WHITEHALL - Ashley Wojton certainly could have envisioned Lehighton playing for another district title.

And the junior wouldn’t at all have been surprised by the notion that the Indians would walk away with gold.

But what Wojton didn’t picture was the role she would play in helping the team get there.

As Lehighton wrapped up a District 11 Class 1A title with a 2-0 win over Northwestern on Wednesday, it did so with Wojton standing tall in goal with another stellar performance.

Far from where she saw herself.

The Indians (15-4-1) lost their top two goalies — starter Angelina Romito and backup Shelby Heater — over the course of the final weeks of the season while trying to secure a No. 1 seed in the district tournament.

Enter Wojton.

“She is a midfielder and she’s had pads on before, but she’s never played in a game before,” said Lehighton head coach Vanessa Rimbey. “It was just kind of fooling around a little bit. She liked the idea of it, and she was right away, like, ‘Let’s go.’ We threw pads on her, and she’s been our goalie ever since.”

Wojton’s confidence has grown with each start. She allowed just one goal in two district playoff games, and blanked the Tigers (11-9-1), who outscored their last three opponents 12-1.

“It’s pretty significant considering that I had to choose to step up and it’s been pretty crazy ever since,” she said. “But I’m happy that I did it. During the game, it was very stressful watching them. But I’m glad that they really played well and we did win. We’ve been working so hard for this for so long. It feels so good to finally have it.”

After reaching the district title game the last two years, Wojton knew what was on the line against Northwestern, amplifying the pressure of her biggest start to date.

“I’ve never really thought about myself as being goalie, so when I did it, it was like a new thing,” said Wojton. “Ever since, I’ve been really thinking about it. I’ve always thought about it during the day, and I realize how big of a spot I’m put in. And in order to achieve that, and in order to to fulfill the team’s dreams and do it for every single one of us, I know that I have to really show up, and I know what I have to do, and they take care of the rest.”

Wojton has leaned on her training — and her teammates — as she settles in to her new position.

“During practice, it’s normally a one-on-one, so when the coaches shoot on me, it’s kind of stressful,” she said. “But knowing that I’m able to get most of the shots, and with the defense back there, I know that it will be a lot better. And then during the game it really proves that it helps. I’m really thankful the defense is back there.”

While Wojton’s play has been exceptional, her attitude has been even better.

“It’s awesome. Wojo is one of those people that is just so positive,” said Rimbey. “She’s a leader on our team, regardless (of her position). She’s very vocal. She was the best person, I feel like, to step up and do that. And anything she does, she’s going to do it 100 percent.

“She actually just did it in the summertime. We only had one goalie at that time, in the summer, so we were doing a lot of summer league stuff where our goalie wasn’t able to make it. So instead of playing a sweeper, Wojo would put pads on and kind of play as a goalie, but never in a game or anything.”

Wojton has been a quick study and a hard worker.

It’s a combination she hopes will lead the Indians on a deep run in the state tournament.

“I know that if I want to help this team go far, that I’m going to have to prepare myself, take care of myself, every game; do well in school,” Wojton said. “Just me being a good person, and trying to have a positive attitude for the people around me, I think that we can go far.

“I’m just really happy for the team. I’m just so excited.”