The Konkrete Kids earned the District XI Class 4A boys soccer silver medals after a 3-2 (PK 3-2) victory by Parkland in the district final on Oct. 31 at Salisbury.

The Kids fought back from a 2-0 deficit at halftime to tie the Trojans on two goals by midfielder Sebastian Mello.

“Down 2-0, we have the inner confidence that we’re gonna win this game,” Northampton coach Chris Bastidas told his team at the half. “There’s no time to feel sorry for yourselves right now. Yeah, Parkland’s a great team, but we scored the most goals this year in EPC. We’re going to score, so make sure to not kick the ball over the top, make sure we’re playing to our forwards’ feet and work from the sides going in. Just make them feel game pressure. It’s going to come.”

Mello’s first goal came in the 45th minute on a penalty kick after a clipping call.

A red card forced the Kids to play with 10 men for most of the second half, and in the 58th minute, Northampton goalie Ryan Nahf made two consecutive saves.

“Their fight and passion is unmatched. It is unreal,” said Coach Bastidas of his Konkrete Kids. “We said it’s OK. We beat them a man down last year. We know there’s ways to get in and around them and ways to attack with a man down. And we did it. We found a way to score which was so amazing.”

Northampton’s Dante Keen won the ball off Parkland’s Kyle Tobia, and Mello’s subsequent free kick in the 78th minute from 45 yards sailed high before bouncing into the net, stunning the Trojans and rejuvenating the Kids.

“Sebby, who’s the best player playing right now, does it again. He’s phenomenal,” said Bastidas.

Nahf and Parkland goalie Daniel Sipling made 4 saves apiece in double overtime, leading to a penalty shootout.

“I thought we were ready for a PK shootout,” Bastidas said. “We’ve been practicing for so long. Daniel, their goalie, was moving well and made some great saves, and it’s tough, so there’s nothing else you can do there.”

Mello and Brody Eisenhart converted their penalty kicks, and Jacob Silman and Tobia converted for Parkland. Both teams missed on the next two PKs, and Caleb Daniels connected for the win.

Parkland midfielder Evan Sprunk scored the Trojans’ first goal in the 21st minute of regulation, and on a third touch, midfielder Christian Cusumano found the back of the net five minutes later.

“I was in the back post and I don’t even know. I jumped for it, and it went in,” Cusumano said. “Halftime was mostly, act like the score is 0-0...but we gave them too much to come back. Same thing last year in EPCs. They went down a man and beat us, so we couldn’t let it happen twice.”

Despite the emotional loss for Northampton, the Konkrete Kids stood strong during the medal ceremony, accepted their silvers with dignity, and were respectful of the Trojans.

“Our season was so great, and we had a great season last year, so this hurts a lot. This is tough to lose like that, but we look back on the season and what we did accomplish, it was absolutely a phenomenal season,” said Bastidas. “There’s big wins, and in the playoffs here, beating Pleasant Valley was amazing, beating Emmaus, 1-0, on a great final play to stop their run of consecutive district final appearances, and then we come here. It was honestly awesome. I love these guys. This team is so fun and so amazing to coach.”