Since becoming an Eastern Plains Conference member in 2013, the Washington soccer team has been an unstoppable force in a table that’s struggled to keep pace. With an EPC record of 20-0-1, the Pam Pack has been public enemy No. 1 with the top talent, the most postseason success and arguably the top coaching staff.

Tomorrow, for the first time in three years, Washington is on guard, matched up against what many consider to be the best EPC opponent its seen to date, a team that’s on a mission to unseat the perennial champion.

North Johnston (12-1-1) is off to its best start in program history, carried by a surprisingly strong offensive output and an all-conference-caliber keeper. It’s a matchup head coach Jim Kozuch isn’t taking lightly, especially considering the previous meetings between schools.

“This is a game we’re going into blind,” he said. “We know they have a kid who scores a lot of goals, but in the past they’ve actually given us trouble. They do a good job of staying in their positions and they don’t make a lot of mistakes, which is really the key to the game. I expect them to give us a good game because they always have.”

Last season, en route to a perfect 10-0 conference finish, the Pam Pack escaped with a 1-0, defensive-minded victory over the Panthers on Oct. 1. In the second meeting, Washington needed two overtime periods to knock off North Johnston, 2-1.

Returning most of his starters from last year, coupled with a breakout season from striker Ian Walston, head coach Jody Edwards’ team has its first realistic shot a title. Walston, a 5-foot-10, 150-pound junior, is second in the conference in scoring with 21 goals, including a six-goal outing against Princeton in the season opener. His production has tapered off marginally over the last five games with just four goals, but he should be a formidable matchup for the Pam Pack’s back line.

“We’re not going to go crazy and give him too much personal attention, but if it seems like he’s any trouble, than the game plan is to pair him up with Holt McKeithan,” Kozuch said. McKeithan, a senior, “has been a lock for us since he’s been here. He’s proven he can take on some of the best players over at Conley and Rose. If we need to adjust to a man defense, we definitely will.”

The back line, one of the biggest question marks entering the season, has performed admirably through nonconference play, giving up just seven goals in 13 games. What began as a battle for the starting job has morphed into a steady rotation of seven players at four positions. That depth has allowed Kozuch to adjust to injuries and play with different rotations.

Two crucial pieces to the defense’s success — seniors Arturo Leal and Gabriel Vallez-Torres — have battled through injuries the last few weeks. According to Kozuch, all seven players in the back line rotation are healthy entering tomorrow’s game, a huge advantage considering North Johnston’s strong offense.

Field conditions may play a significant role in this game’s outcome as well, especially for the forwards. A rain-soaked pitch will certainly eliminate bounces, deaden passes and keep both goalies on watch.

But North Johnston’s Max Kirby and Washington’s William Tate, both seniors, have a proven track record of success in goal. Kirby has allowed 10 goals and made 76 saves in 12 games, while Tate has allowed just seven shots to cross the goal line. Each keeper will have a tough task ahead of them in defending the conference’s top forwards — Walston and Washington’s Kyle Hodges and Freddy Jimenez.

“Having Kyle and Freddy both as an option is priceless,” Kozuch said. “Whether the conditions are terribly wet or not doesn’t make too much of a difference because if you give Freddy an edge, he can pull the trigger. The field may be soaking wet, but there’s always going to be someone who’s faster than everyone else — that guy is Kyle. As far as game plan goes, we’re going to go with what we always go with and they’ll need to adapt to us in my opinion.”

Tomorrow’s game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at Choppy Wagner Stadium.