Senior midfielder Max Coleman may not hear his name called in the starting lineup before every game, but that doesn’t mean his level play isn’t at starting caliber.

Coleman and the Trojans found the back of the net in each half and did just enough to keep a shutout as they downed rival Emmaus 2-0 in Eastern Pennsylvania Conference action last Monday night at Parkland High School.

Coleman scored both goals for the Trojans. His first score came off a header inside the six-yard box in the first half on a crossing ball from Jack Smith for the game’s opening goal. In the second half, a missed clearance from the back end of the Emmaus defense led to an open net goal by Coleman and the 2-0 advantage. It was the first loss on the year for the Green Hornets and the eighth consecutive win for the Trojans.

“Max plays on our second wave,” said Parkland head coach Pat Birns. “His energy is so contagious, when he scored [his first goal] the whole team got pumped. His first goal he beat his defender to the ball. Then his second goal he was denied on his first shot but kept working to get off another shot.”

The Green Hornets and Trojans are playing in the Lehigh Division, which also includes, Dieruff, Allen, Central Catholic and Whitehall. Each team plays against each other twice, home and away. Emmaus (9-1 overall) had taken care of the four other teams in the division both times with ease, but Parkland (8-1), which has now won eight straight, was able to slow down Emmaus and continue the streak of their own.

“The boys were buzzing last night,” said Birns. “I received three texts before the game from alumni and a bunch after. All of them were reminiscing on their high school playing days in this rivalry game.”

Parkland played fast and hard from the opening whistle to the final buzzer. It outshot Emmaus 20-2 overall and 10-0 on goal, and also held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks. Victor Baran was not forced into any saves in recording the shutout victory.

“We played at a level of intensity that we have not reached this year yet,” Birns said. “The boys challenged everything and denied them at every ball. Limiting them to zero shots on goal was just phenomenal on the defensive side.”

With just one game remaining in the regular season, Birns wants his team to keep up this momentum and continue the current win streak into postseason play next week.

“Keep playing and believing in each other,” Birns said. “When they trust each other, good things will happen.”

Parkland plays at Emmaus on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the regular season finale at Memorial Stadium. The East Penn Conference is not holding league playoffs in any sports this fall. The district tournament will begin next week and the Hornets and Trojans are likely to meet up again in the District 11 postseason.