To say things really came together for the Whitehall boys soccer team may be an understatement.

The boys had a tough task of traveling as the eight seed to take on top-seed Emmaus in the opening round of the EPC tournament Monday.

The Zephs held on for two halves, two overtimes and penalty kicks before winning 1-0.

“The boys really stepped up, including multiple bench players to play 110 minutes of solid soccer,” said head coach Chris Malone.

Keeper Cole Richards made 14 saves and played, “tremendous,” according to Malone. In the second half, backup keeper Michael Nanoah, who is actually a field player, came on and made three saves, including and unbelievable point-blank save.

“It was really a next man up, total team effort,” Malone said.

The Zephs also got great play in the game from their captain, Mauricio Vasquez.

“[Vasquez] had a great game in the center midfield offering great defense and hustle throughout the game. He really is the engine of our midfield, hustling from 18 to 18 all game giving everything he has,” Malone said.

The team also got another boost from senior back Annes Saloum, who suffered an injury back on Aug. 26. Saloum got a little bit of playing time to end the season as Malone and the Zephs looked to get him prepared for the postseason.

“He had played a little in the prior two games, but we started him [Monday] night and felt comfortable doing it with how we built him up over last few weeks,” Malone said. “He was a big boost to have back.

“Our defense really held its own in a bend, don’t break type of way. So many more players stepped up its hard to name them all. The boys showed 110 percent for 110 minutes plus penalties kicks, hitting 5-of-5 penalties.”

Junior Ramez Farrag stepped up under huge pressure and buried the final penalty kick of the game with the Emmaus student section screaming and everything on the line.

“It was great composure by him,” Malone said.

BETWEEN THE LINES ... WHS PKs were made by Said Alkhmos, Annes Saloum, Valentin Lezcano, Eddie Saloum and Ramerz Farrag. EHS PKs were made by Ryan Kiernan, Dahlin Allport, Brayden Dang, Preston Eshleman ... The Zephs will take on a familiar foe in the next round, which was Wednesday after Press deadlines. They will travel to Pleasant Valley and play four-seed Northampton, which was a 1-0 winner over five-seed Liberty Monday. The game is 5:30 p.m. ... The 7:30 p.m. game is Parkland vs. Freedom ... Freedom beat Pleasant Valley 3-0 and Parkland beat Central 4-2 ... WHS senior Captain Valentin Lezcano was named second team all conference as a midfielder and junior Aiden Taylor received third team all conference as a defender, Malone said ... Emmaus was 16-0-1 in EPC play coming into the playoffs ... The Kids recently defeated the Zephs 8-1 on Oct. 11.