A players only meeting late last week sparked Upper Perkiomen's boys soccer teams to three straight victories. Head coach Kyle Fisher lauded the benefits of peer

Upper Perk's Michael Fisher heads a ball in  the Sept. 12 game agains Pottsgrove.  The  Indians lost 3-0.

discipline following the middle game, an overtime win over Phoenixville on Monday.

            "It's the best way hold the players accountable," he said.

            Over a four-day stretch, the team sandwiched a pair of non-league victories around a 1-0 victory over the visiting Phantoms. Cole Kendra's goal less than four minutes into overtime snapped a scoreless tie. Fisher called it a fantastic team effort.

            Lucas Carpenter forced a turnover near midfield. He directed a loose ball to David Schwab, who connected with Kendra, who was streaking down the side of the field. Kendra, a junior forward who is nursing an ankle injury, beat the Phoenixville goalkeeper with a low shot.

            According to Kendra, he and fellow captains Joe McMichael, Bryce Lesko and goalkeeper Patrick McHale decided to call the meeting on Friday, Sept. 13 following a light practice. He said three straight losses to Upper Merion, Boyertown and Pottsgrove facilitated the need to talk about ways the players could improve their effort and communication.

            "There was a lack of the right attitude or commitment during those three games," said Kendra, a junior. "It seemed like our guys were always a step or two behind the opposition."

            The Tribe appeared to respond the following day with a 2-0 shutout win over Brandywine Heights on Saturday, Sept. 14. David Schwab scored both goals and Cole Kendra posted both assists.

            "We did a real good job," the coach said.

            On Monday, taking the field without injured starters Mike Fisher and Keaton    Durning, the Indians played Phoenixville – their Frontier Division rivals – even during the first half. In the second half, the visiting Phantoms forced the action. Shots by Joe McMichael hit a goal post and a crossbar during regulation.

            "We played a strong disciplined game in the first half," Kyle Fisher said. "Our guys got tired in the second half, and Phoenixville got the better of it."

            However, Upper Perkiomen didn't display any fatigue in overtime. The team celebrated Kendra's goal 3 minutes, 21 seconds into the extra period.

"The ball just seemed to poke out a large cluster of players," Kendra said.

            According to Kyle Fisher the victory should raise some proverbial eyebrows throughout the conference. He said the players displayed the confidence they developed at the end of last season.

             "Even with a few injured starters, we understood that we really needed to step up," Kendra said. "This is an older squad, and we've played in a lot of close games. So we have a lot of experience."

            On Tuesday, Mason Powers scored the team's only goal in a 1-0 road victory over Palisades on Tuesday. Schwab registered an assist on the second-half tally.

            According to the coach, the Tribe – playing without Kendra and Mike Fisher – controlled the play and tempo of the game, but struggled to convert on multiple scoring opportunities. Patrick McHale made two pivotal saves to preserve the victory.

            "We moved the ball really well," Kyle Fisher wrote in a text message. "For now we're reaping the benefits of our depth. Once we get healthy, we'll see where it takes us."