QUAKERTOWN - It's good to be independent.

The Lehighton field hockey team has no league and it played a regular season schedule full of powerhouse programs.Playing at such a high level of competition all season seemed to give the Indians plaenty of confidence during the first round of the PIAA state playoffs against New Hope.A goal from Lauren Marks was all Lehighton needed during an impressive 1-0 victory over the Lions at Quakertown High School on Tuesday.The final score is a bit deceiving, as the Indians were truly dominant from start to finish.Lehighton commanded the time of possession and yielded just one corner to the Lions throughout the entire contest."We didn't know much about them," said Lehighton head coach Karen Wall. "We were just going to come in here, play our game, and whatever happens, happens."It wasn't a walk in the park for Lehighton during the regular season as it dropped five games in a row during the heart of its schedule. However, playing a plethora of storied, quality programs has transformed the Indians into a state playoff contender."It helped us get ready for postseason play," said Wall. "Since we are independent, we play a tough schedule. We had a difficult stretch, but it got us ready for this. Districts was our goal, but we were hoping to get into the state tournament and here we are."On Tuesday, the Indians threatened time after time in the first half.Finally, Marks broke the ice with 6:53 left in the initial half. The junior made a series of moves and smacked the ball into the back of the cage."She (Marks) has incredible stick work," said Walk. "She will go after it to get it into the cage. We were playing well together, and that's what we didn't do the other night (against Moravian Academy). That's what we try to do, play as a team."Marks was a true difference-maker up front on Tuesday. She dazzled through traffic on more than one occasion, which created constant pressure for New Hope to handle."We heard they were really good," Marks said. "Their goalie was fantastic. I just tried to give it my best and do everything that I could. It was relieving when the game ended."This team is like my family and they're my best friends."New Hope's goalie Kennedy Luke is one of the best in the state. She halted a number of Indians' chances in the box. But her Lehighton counterpart Michelle Bozilesk was the real deal as well, pitching a shutout and coming up with a handful of timely denials of her own."Michelle held tough today," said Wall. "She had some good saves and she did a great job directing the defense. They're working well together. We need that."WHO'S NEXT ... The Indians' effort earned them a date with Lake Lehman in the quarterfinals on Saturday. Lehman, the top seed out of District 2, defeated Anville Cleona 4-1 on Tuesday.NOT YOUR ORDINARY .. Wall returned to coach the Lehighton program three years ago when her group of eight seniors were freshman. "They are a special group," she said. "They play until the end. This group does not give up."