JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch keeper Stephen Grumski could have brought some light reading material with him to the Knights' recent soccer games.

With how well his back four — seniors Devin Sherman and Nicholas Kadunce along with freshmen Coleman Brands and Jacob Goldinger — have played, Grumski's workload was pretty light.

“I love my back four. They are the best one I've seen in awhile,” Grumski said. “They keep the ball out so I don't have to do much at all. We've been keeping it up to their end of the field.”

Knoch's entire team has felt more confident.

The Knights have rolled off five straight wins — all shutouts — to improve its record to 5-1, including a 3-0 mark in Section 2-AA.

Knoch has outscored its opponents 21-0 during their five-game winning streak. That puts the Knights well on pace to exceeded their 9-win showing from last season.

Junior right forward Val Panger feels strong leadership has put Knoch in a good position.

“Devin Sherman is good with directing the back four because we have two freshmen back there,” Panger said.

Knoch's season opened with a wake-up call.

The Knights were caught off-guard early and never caught up to Obama Academy in a 3-1 Aug. 29 loss at the Shaler Tournament.

Since then, senior midfielder Ben Andrews thinks Knoch has played with a sense of urgency. Missing the playoffs last season helped the Knights keep a mental edge.

Two ties against Deer Lakes kept Knoch out of the playoffs last season.

“Now, we know basically that we can't waste these games,” Andrews said. “We need to put games away early, especially games that we should win.”

Knoch is tied for first place in the section with Mars (5-0, 3-0) and will start a tough stretch of section games next week.

The Knights host Deer Lakes Tuesday before going on the road to play Shady Side Academy Thursday and Mars Saturday.

All three of those teams finished ahead of Knoch in the standings last season.

Panger, who has scored four goals, said the Knights are ready for a step up in competition.

Overconfidence and a flat first half is what Panger and Andrews think hurt in the opener against the Obama Academy. The Eagles scored the first two goals.

“I think against Obama, we came out with the mentality that we were going to win,” Panger said. “They are a city school, we didn't hear much about them and thought it would be an easy win.”

The next day, Knoch attacked Shaler from the outside and scored with 11 minutes left to earn its first win.

Andrews, who blamed himself for one of the Eagles' goals the day before, thought it was an improved effort.

“We pushed the whole game and got a goal with 11 minutes reamining,” Andrews said.

Knoch has put itself in position to get back to the playoffs. The Knights know they have some tough tests.

Grumski won't have as much time to himself. But he'll be ready.

“I know I've been hoping that these games that we win 5-0 and 9-0 don't make our heads too big,” Grumski said. “We came out against Deer Lakes, Shady Side and Mars and be ready to play and not think we're on top of the world. It's still going to be tough competition.”