Freedom High School Advances in EPC Boys Soccer
Freedom High School secured a 4-1 victory over Pleasant Valley to reach the EPC boys soccer semifinals.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Soccer
Live Poll
Do you believe team cohesion is more important than individual skill for high school sports success?
Freedom High School powered past Pleasant Valley High School with a 4-1 win in the EPC boys soccer quarterfinals. The victory moves Freedom into the upcoming tournament semifinals.
Why it matters
The result eliminates Pleasant Valley from the EPC tournament while keeping Freedom in contention for the league championship. It marks a decisive conclusion to the teams' second meeting of the season.
Freedom recorded 18 shots compared to just two for Pleasant Valley, while Pleasant Valley goalkeeper Cole Clark tallied 10 saves in the defeat. Freedom maintains a season record of 15-1-3, moving past Pleasant Valley, which holds an 11-5-3 record.
The players
Freedom High School
This is a Bethlehem-based high school athletic program competing in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.
Pleasant Valley High School
This is an educational institution and athletic program that competes in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.
Caden Grimmer
He is a student-athlete for the Freedom High School boys soccer team who recorded two goals in the quarterfinal victory.
Cole Clark
He is the starting goalkeeper for the Pleasant Valley High School boys soccer team.
The details
Freedom utilized a disciplined defensive strategy featuring a double pivot in the midfield to restrict Pleasant Valley, limiting them to only two shots all match. Offensive contributions came from Caden Grimmer with two goals, joined by Evan Plasco and Creed Sadler with one goal each, while Matthew Slobodzian provided the lone goal for Pleasant Valley.
Timeline
October 8, 2026: Freedom defeated Pleasant Valley 3-0 in regular season play.
October 20, 2026: Freedom defeated Pleasant Valley 4-1 in the EPC quarterfinals.
October 22, 2026: Freedom will face Emmaus in the EPC semifinals.
October 28, 2026: District 11 4A soccer playoffs begin.
Season Trajectory
This quarterfinal win solidifies Freedom's status as a primary contender heading into the league semifinals. The victory keeps the team in high standing for the upcoming postseason landscape within the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference.
Freedom advances to face Emmaus in the next round of the tournament bracket. Meanwhile, Pleasant Valley concludes its EPC tournament run and will now shift focus to preparations for the District 11 4A playoffs.
The takeaway
Freedom's ability to limit Pleasant Valley to only two shots highlights the efficacy of their mid-field defensive structure. Success in high-stakes elimination games often depends on maintaining this level of offensive pressure while minimizing defensive errors.
What happens next
Freedom will compete in the EPC semifinals on October 22, 2026. Pleasant Valley is scheduled to begin the District 11 4A playoffs on October 28, 2026.
Further reading
For more local matchups, visit the Bethlehem Soccer section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by TNonline.
Live Poll
Do you believe team cohesion is more important than individual skill for high school sports success?
