, and it showed tonight with Ryan’s amazing saves and great finishing. We left it all out there and outworked them even without possession. It was an awesome win. I can’t wait to see what happens next with this group.”

“I’m so proud of this team and what history we’ve made this year,” boasted Turner. “We aren’t done yet!”

The Kids advanced against Liberty but seemed destined for a PK shootout in the opening round of districts too, after the teams played to a 0-0 draw through regulation. But in the second overtime, JT Malseed scored on a header off a throw in to give the Kids a 1-0 victory last Thursday.