Nazareth rebounds to make LVC playoffs

FROM THE MORNING CALL

Nazareth had a record of 4-12-2 in boys soccer last year, in Tim Herb's first season as head coach. When the Blue Eagles started 3-5 this season, the team sat down and had a little chat.

"Once you get in the rut of losing, it's very difficult," Herb said. "We sat down as a team and talked about goals."

The quality time seems to have worked. After seven wins in eight games, Nazareth is 10-6 and will compete in the Lehigh Valley Conference playoffs next week as either the No. 3 or No. 4 seed.

Did a team meeting merely point Nazareth in the right direction? There's not an easy answer to that one. But Herb, a veteran college assistant for nine years, knows this: It's mostly about the details, and just playing better.


"One of the things that was important was the return of eight letter winners," Herb said. "We're a year older and more experienced. I implemented a new system and a new way of playing. It took them a year to get used to it. They just had to believe in themselves and have confidence in themselves."

Herb placed an emphasis on a shorter, faster game in which the ball was on the ground more and in the air less, but that alone was not going to ensure a winning season.

After the meeting, the Eagles went on a five-game win streak, during which they beat Freedom, Liberty and Easton. The win over Easton, a former division rival and now a neighborhood border war, was significant in the minds of the Nazareth players.

"After beating Easton, we thought, 'Yeah, we can do this,' " Herb said. "After beating them, we thought that maybe we were going to be OK. Beating a quality team like Easton got the kids believing."

Forward Braden Drexler, one of the few players left on the roster who played for previous coach Peter Newman two years ago, is the Lehigh Valley Conference's leading scorer with 22 goals and 45 points. The Eagles have had solid midfield play from Colton Amidon (12 assists), Nick Blake (eight assists) and Jack Portnoy (six assists).

"We've gotten points from a lot of other people at crucial times, which has been great," Herb said. "We're obviously thrilled to have won the games we've won. Losing is tough, because once you get in that habit, it's hard to get out of it. There are no secrets. It's a lot of hard work."

LVC PLAYOFFS

Emmaus (West champion), Parkland (North champion), Easton (East champion) and Nazareth (wild card) are the participants in the Lehigh Valley Conference playoffs, which are Tuesday and Thursday at Emmaus.

Predictions — Semifinals: Emmaus 2, Easton 1; Parkland 2, Nazareth 1. Championship: Parkland 1, Emmaus 0.

NORTHWESTERN FORFEIT

Northwestern defeated Kutztown in a nonleague game on Oct. 9 but had to forfeit the win because coach Fernando Carrizo coached the game. Carrizo received a red card in a 3-1 Colonial League loss to Bangor the day before and should have sat out, according to PIAA rules.

Jason Zimmerman, Northwestern's director of athletics and student activities, notified District 3 officials of the forfeit.

Players who receive a "soft" red card are allowed to play in the next game, but those who receive "hard" red cards are not. A "soft" red is the result of two yellow cards; a "hard" red is a more serious offense such as a flagrant foul or abusive language. Carrizo, who has a lot more experience in club ball than in high school soccer, said that he was not aware that there were no such distinctions for coaches. He said that he apologized to everyone involved.

"If I had known, I would not have allowed that to happen," he said. "For me, it's been a tough week," knowing that he cost his team a game.

The forfeit will not affect Northwestern's position in the Colonial League, but could drop the Tigers down several notches in the District 11 tournament, because Northwestern is one of several teams within a game or two of each other in terms of overall record in the district.

COLONIAL PLAYOFFS

After a season-long wild race, the dust finally settled Friday in the Colonial League race.

In Wednesday's Colonial League semifinals at Salisbury, South champion Southern Lehigh will face Moravian Academy (7:30 p.m.) and North champion Bangor will play Northwestern (5:30 p.m.).

Predictions — Semifinals: Southern Lehigh 2, Moravian Academy 0; Bangor 2, Northwestern 1. Championship: Southern Lehigh 3, Bangor 1.

MVC PLAYOFFS


Pleasant Valley, the top-ranked team in the area, clinched the Mountain Valley Conference's top seed a long time ago and will play East Stroudsburg North or Pocono Mountain West in the semifinals. The other semifinal will pit Pocono Mountain East against defending champion Stroudsburg.

Predictions — Semifinals: Pleasant Valley 4, East Stroudsburg North 0; Pocono Mountain East 2, Stroudsburg 1. Championship: Pleasant Valley 3, Pocono Mountain East 1.

THREE ON THE RISE

Nazareth — Back in the LVC playoffs after a year layoff.

Pennridge — In second place in Suburban One Continental and awaiting a seed in District One playoffs.

Moravian Academy — In the Colonial playoffs for the first time since 2006

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